Connecting words used for comparing and contrasting

Contrast

Let’s take a look at a few examples of how contrast transition words are used in essays:

• 
  People who play basketball are generally quite tall. In contrast, gymnasts and jockeys are typically short.
  
• 
  India is an undeniably beautiful country with a rich heritage and vibrant culture. Nevertheless, the country’s reputation has been tarnished over the years due to its rampant corruption problems.
  
• 
  On the one hand, a career in the military earns one a lot of respect from everyone. On the other hand, soldiers tend to experience severe depression fairly commonly.
  
• 
  People of the Christian faith strongly believe in the afterlife while Hindus and Buddhists preach the concept of reincarnation and nirvana.
  
• 
  Both vegans and vegetarians avoid the consumption of meat. However, the former also avoids all animal products in all instances.
  
• 
  Bohemian Rhapsody received largely negative reviews from critics when it was released. At the same time, it helped propel them into stardom.
  
• 
  Everyone expects life to go smoothly all the time. In truth, it is filled with constant ups and downs.
  
• 
  Feminism is on the rise now but so is resistance to it.
  

Using transition words in your paper can elevate your writing to a whole new level since these words do not only make your writing more professional but also strengthen the connections between the ideas and concepts you describe. Using transitions wisely, though, is where the difference between a good and a great writer is, so let’s find out more about those.

As you can see from the name, these words indicate either similarity or contradiction between different concepts or ideas you describe. You can click here, to find more about those and the proper ways to use them or use some help with essay writing. You are free to choose any of those as long as they fit the context. 

• 
  Comparison
  

Those are fairly simple, and you can put them in between ideas that either entail one another or do not contradict directly. These are:

• 
  Likewise
  
• 
  Similarly
  
• 
  Consequently
  
• 
  In the same manner
  

You can use those whenever you feel like a continuation of your ideas is in order.

• 
  Contrasting
  

In contrast to the comparison transitions, these are meant to draw the line between the ideas you describe and show your reader that right now you are about to talk about something entirely different in nature:

• 
  In contrast
  
• 
  However
  
• 
  Nonetheless
  

These and other similar words can make it easier for you to define the difference between the ideas you describe.

• 
  Wrap Up
  

Using transition words requires some finesse because you should never stuff your essays too much with those. Use them wisely and only where they are necessary and your writing will get to a whole new level.





Words and Short Phrases Used to Compare

The following words or short phrases compare two items or ideas:

• 
  like
  
• 
  likewise
  
• 
  same as
  
• 
  as well as
  
• 
  also, too
  
• 
  likewise
  

Here is a short paragraph using some of these expressions:

Time, like money, is a limited resource. You can't buy everything you want, likewise, you don't have enough time to do everything you want to do. Our time is the same as our money: it's limited. Also, time is a resource when work needs to be done.

Words and Short Phrases Used to Contrast

The following words or short phrases contrast two items or ideas:

• 
  unlike
  
• 
  in contrast to
  
• 
  as opposed to
  
• 
  different from
  
• 
  whereas
  

Here is a short paragraph using some of these expressions to contrast: