In academic writing, transition words can improve the style and flow of your writing considerably, if used correctly. This post discusses several examples of cause and effect transition words.
First, we have the conjunctions, because and so. Both these words are used within a sentence with two clauses, but they are not interchangeable. For example, we can say
Bald eagles became an endangered species because farmers used a chemical pesticide which indirectly damaged their eggs.
However, when we want to use the conjunction so, we have to change the order of the clauses.
Farmers used a chemical pesticide which indirectly damaged bald eagles’ eggs, so they became an endangered species.
Another conjunction with the same meaning as because, often used at the beginning of a sentence, is since.
Since bald eagles ate fish contaminated by the pesticide, their eggshells became weaker.
Then we have transition words used to begin sentences which express the effect of the cause mentioned in the previous sentence. These include thus, consequently, as a result, and therefore. Here are some examples:
Rachel Carson, an environmental activist, campaigned against the use of damaging pesticides. As a result, the government passed laws limiting their use.
Silent Spring, Rachel Carson’s book, explained the effects of pesticides on the environment. Consequently, more people became aware of and concerned about the risks.