TRANSITIONS

Transitions are words that connect ideas within one

sentence or between two sentences.
Rules were very impotant at boarding school, so I had to
learn how to obey them.
I dindt like all of the rules. However, I soon learned rules
can be helpful.

Coordinating conjunctions are commonly used as
transitions to join two independent clauses. An easy way to
remember the seven coodinating conjunctions is to think of
the word FANBOYS: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.
I dindnt like the rules at first, for I wasnt used to them.
The rules were sometimes difficult to obey, yet they helped
me live a better life.


Reference: Zemach, Dorothy & Stafford, Lynn; Writers at work
TRANSITIONS - 2
In academic or formal writing dont use the coordinating conjunctions and
or but at the beginning of a sentence. Instead, use the transitions in
addition and however.
Informal: I met people of different ages. And I met people from
different backgrouds.
Formal: I met people of different ages, and I met people fom
different backgrounds.
Formal: I met people of different ages. In addition, I met people
from different backgrounds.
Informal: Senior students told me the rules. But I didnt obey
them.
Formal: Senior students told me the rules, but I didnt obey
them.
Formal: Senior students told me the rules. However, I didnt
obey them.

Reference: Zemach, Dorothy & Stafford, Lynn; Writers at work
BECAUSE AND THEREFORE

Because and therefore are especially useful transitions for explanatory
essays. They help the reader understand your explanations by showing
causes and results.
Because rules were very important at boarding school, I had to learn how to obey
them.
Rules were very important at boarding school. Therefore, I had to learn how to
obey them.
Because can come at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence.
Because I was lonely, I sometimes cried at first.
My parents sent me to boarding school because they wanted me to have a good
education.

Therefore comes at the beginning of a new sentence.
My parents wanted me to have a good education. Therefore, they sent me to
boarding school.

Reference: Zemach, Dorothy & Stafford, Lynn; Writers at work.
PUNCTUATION WITH FANBOYS

All of the FANBOYS transitions for, and, not, but, or, yet, so follow
the same rules for punctuation.

If they connect two complete sentences (each one has a subject and a
verb), a comma is used before the transition:
S V S V
I made good friends in boarding school. I still keep in touch with them

S V S V
I made good friends in boarding school, and I still keep in touch with them.


Dont use a comma if the second clause uses the same subject as the
first and it doesnt repeat the subject:
S V V
I made good friends in boarding school, and still keep in touch with them.

Reference: Zemach, Dorothy & Stafford, Lynn; Writers at work.
PUNCTUATION WITH OTHER TRANSITIONS

When you use the transitions: in addition, however, and therefore
at the beginning of a sentence, use a comma after them:

In addition, I sometimes visit my old school.


When you use because in the middle of a sentence, you usually
dont need a comma:

I respect my brother because he is such a hard worker.


When you use because at the beginning of a sentence, use a
comma after the first part of the sentence:

Because my brother is such a hard worker, I respect him.
Reference: Zemach, Dorothy & Stafford, Lynn; Writers at work.