眾所周知，要寫出清晰流暢的文章，需要把段落中各部分巧妙地連接在一起。這樣可使文章自然而別致，并能層層展開主題句，完整地表達中心思想。
起連貫作用的過渡詞語可以用來連接段落中的各個句子，也可以用來連接文章中的各個段落。下面是在段落中連接句子的例子（段中黑體字為過渡詞）
To many foreigners, the American word family is confusing. Foreigners often hear an American say "My family is coming to visit." In this sentence, family means grandparents and perhaps other relatives. However, at other times, the same American might say, "I'm going to stay home with my family this weekend." In this case, he is talking about his wife and children. This is a much narrower meaning than the first one. Using family in this way makes a foreigner wonder which term really describes an American family. The answer, of course, is that there are two meanings for the word family in the United States -- a narrow one and a broad one. And there is another term ---- immediate family ----- to describe something in between.
這一段中出現的過渡手法有兩種：一種是過渡詞或詞組，如however, in this case, of course； 另一種是起過渡作用的代詞，如this, one.
段與段之間也可以用過渡詞連接，比如but可以連接兩個為轉折關系的段落．
2. 過渡詞語的分類 常用的過渡詞根據意思和作用的不同，可以分為以下十一類：
1) 用以解釋的過渡詞，比如：now, in addition, for, in this case, furthermore, in fact
1. The problem, in this case, is hard to solve.
2. Furthermore, several people telephoned the same night.
2) 表示強調的過渡詞，如：certainly, indeed, above all, surely, most important
1. Indeed, a dessert is always enjoyable.
2. Above all, do not build an open fire in a forest.
3) 表示限制的過渡詞but, however, although, though, yet, except for
1. Yet there was still a chance that he would win.
2. Except for one girl, all the hikers returned.
4) 用以舉例的過渡詞for example, for instance, thus, such, next
1. For instance, a telegram often costs more than a telephone call.
2. Thus the trip finally began.
5) 表示遞進或補充的過渡詞in addition，furthermore，also，moreover，yet
1. In addition, the tour stops in Vancouver.
2. Furthermore, the time for registration has been extended.
6) 表達順序的過渡詞first, second, third, afterward(s)（后來）, meanwhile（幾乎同時）,
thereafter（在那以后）, last, finally, eventually（終于）
1. First, you mail in an application. Second, you ask for an appointment. Third, you send
them three personal references.
2. Then you come to a traffic light and turn right.
7) 用以表示比較的過渡詞like, in the same way, similarly, equally important, too
1. In the same way, we look for a good doctor.
2. Similarly, the Thais enjoy spicy foods.
8) 用以表示對比的過渡詞unlike, in contrast, whereas, on the other hand, instead
1. In contrast, the red fluid does not lose its color.
2. The husband wanted a boy, whereas the wife wanted a girl.
9) 表示讓步的過渡詞although, nevertheless, of curse, after all, clearly, still, yet
1. He planned, nevertheless, to ask for a promotion.
2. After all, you learn to cook many foods in this job.
10) 用以表述結果的過渡詞therefore, as a result, consequently,
then，thereby，therefore，thus，hence，accordingly, so, otherwise
1. As a result, she became the prince's bride.
2. Consequently, we opened an account at the bank.
11) 用以表示總結的過渡詞to sum up, finally, in conclusion, at last, in short，in a word，in the long run，in summary
1. To sum up, Christmas is the most important holiday.
2. In conclusion, a consulate offers more services.
上文已經講過，除了過渡詞或詞組之外，起過渡作用的還有代詞、同義詞、連接詞和詞的重復等。下面分別舉例說明。
1. 起過渡作用的代詞
例：He asked what that meant.
We watched the hikers. They climbed slowly.
以上兩句中的深藍體字分別起句內和句間的過渡作用。
起過渡作用的代詞在下面例子中的作用很大，沒有它，這段文字就不能成立。
It is the most talked-of subject in town. Every family in the community discusses It half a dozen times a day. You mentioned It to at least one of your friends before you came into the room today. You think about It at least once during every class. Its passage is steady. It touched everyone. What isIt? It is Time.
2. 起過渡作用的同義詞
同義詞用得好，不僅有助于文章的連貫，也增加了文采。例如下文：
Community colleges are like the two-year colleges called junior colleges, or "j.c.'s". Both schools prepare students for four-year colleges. J.c.'s offer all the courses most four-year colleges ask their freshmen and sophomores to take. Community colleges also give such required courses. But community colleges are also like other institutions called trade schools. Both schools offer technical training. Trade schools give courses in such areas as carpentry, nursing, television repairing, or photography. Community colleges have complete technical courses for students who do not plan to go on to a university.
3． 重復詞起過渡作用
詞的重復是常用的連接手法，它可強調你所要表達的意思。按方式，還可進一步分為絕對重復和相對重復。
Gulls, as they soar, are not always searching for food but merely having fun on the wing. A gull flying along the shore is taking advantages of wind current formed when the sea air strikes the warm land and rises. Gulls also love the lower, weaker air currents that form about three feet above the waves. They ride them for hours, tipping from one current to the next. Most people think that gulls ride behind boats for the food. But garbage is only a small part of what they eat. Clams and fish make up most of their diet. The sea gulls follow boats for the tide on the thermal currents the ships create at sea.
上面文章中的黑體字就是通過重復來起承上啟下的作用，與同義詞類似。
4. 平行結構起承上啟下的作用
My mother has passed along to me certain rules for getting along with others. Don't argue with parents; they will think you don't love them. Don't argue with children; they will think themselves victimized. Don't argue with spouses; they will think you are a tiresome mate. Don't argue with strangers; they will think you are not friendly. My mother's rules, in fact, can be summed up in two words. Don't argue.
文中的don't argue反復出現，形成平行結構，有助于段落的流暢和連貫。
起連貫作用的過渡詞語可以用來連接段落中的各個句子，也可以用來連接文章中的各個段落。下面是在段落中連接句子的例子（段中黑體字為過渡詞）
To many foreigners, the American word family is confusing. Foreigners often hear an American say "My family is coming to visit." In this sentence, family means grandparents and perhaps other relatives. However, at other times, the same American might say, "I'm going to stay home with my family this weekend." In this case, he is talking about his wife and children. This is a much narrower meaning than the first one. Using family in this way makes a foreigner wonder which term really describes an American family. The answer, of course, is that there are two meanings for the word family in the United States -- a narrow one and a broad one. And there is another term ---- immediate family ----- to describe something in between.
這一段中出現的過渡手法有兩種：一種是過渡詞或詞組，如however, in this case, of course； 另一種是起過渡作用的代詞，如this, one.
段與段之間也可以用過渡詞連接，比如but可以連接兩個為轉折關系的段落．
2. 過渡詞語的分類 常用的過渡詞根據意思和作用的不同，可以分為以下十一類：
1) 用以解釋的過渡詞，比如：now, in addition, for, in this case, furthermore, in fact
1. The problem, in this case, is hard to solve.
2. Furthermore, several people telephoned the same night.
2) 表示強調的過渡詞，如：certainly, indeed, above all, surely, most important
1. Indeed, a dessert is always enjoyable.
2. Above all, do not build an open fire in a forest.
3) 表示限制的過渡詞but, however, although, though, yet, except for
1. Yet there was still a chance that he would win.
2. Except for one girl, all the hikers returned.
4) 用以舉例的過渡詞for example, for instance, thus, such, next
1. For instance, a telegram often costs more than a telephone call.
2. Thus the trip finally began.
5) 表示遞進或補充的過渡詞in addition，furthermore，also，moreover，yet
1. In addition, the tour stops in Vancouver.
2. Furthermore, the time for registration has been extended.
6) 表達順序的過渡詞first, second, third, afterward(s)（后來）, meanwhile（幾乎同時）,
thereafter（在那以后）, last, finally, eventually（終于）
1. First, you mail in an application. Second, you ask for an appointment. Third, you send
them three personal references.
2. Then you come to a traffic light and turn right.
7) 用以表示比較的過渡詞like, in the same way, similarly, equally important, too
1. In the same way, we look for a good doctor.
2. Similarly, the Thais enjoy spicy foods.
8) 用以表示對比的過渡詞unlike, in contrast, whereas, on the other hand, instead
1. In contrast, the red fluid does not lose its color.
2. The husband wanted a boy, whereas the wife wanted a girl.
9) 表示讓步的過渡詞although, nevertheless, of curse, after all, clearly, still, yet
1. He planned, nevertheless, to ask for a promotion.
2. After all, you learn to cook many foods in this job.
10) 用以表述結果的過渡詞therefore, as a result, consequently,
then，thereby，therefore，thus，hence，accordingly, so, otherwise
1. As a result, she became the prince's bride.
2. Consequently, we opened an account at the bank.
11) 用以表示總結的過渡詞to sum up, finally, in conclusion, at last, in short，in a word，in the long run，in summary
1. To sum up, Christmas is the most important holiday.
2. In conclusion, a consulate offers more services.
上文已經講過，除了過渡詞或詞組之外，起過渡作用的還有代詞、同義詞、連接詞和詞的重復等。下面分別舉例說明。
1. 起過渡作用的代詞
例：He asked what that meant.
We watched the hikers. They climbed slowly.
以上兩句中的深藍體字分別起句內和句間的過渡作用。
起過渡作用的代詞在下面例子中的作用很大，沒有它，這段文字就不能成立。
It is the most talked-of subject in town. Every family in the community discusses It half a dozen times a day. You mentioned It to at least one of your friends before you came into the room today. You think about It at least once during every class. Its passage is steady. It touched everyone. What isIt? It is Time.
2. 起過渡作用的同義詞
同義詞用得好，不僅有助于文章的連貫，也增加了文采。例如下文：
Community colleges are like the two-year colleges called junior colleges, or "j.c.'s". Both schools prepare students for four-year colleges. J.c.'s offer all the courses most four-year colleges ask their freshmen and sophomores to take. Community colleges also give such required courses. But community colleges are also like other institutions called trade schools. Both schools offer technical training. Trade schools give courses in such areas as carpentry, nursing, television repairing, or photography. Community colleges have complete technical courses for students who do not plan to go on to a university.
3． 重復詞起過渡作用
詞的重復是常用的連接手法，它可強調你所要表達的意思。按方式，還可進一步分為絕對重復和相對重復。
Gulls, as they soar, are not always searching for food but merely having fun on the wing. A gull flying along the shore is taking advantages of wind current formed when the sea air strikes the warm land and rises. Gulls also love the lower, weaker air currents that form about three feet above the waves. They ride them for hours, tipping from one current to the next. Most people think that gulls ride behind boats for the food. But garbage is only a small part of what they eat. Clams and fish make up most of their diet. The sea gulls follow boats for the tide on the thermal currents the ships create at sea.
上面文章中的黑體字就是通過重復來起承上啟下的作用，與同義詞類似。
4. 平行結構起承上啟下的作用
My mother has passed along to me certain rules for getting along with others. Don't argue with parents; they will think you don't love them. Don't argue with children; they will think themselves victimized. Don't argue with spouses; they will think you are a tiresome mate. Don't argue with strangers; they will think you are not friendly. My mother's rules, in fact, can be summed up in two words. Don't argue.
文中的don't argue反復出現，形成平行結構，有助于段落的流暢和連貫。