Transition Words for Argumentative Essays (with Examples, Lists & PDF)

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Transition words are the signposts of argumentative writing. They connect claims to evidence, guide readers through counterarguments and rebuttals, and make your logic easy to follow. This guide gives you categorized lists (emphasis, evidence, counterargument, rebuttal, conclusion, and more), plug-and-play sentence starters, 50 high-utility transitions, and short model paragraphs you can copy and adapt.

Prefer a printable version? Download the PDF.

Image description: Two individuals engaged in a serious discussion, symbolizing the nature of argumentative essays where opposing viewpoints are presented and debated.

Several categories and example stems below mirror classroom handouts that organize phrases for supporting a claim, counterclaims, and rebuttals. You'll also find a Quick-Start section for first sentences, a printable 50-word list, and answers to popular questions students ask on Google.

Key Takeaways

• Use emphasis/certainty transitions to foreground your thesis or a crucial reason.
• Guide the reader from claim → evidence → explanation with evidence / illustration transitions.
• Boost credibility by conceding a reasonable counterargument before you refute it.
• Close with conclusion transitions that synthesize, not just repeat.

What Are Transition Words?

Transition words and phrases are connective devices that signal relationships between ideas: addition, contrast, cause–effect, concession, emphasis, sequence, and conclusion. In argumentation, they help you (1) present a claim, (2) link it to evidence, (3) acknowledge counterarguments, and (4) deliver a rebuttal that restores your position.

Many effective transitions explicitly name what a detail shows, means, or implies (e.g., “This shows that…,” “One implication is…”), or they point the reader back to the text under discussion (“Throughout the passage/article…”). Counterclaim transitions help you concede fairly (“Although some think…,” “I admit that…”), while rebuttal transitions pivot back to your reasoning (“However…,” “The problem with that is…”).

Quick-Start: Words to Start an Argumentative Essay

Strong openers for first sentences and thesis statements (use sparingly and back with evidence):

Clearly, Indeed, Undoubtedly, Obviously, Certainly, It is evident that, There is no denying that, It is clear that, It is certain that, As a matter of fact, Unquestionably, In light of this, It stands to reason that

Master List by Purpose (with quick examples)

Emphasis / Certainty

Use these to present a thesis or spotlight a main reason (don't overuse certainty words—match them to your evidence).

Clearly, Indeed, Undoubtedly, Obviously, Certainly, It is evident that, There is no denying that, It is clear that, It is certain that, To emphasize, As a matter of fact, Unquestionably, This suggests that, It stands to reason that, In light of this, This demonstrates, This proves

• Undoubtedly, targeted tutoring raises pass rates in under-resourced schools.
• The attendance data demonstrates that extended hours increase access.
• It stands to reason that earlier diagnostics reduce long-term costs.

Adding Reasons / Building Points

Furthermore, Moreover, Additionally, In addition, Another reason is, A different example is

Moreover, community partnerships widen the talent pipeline.

Evidence & Illustration

For example, For instance, Specifically, To illustrate, This detail/quote supports…, This shows/means/reveals that, One implication is…

For instance, districts using early alerts saw a retention bump, which shows that proactive advising works.

Cause & Effect

Because, Since, Therefore, Consequently, As a result, Hence, If… then…

If attendance rises, then per-pupil funding stabilizes.

Comparison / Contrast

Similarly, Likewise, In contrast, However, On the other hand, Although, Instead

In contrast, voucher-only approaches underperform integrated reforms.

Counterargument (Concession)

Use these to fairly acknowledge an opposing view before you pivot back to your position.

Granted, Admittedly, Of course, Even if, It is true that, Naturally, One might argue, Some may say, While it is true, Although it is often believed, To be fair, On the one hand, This may be true, but…, There is some truth to…

Admittedly, small pilot samples limit generalization.

Rebuttal / Refutation

Use these to answer the counterargument and restore your claim with reasoning and evidence.

However, But, Nevertheless, That said, Even so, Yet, Let’s take another look, Besides the fact that, It can be argued that…, I still maintain that…, The real point to consider is…, The problem with that is…

However, the problem with that interpretation is that it ignores selection bias.

Sequencing / Structuring

First, Second, Next, Then, Finally, Meanwhile, Subsequently, Ultimately, Throughout the text/passage…

First, define the criteria; next, weigh alternatives; finally, defend the choice.

Conclusion / Close

Therefore, Consequently, In summary, Overall, On balance, In conclusion, Ultimately, The evidence demonstrates that…

On balance, the benefits outweigh the costs.

50 Transition Words (Printable Cheat Sheet)

Copy-and-paste friendly: a compact set spanning emphasis, addition, evidence, cause–effect, contrast, concession, rebuttal, sequence, and conclusion.

Additionally, Although, As a result, As a matter of fact, Because, Besides, By contrast, Certainly, Clearly, Consequently, Conversely, Despite, Even if, Even though, For example, For instance, Furthermore, Hence, However, In addition, In contrast, Indeed, Instead, It follows that, It is clear that, It is evident that, It is true that, Likewise, Moreover, Nevertheless, Nonetheless, Notwithstanding, Obviously, Of course, On balance, On the other hand, Overall, Specifically, Therefore, Thus, To illustrate, To emphasize, Ultimately, Undoubtedly, Unquestionably, Whereas, While, Yet, This shows that, One implication is…

Examples in Action (mini-paragraphs)

1) Claim + Evidence

Clearly, universal breakfast programs improve attention and attendance. For instance, districts that adopted breakfast-in-the-classroom reported fewer late arrivals, which shows that removing cost and stigma increases participation. Therefore, scaling the program aligns with both equity and academic goals.

2) Counterargument → Rebuttal

Granted, cash-transfer pilots sometimes face concerns about dependency. Some may say the funds are misused. However, the real point to consider is that conditional designs tie support to attendance and health checks, and the problem with that objection is that it overlooks these safeguards.

3) Synthesis / Conclusion

In light of this, targeted supports, transparent metrics, and family engagement reinforce each other. On balance, the evidence demonstrates that a blended approach is more resilient than single-track reforms.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Overusing the same transition (variety keeps prose crisp).
• Double-tagging (“However, but…”) — choose one.
• Over-certainty without evidence (e.g., “Undoubtedly…”) — match strength to proof.
• Dropping a counterargument without a rebuttal — always pivot back.

FAQs

1) What are 50 transition words?

See the Printable Cheat Sheet above for a compact set spanning multiple functions. It includes reader-friendly stems like “This shows that…” and “One implication is…” for explaining evidence.

2) What words to use to start an argumentative essay?

Great first-sentence starters include: Clearly, Indeed, Undoubtedly, Obviously, Certainly, It is evident that, There is no denying that, It is clear that, As a matter of fact, Unquestionably, In light of this, It stands to reason that.

Template: It is evident that [claim] because [reason], and as a result [implication].

3) What are the transition words for the “92 essay”?

People use “92 essay” to mean different top-scoring formats (e.g., an AP “9” essay or IELTS Band 9). Regardless, high-scoring responses favor precise, formal transitions that show concession + rebuttal and tight logic:

Admittedly, Granted, While it is true, Nevertheless, Nonetheless, However, On balance, Moreover, Furthermore, Consequently, Therefore, Hence, Thus, Notwithstanding, By contrast, In light of this, It follows that, The evidence indicates, This demonstrates, Ultimately.

Tip: pair a concession (e.g., “Admittedly…”) with a rebuttal (e.g., “However…,” “The problem with that is…”) to show mature reasoning.

Final Tips

• Choose transitions for function (emphasis, evidence, concession, rebuttal), not flair.
• Match certainty words (e.g., Undoubtedly) to the strength of your evidence.
• In counterargument paragraphs, use a three-step rhythm: Concede → Pivot → Refute.