Before You Start, Practice! Learn how to use transitional words and learn how to use supporting examples. Knowing about these skills will help you with your. USING TRANSITIONS Transitions are words that help the reader move smoothly from one idea to another. A transition acts like a road sign or signal flag to let readers. Transitional devices are like bridges between parts of your paper. They are cues that help the reader to interpret ideas a paper develops. Transitional devices are. Writing Resources Transitions by Philip DiGennaro '94. View in PDF Format; The Need For Transitions. All writers want their papers to flow. This rather vague phrase. ESL Writing Exercises and Printable Lessons: Transition worksheets, ESL writing activities, error correction worksheets, and much more! This handout on transitions will introduce you to some useful transitional expressions and help you employ them effectively. Expression. Function. Example. In contrast. Shows contrast between two comparable things. Synonymous with “but” Not synonymous with “despite this” Vocabulary and spelling series Transitional Words & Phrases. Using transitional words and phrases helps papers read more smoothly, and at the same time allows the. A word of caution: Do not interlard your text with transitional expressions merely because you know these devices connect ideas. They must appear, naturally, where. .