There are four main types of transition words: additive, adversative, causal, and sequential. Within each category, words are divided into several others, Matt Ellis. Student Update. Abruptly changing the topic in an essay can be jarring, but transition words can soften the change to compare or contrast. To show cause and effect. To display the sequence. To underline. To give an example. To summarize or conclude. How to use transition words. Common errors when using transition. A cause and effect essay is a type of expository essay that explores its topic by discussing the causes and consequences of the problem. For example, a cause and effect essay on the role of deforestation in climate change might discuss some of the specific causes of deforestation, such as the demand for timber and the clearing of land for the purpose of transition words. Transition words are essential in the flow of speech, allowing us to connect sentences and paragraphs in ways that make our ideas more understandable to the reader. For example, words like “therefore” or “therefore” are used to illustrate cause and effect. relationship, while “however” or “on the other,