Transitions in Legal Writing

Flow with Transitions

Pick the Best Transition

1. Choose the best transition to clarify the causal relationship between the two sentences.

Sentence: The Court ruled on procedural grounds. how it would rule on the merits was unclear.

2. Choose the best transition to reflect the contrasting relationship between the two sentences.

Sentence: The judge found the statute constitutional. the dissent questioned its scope.

3. Choose the best transition to reflect a limitation.

Sentence: The Court ruled in the defendant’s favor. the remedy was limited.

4. Choose the best transition to signal emphasis.

Sentence: Halliburton nevertheless presses for a narrower definition of “final.” it asks the Court to construe “final” to mean essentially what it means in jurisdictional statutes.

5. Choose the best transition to show contradiction.

Sentence: The statute addressed environmental harm. it said nothing about enforcement.

6. Choose the best transition to call attention to a point.

Sentence: The agency issued new guidance. it contradicted earlier precedent.

Level 2: Transition Review

1. Which of the following is NOT a transition to show a comparison?

2. Which of the following is NOT a transition to show emphasis?

3. Which of the following is NOT a transition to show contrast?

4. Which of the following is NOT a transition to expand on a point?

You can be a great legal writer.