A Writer's Guide to Transitional Words and Expressions Paperback – January 1, 1999

I wish I had come across this little gem years ago. It is a brilliantly designed listing of more than 1,000 transitional words and expressions and, in addition, 500 substitutes for the word "said". What makes this unique and exceptionally useful is its physical design. Instead of traditional page, there are 16 tabs or partial pages, each dedicated to a specific class of transitional words and phrases.Thus, "to indicate time order", there is a tab with a list of appropriate transitions and expressions: i.e., present, at the same time, not long ago, following, after a while and so on. Sounds pretty elementary - and it is. When you are stumped in the midst of writing - you know, that point where you are desperately searching for a better word to use - this little gem is by your side with surprisingly apt suggestions.For example, in my writing, I have to literally build my argument point by point. Sometimes I just get stuck. This book has a handy tab for "to add a point". The 70 or so terms listed are a welcome door to alternatives to the tried, trusted and overused words I normally resort to.A particularly cool feature are the 500 substitutes for "said". While it is probably more useful to people writing dialog, I welcome it as a way to alleviate the pain of searching for substitutes.This is a fun book, a handy book and brilliantly conceived. Every writer should have it on their desk or nearby.Jerry

This is a reference written by the author as a companion to another title that deals with transitional words and expressions. Upon opening the cover, I was surprised to find an unusual layout of the pages, with narrowest at the front and progressively wider toward the back, allowing quick indexing of the subjects for each section. Each larger page is titled along the exposed portion making it easy to thumb to the section one wants with words to connect clauses, for example, or to indicate order, or spatial arrangement. There is even a list of five-hundred words (alleged, I didn't count them) to substitute for "said." That said/stated/professed, etc., I admire any writer who could skillfully use the entire list without looking preposterous. I love this handy reference and take it with me whenever I plan to generate some pages for my WIP.

I'm a. Nonenglish speaker, for me this is a pretty useful book.I especially like the pages of words that can substitute 'said'.

I bought this writer's guide specifically because it has 500 alternatives for the word "said." The pages are semi-glossy card stock rather than paper and the binding looks sturdy enough to hold together through years of use. This is not a "normal" reference book. It's a flip book and despite being more expensive than most reference books, it's worth every penny. There are no definitions, just alternate words you can use if you happen to notice that you keep using the same handful of transitional words over and over. It also has several blank pages you can write notes in or add other terms you want to remember. I wouldn't go so far as to say it's a must for writers, but it's definately a well though-out tool to add to your writing toolbox.

This little volume has information essential for my work on foreign languages, both as regards the items collected and the way they are organized. Unfortunately the book lacks the examples needed for understanding entry use. It appears they are in another volume by the same author which the user of this volume may be expected to purchase. A single volume including both the entries and the related examples would be a much better value.

I used this reference tool throughout my college days. When you know how to use the right transition words your writing assignments stand out and get great grades! I've given this reference tool as gifts to students in the family and they loved it. It makes writing assignments easy to get great grades!!

My son went on to score the highest in the written part of the SAT in the school & received an A in his English/Literature/Journalism courses! That was over 3 years ago & he succeeding in all written assignments in college!

I was really impressed with the format of this little book. It is so easy to go down through the tabs and find a transitional word or expression that just fits your needs. My High School children really enjoy sprucing up there papers with it also. I think it is a wonderful writing tool. It is a little book packed with big helpers.