📖 Transition Words Rules: Punctuation (Commas and Semicolons)

Level: B1-B2 | Focus: Punctuation with transition words

Writing Transition Words transition words rules punctuation

1. Comma after transition words

When a transition word starts a sentence, put a comma after it.
• However, I disagree.
• Therefore, we left.
• Moreover, it's expensive.

When joining two independent clauses, use a semicolon before and a comma after.
• I wanted to go; however, I was too tired.

Short transitions like then, so, thus often don't need a comma.
• First we ate then we left.
• It was raining so we stayed home.

When the dependent clause comes first, use a comma. When it comes second, no comma.
• Although I was tired, I went.
• I went although I was tired.

Some transition words can appear in the middle of a sentence with commas on both sides.
• The weather, however, was perfect.