40 French Transition Phrases and Connectors for Exam Writing

The right transition word in the right place demonstrates discourse competence — the ability to link ideas clearly and logically in French. For TCF, DELF, and DALF writing tasks, examiners assess cohérence and cohésion explicitly as part of the scoring grid, not just grammar accuracy. This is a complete reference of 40 French connectors, organised by function, with example sentences and formality notes so you know not just what each one means but when to reach for it.

At a Glance

If you only remember one connector per function, start here — these six cover the majority of exam writing situations:

Addition — Building on What You Have Already Said

Use these to layer supporting points without introducing a contrast. Rotating through several — rather than repeating et every sentence — signals lexical range to an examiner.

• et — the default; keep it for short, simple links
• de plus — "moreover"; safe in any written register
• en outre — "furthermore"; formal, C1-level
• par ailleurs — introduces a related but separate point: "Le télétravail améliore la productivité. Par ailleurs, il réduit le temps de trajet."
• également — "also / likewise"; more formal than aussi
• de même que — "just as / similarly"
• de surcroît — "on top of that"; formal, used to add a decisive final point

Contrast and Concession — Introducing an Opposing or Nuanced Point

These are the highest-value connectors for TCF Task 3 and DELF B2 argumentative writing — examiners specifically look for controlled contrast between two viewpoints.

• mais — always precede it with a comma when joining two full clauses: "Il est tard, mais je dois finir."
• cependant — "however"; can open a sentence, followed by a comma
• toutefois — near-synonym of cependant, slightly more formal
• néanmoins — "nevertheless"; concedes a point before contradicting it
• en revanche — "on the other hand"; strictly contrasts two comparable things
• par contre — same meaning as en revanche; traditionally flagged as informal by grammar purists, still common in modern written French but safer to avoid at DALF C1 level
• bien que + subjonctif — "although": "Bien que ce projet soit coûteux, il reste nécessaire."
• alors que — "whereas"; contrasts two facts directly
• or — not the English "or" (that's ou, no accent). French or means roughly "now, [given that]" and introduces a fact that reframes the argument: "Tout le monde pense que ce plan est simple. Or, sa mise en œuvre prend dix ans." A genuinely C1-level connector and a common false-friend trap for English speakers.

Cause — Explaining Why Something Happens

• car — the formal written equivalent of parce que; never starts a sentence
• parce que — the default, works in any register
• puisque — used when the cause is already known or obvious to the reader: "Puisque tu es d'accord, commençons."
• étant donné que — "given that"; formal, common in argumentative essays
• comme — placed at the start of a sentence: "Comme il pleuvait, nous sommes restés à l'intérieur."
• du fait que — "due to the fact that"; formal, slightly heavier than parce que

Result — Showing What Follows or Consequences

Result connectors make an argument feel reasoned and coherent. They transform a list of facts into a logical sequence — exactly what examiners reward.

• donc — the default, works everywhere
• ainsi — "thus"; slightly more formal, also doubles as an illustration connector
• par conséquent — "consequently"; formal, ideal for essay conclusions
• c'est pourquoi — "that is why"; links a stated cause to its effect directly
• de ce fait — "as a result of this"; formal
• si bien que — "so much so that": "Le prix a doublé, si bien que personne n'achète plus ce produit."

Illustration — Giving Examples and Clarifications

An unsupported claim at B2–C1 level is a missed opportunity — examiners reward specific evidence over abstract assertion.

• par exemple — the default
• notamment — "in particular"; introduces a subset of a larger category
• comme — also works to introduce examples: "Plusieurs pays, comme la Suède et le Danemark, ont adopté cette politique."
• ainsi — can also mean "thus / in this way" when illustrating a point
• en particulier — "in particular", similar to notamment
• voire — "or even"; raises the intensity of the previous point: "C'est difficile, voire impossible."

Conclusion — Closing or Summarising

Use exactly one per response, in the final paragraph only — using two signals poor structural control to an examiner.

• en conclusion — the clearest, safest choice
• pour conclure — near-identical alternative
• en somme — "in short"; slightly more literary
• en résumé — "to summarise"
• finalement — "finally / ultimately"
• en définitive — "ultimately, when all is considered"; C1-level

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the same connector twice in one response?

Once or twice is fine, but if you notice yourself repeating donc or et more than three or four times in a 150–200 word response, swap in an alternative from the same category.

Is "du coup" acceptable in TCF or DELF writing?

It's extremely common in spoken French but reads as too informal for written production at B2 and above. Use par conséquent, donc, or ainsi instead.

How many connectors should a 150–200 word response include?

Roughly one every two to three sentences. Forcing one into every single sentence feels mechanical and works against natural flow.

A reference list only helps once these become automatic under time pressure. Each time you use the French Writing Editor for practice, pick five connectors you haven't used recently and deliberately work them into a 150-word argument on any topic — technology, environment, education. For a shorter, TCF-specific starting set, see 10 French Transition Words That Will Boost Your TCF Writing Score, or generate a real prompt to practise on with the TCF Writing Practice tool.