Which statement about paragraph transitions is most accurate?

• A. Transitional factors are optional in formal writing.
• B. Transitions help show relationships between ideas.
• C. Transitions should always be long phrases.
• D. Transitions replace topic sentences.

Answer: (B)

Transitions connect ideas and show how one thought relates to the next. They act as bridges that signal relationships such as addition, contrast, sequence, or cause and effect, helping the reader follow the writer’s reasoning and the overall flow of the paragraph. In formal writing, transitions aren’t optional; they aid coherence and clarity. They don’t have to be long—single words or short phrases like “also,” “however,” or “as a result” can work. And they don’t replace topic sentences, which state the paragraph’s main idea; transitions simply link that idea to what came before and what comes after.