Quiz 47 · Transitions — The Talking Hands Series

First, the idea

Quiz 6 named the joints between ideas. Transitions are those joints given their official words — the small crew that stands at the seam and tells the reader what kind of connection is coming.

On a relay team the baton changes hands in a marked zone, and for one stride both runners hold it. A transition is that zone: it belongs to both sentences at once, taking the first one's meaning and passing it to the second. The word you choose announces the pass — same direction, a reversal, a reason, a for-instance — before the reader takes another step.

The families, and the Quiz 6 joint each one serves:

The push-against family (contrast): however, instead, still, even so, on the other hand, nevertheless.

The therefore family (cause and result): therefore, as a result, consequently, so.

The add-along family (addition): in addition, also, moreover, besides.

The for-instance family (example): for example, for instance.

The time family (sequence): meanwhile, later, first, then, finally.

Choosing a transition is Quiz 6 in reverse: there you read a joint the writer built; here you build it. Name the joint between your two sentences first, then pick from that family — any member will do its job. The mistake the test loves is the pass to the wrong team: The oven died. Therefore, the loaves rose anyway. Every word is formal, and the logic is backwards — loaves rising despite a dead oven is a push-against, not a result. Call that mistake the wrong-family pass: the baton handed smoothly to a runner from the other team.

The marks come from Quiz 44, and there are three positions. Joining two complete sentences, semicolon before and comma after: The bridge lane closed; nevertheless, the flour arrived on time. Opening a sentence, comma after: Nevertheless, the flour arrived on time. Interrupting, commas on both sides: The flour, nevertheless, arrived on time. And the old warning stands: comma-however-comma between two complete sentences is still Quiz 33's splice.

Last thing: not every sentence needs one. A transition marks a turn; a sentence that simply continues walks on its own. Prose with a transition on every sentence reads like the writer doesn't trust the reader to take a step alone.

Worked example — thinking out loud

Choose the pass out loud: The walk-in cooler failed overnight. ___, the morning crew moved the dairy to the reach-in coolers. The tempting word is however — the most famous transition in English, and the one that comes to hand first. But name the joint before you pick the word: did the crew move the dairy despite the failure, or because of it? Because of it. The move is the answer to the breakdown — Quiz 6's problem and solution — so the pass belongs to the therefore family: As a result, the morning crew moved the dairy to the reach-in coolers.

Now read the however version once, just to feel it fail: it claims the crew moved the dairy against the grain of the breakdown, which is nonsense that a smooth word almost hides. That is the wrong-family pass in the wild — and why the word list is the last place to look, not the first.

Part A · The skill by itself

1. Flour prices rose again this spring. ___, Okafor's kept the challah at four dollars. Which word makes the true pass?

Therefore For example Even so Meanwhile

2. Daniela had never balanced a register drawer ___ hers came out even on her first night. Which completes the sentence correctly?

, however, ; however ; however, : however,

3. Which is punctuated correctly?

The pre-orders will, meanwhile, be boxed tonight. The pre-orders will, meanwhile be boxed tonight. The pre-orders will meanwhile, be boxed tonight. The pre-orders, will meanwhile, be boxed tonight.

4. Some pastries travel badly. ___, the cream horns arrive as puddles. Which word makes the true pass?

As a result For instance However In addition

5. The health inspector comes Monday. ___, every station gets a deep clean this weekend. Which word makes the true pass?

Meanwhile Therefore For example On the other hand

6. The ovens are serviced twice a year. In addition, the visits are scheduled for the slow weeks. What is the best revision?

Keep In addition Change it to However Change it to Therefore Delete the transition

Part B · The skill in the wild

Mr. Okafor's first letter in this series — a note to customers, going up in the window and by the register. Five passes to choose; at each dropdown, pick the version whose transition names the true joint between the sentences.

OKAFOR'S BAKERY — A NOTE ON OUR PRICES

From R. Okafor, owner

Neighbors: you have seen the news about the price of flour, butter, and eggs, and some of you have asked what it means for this counter. Here is the plain answer.

1(a. Our costs rose this year; even so, the bread prices you know are not changing this season. / b. Our costs rose this year; therefore, the bread prices you know are not changing this season. / c. Our costs rose this year; for example, the bread prices you know are not changing this season.) 2(a. The ovens now run one block longer each morning. However, the afternoon case fills earlier than it used to. / b. The ovens now run one block longer each morning. As a result, the afternoon case fills earlier than it used to. / c. The ovens now run one block longer each morning. Meanwhile, the afternoon case fills earlier than it used to.)

3(a. A few specials will rest for the winter. Therefore, the lemon tart goes down until spring, when lemons come back to a fair price. / b. A few specials will rest for the winter. In addition, the lemon tart goes down until spring, when lemons come back to a fair price. / c. A few specials will rest for the winter. For instance, the lemon tart goes down until spring, when lemons come back to a fair price.) 4(a. We are testing a smaller weekend menu. As a result, the weekday menu stays exactly as you know it. / b. We are testing a smaller weekend menu. Meanwhile, the weekday menu stays exactly as you know it. / c. We are testing a smaller weekend menu. For example, the weekday menu stays exactly as you know it.)

5(a. Thank you for keeping a neighborhood bakery in the neighborhood. Therefore, we will keep doing the baking. / b. Thank you for keeping a neighborhood bakery in the neighborhood. In addition, we will keep doing the baking. / c. Thank you for keeping a neighborhood bakery in the neighborhood. We will keep doing the baking.) Questions come free at the counter; Daniela and Marisol have the details. — R. Okafor

The key — and why the tempting answers tempt

Part A

1. C. Prices rose, and the challah held anyway — the second sentence pushes against what the first predicts. Even so names the push. A is the wrong-family pass with cause words standing nearby: rising costs would explain a price increase. The sentence delivers the opposite.

2. C. Two complete sentences joined by however: semicolon before, comma after — Quiz 44's pattern, now official. A is the splice in a scarf — comma-however-comma between two complete sentences is still Quiz 33's error. B forgets the comma that lets however stand apart from what follows.

3. A. An interrupter takes commas on both sides: will, meanwhile, be boxed. B and C each carry one comma of the pair — a door hung on a single hinge. D fences off the subject from its own verb.

4. B. The claim, then one case of it: cream horns are the for-instance. A tempts because puddles feel like a result — but a result of what? The horns don't melt because some pastries travel badly; they're one of the pastries that do. Quiz 6's example joint, wearing frosting.

5. B. Monday's inspection is why the weekend gets a deep clean — a therefore-family pass. A rides the time words. The two events do share a calendar, but the joint is stronger than that: the first causes the second, and meanwhile would quietly deny it.

6. D. The second sentence isn't a second point beside the first — it's the same point, deepening. No turn, no pass needed; the sentence walks on its own. A tempts because in addition sounds like more information arriving, and more information is arriving. But addition joins two parallel points, and there's only one point here, gaining detail.

Part B — the price letter

1. a. Costs up, prices steady: a push-against, carried on Quiz 44's semicolon and comma. b is the wrong-family pass in its best suit — rising costs would explain a raise, and the letter announces the opposite. c offers an example of nothing.

2. b. Longer oven blocks are why the case fills earlier — a result, so the therefore family carries it. c tempts with time, mornings and afternoons everywhere. But the sentences aren't merely simultaneous; the first causes the second.

3. c. The resting specials are the claim; the lemon tart is one of them. A for-instance pass. a would make the tart's rest a consequence of the claim rather than a case of it — the wrong-family pass again, quieter this time.

4. b. Two things run at once — the weekend test, and the weekday menu holding steady. Meanwhile is the time family doing its one job. c claims the steady weekday menu results from the weekend test. It doesn't; they simply share the calendar.

5. c. Gratitude, then a promise. There is no logical pass between them — the plain sentence is the strong one, and the letter ends on its own two feet. a borrows therefore's authority for a sentence that earned its force without it. A transition marks a turn; this ending walks straight.