Using Transitional Phrases in the TOEFL Essay

A transitional phrase helps you move from one paragraph to the next. It also helps you move from sentence to sentence.

Transitional phrases help the reader understand your essay. Learning how to use them will really make your TOEFL essay flow. They can be used in two places: at the beginning of a paragraph or at the beginning of a sentence. Here's how:

At the beginning of a paragraph

Pargraph 1

This is your introduction. Do not use any transitional words or phrases at the beginning of this paragraph.

Pargraph 2

This is the first paragraph of the essay body. Use any of these at the beginning of this paragraph:

first, first of all, for a start, for starters, in the first place, for one thing, to begin with Pargraph 3

This is the second paragraph of the essay body. Use any of these at the beginning of this paragraph:

second, next, in addition to the previous point, more importantly, more important than, another key point is Pargraph 4

This is your conclusion. Use any of these at the beginning of this paragraph:

in conclusion, in closing, to summarize, in sum, in summary

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