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Use the Trusty Transition

When you want to create a bridge between one idea and the next, two sentences, a few words, or two paragraphs, use the trusty transition. Transitions are a handy helper for e-mail messages, because they keep the reader from getting lost in a plethora of paragraphs and swampland of sentences. Here are a few situations in which the transition can make your message flow more smoothly.

If you want to make a point, try these transitions:

I know how you feel, but the first thing to remember is…

I know how you feel, but on the positive side…

I know how you feel, but I just want to point out…

I know how you feel, and with this in mind…

I know how you feel, and surprisingly enough…

I know how you feel, but to repeat my point…

I know how you feel, but we need to keep in mind…

If you want to conclude or summarize, try these transitions:

We have closed the Jones account, so, as a result…

We have closed the Jones account; therefore…

We have closed the Jones account; consequently…

We have closed the Jones account, so, in summary…

We have closed the Jones account; thus…

We have closed the Jones account, so, in short…

If you want to contrast items, try these transitions:

I think we should go with the Foster Plan as opposed to…

I think we should go with the Foster Plan, but even so…

I think we should go with the Foster Plan, but on the other hand…

I think we should go with the Foster Plan, otherwise…

I think we should go with the Foster Plan, but in the meantime…

I think we should go with the Foster Plan even though…

If you want to add information, try these transitions:

The customer registered a complaint along with…

The customer registered a complaint in addition to…

The customer registered a complaint; moreover…

The customer registered a complaint as well as…

The customer registered a complaint, and equally important…