One good reason you should use Yoast SEO transition words is to have better readability scores. As you will find out in this article, it may not mean much to search engines. But for the audience, they matter a lot.
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Yoast SEO Readability Checks
Readability is a big part of Yoast SEO (and others like Rank Math SEO and All in One SEO). But to be clear, it is not one of Google’s ranking signals.
John Mueller, Google’s Senior Webmaster Trends Analyst, said:
“From an SEO point of view, it’s probably not something you need to focus on,” Google’s Senior Webmaster Trends Analyst John Mueller said. “But it is something you should figure out for your audience.”
Still, if you search the web, you’d notice there are a lot of sites claiming that readability is a ranking factor. To be sure, Portent and Ahrefs conducted studies and did not find any evidence that readability scores affect rankings.
If readability does not affect SEO, why should it matter?
Readability matters because you are writing for humans, not for machines.
Yoast SEO comes with an excellent readability analysis tool. In brief, the plugin analyzes these metrics:
- Subheadings
- Paragraphs
- Sentences
- Transition words
- Passive voice
To measure readability, Yoast SEO uses Flesch Reading Ease. It is, in essence, an algorithm that measures the difficulty of texts or writings.
Hemingway Editor is one of the best tools you can use for free. In a nutshell, it helps you write readable texts.

Following the recommendations allow you to conform to most metrics used to measure readability. But one thing it cannot do is check for transition words.
Yoast SEO Readability Check on Transition Words
For some content writers, transition word usage rate is the only obstacle to getting a good score. And that is why there is a need to keep a list of transition words and phrases for reference.
Now, what is perplexing is that Yoast SEO does not recognize all transition words. As a result, some content writers have to spend more time finding the right words.
Google wants content writers to write for humans. But some people obsess too much, ending up writing for Yoast SEO.
My advice is to focus on writing for the audience. As much as you want to keep your copy “perfect,” you cannot dwell too much on metrics or scores.

Above is the readability analysis of a post about freelance content writing rates.
The two issues detected were:
- One section contains more than 300 words.
- Only 11.6% of the sentences have transition words.
Do I need to make changes, such as adding more transition words?

Yoast SEO readability analysis is not perfect. The same is true with Rank Math SEO and All in One SEO because I have tested them, too.
People who have used page builders should recognize the snippets of codes. WPBakery (the page builder used here) uses these codes to control the visual display of the page.
WPBakery codes are not part of the content. Yet, they add to the total word count. Because of the inflated word count, the percentage of transition words would be lower.
Another point to consider is the use of tables and bullet lists. You cannot add transition words in these sections.
So, in the case of this article, I do not have to make any changes.
List of Yoast SEO Transition Words and Phrases
One of the best references content writers can use is Dr. Heiko Possel’s linking words list. But there is only one problem. Yoast SEO does not recognize some of those words.
So, for content writers who want to score high on readability tests, here is an official list from Yoast SEO. And oh, it is worth mentioning that this list includes terms not found in Possel’s list.
Sources: Yoast SEO Transition Words and Two-part Transition Words source codes
Addition
Transition Words | Transition Phrases |
additionally | another key point |
also | as a matter of fact |
another | as well as |
further | at least |
furthermore | by the same token |
moreover | coupled with |
for example | |
for instance | |
in addition | |
in another case | |
in detail | |
in other words | |
not to mention | |
such as | |
to clarify | |
to say nothing of | |
together with | |
what’s more |
Cause and Effect
Transition Words | Transition Phrases |
because | above all |
hence | after all |
since | as a result |
so | being that |
than | due to |
therefore | even if |
thereupon | for fear that |
thus | given that |
given these points | |
in case | |
in effect | |
in light of | |
in order that | |
in order to | |
in spite of | |
in the event that | |
in the hope that | |
in this case | |
on account of | |
on the condition that | |
only if | |
owing to | |
so as to | |
so long as | |
so that | |
then again | |
under those circumstances | |
with the result that | |
with this in mind | |
with this intention |
Condition/Contrast/Comparison
Transition Words | Transition Phrases |
albeit | analogous to |
although | although this may be true |
besides | as much as |
but | balanced against |
comparatively | by comparison |
consequently | compared to |
contrarily | be that as it may |
conversely | different from |
despite | even more |
equally | even so |
however | even though |
identically | in contrast |
instead | in either case |
lest | in that case |
likewise | in this situation |
nevertheless | in view of |
nonetheless | inasmuch as |
nor | on condition that |
notwithstanding | on one hand |
otherwise | on the contrary |
rather | on the negative side |
regardless | on the other hand |
similarly | provided that |
still | seeing that |
though | take the case of |
unless | to put it another way |
unlike | to put it differently |
whereas | up against |
while | vis a vis |
while it may be true | |
while this may be true |
Emphasis
Transition Words | Transition Phrases |
altogether | by all means |
basically | equally important |
certainly | for one thing |
chiefly | important to realize |
doubtedly | in particular |
emphatically | in similar fashion |
especially | in the light of |
evidently | in the same fashion |
explicitly | in the same way |
generally | most compelling evidence |
indeed | most important |
markedly | must be remembered |
obviously | of course |
overall | on the positive side |
particularly | point often overlooked |
significantly | that is |
specifically | that is to say |
surely | to be sure |
surprisingly | to repeat |
undeniably | to rephrase it |
undoubtedly | with attention to |
unquestionably | with this purpose in mind |
Without a doubt | |
Without doubt | |
Without reservation |
Illustration
Transition Words | Transition Phrases |
accordingly | as an illustration |
correspondingly | at length |
e.g. | in like fashion |
i.e. | in like manner |
to demonstrate | |
to emphasize | |
to enumerate | |
to explain | |
to illustrate | |
to list | |
to point out |
Summary
Transition words | Transition Phrases |
all in all | |
all things considered | |
as can be seen | |
as has been noted | |
as i have noted | |
as i have said | |
as i have shown | |
as shown above | |
at any rate | |
by and large | |
for that reason | |
for the most part | |
for the purpose of | |
for the same reason | |
for this purpose | |
for this reason | |
in a word | |
in any case | |
in any event | |
in brief | |
in conclusion | |
in essence | |
in fact | |
in general | |
in reality | |
in short | |
in sum | |
in summary | |
in truth | |
on balance | |
on the whole | |
summing up | |
to conclude | |
to sum up | |
to summarize | |
to that end | |
to the end that | |
to this end |
Time and Sequence
Transition Words | Transition Phrases |
afterward | after that |
afterwards | all of a sudden |
before | as long as |
concurrently | as soon as |
during | at first |
earlier | at last |
eventually | at the present time |
finally | at the same time |
firstly | at this instant |
following | at this point |
formerly | at this time |
forthwith | by the time |
fourthly | first thing to remember |
henceforth | from time to time |
last | in due time |
lastly | in the final analysis |
later | in the first place |
meanwhile | in the fourth place |
occasionally | in the long run |
presently | in the meantime |
previously | in the second place |
secondly | in the third place |
shortly | in time |
simultaneously | now that |
soon | on this occasion |
straightaway | once |
subsequently | once in a while |
then | prior to |
thereafter | so far |
thirdly | sooner or later |
till | this time |
until | to begin with |
when | until now |
whenever | up to the present time |
without delay |
Two-part Transition Words
- Both … and
- Either … or
- If … then
- Neither … nor
- No sooner … than
- Not … but
- Not only … but also
- Whether … or
Do Content Writers Need to Use Yoast SEO Transition Words?
The transition words compiled by Yoast SEO are more than good enough. But there are many other terms not included in their list. Of course, you can use them. But keep in mind that your readability score might suffer. Not that it matters, though, because they are not ranking factors anyway.
As a content writer, your job is not only to deliver SEO-compliant articles. You also have a duty to the audience – and that is to provide information most coherently. If you can do these two things, you are more likely to help clients get their desired results.
By themselves, transition words do not mean much. Some might even consider it word padding. Yet, they are essential to readability. Consider too that the audience is more likely to read readable content. Not only do visitors stay longer on the site, but they also might want to read other articles. So, there is no debate on its usage.
Most clients use WordPress. Hence, the chances are high that they also have Yoast SEO installed. That being the case, you might as well use transition words the plugin recognizes.