Transition Word Counter
This counter is built for English drafts. It scans for 18 common transition words and phrases, such as however, therefore, moreover and finally, then shows the total matches, each transition’s count and transition density as a share of all words. Use it to spot missing signposts or repeated habits before you polish an article, essay or blog post.
How the counter works
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1
Paste an English draft
Articles, essays, landing pages and blog posts all work. Aim for at least 200 words so the density has useful context.
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2
The English list is scanned
A whole-word match finds the 18 tracked words and phrases, so "therefore" is counted but "furthermorefreak" is not.
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3
Read the per-transition counts
You see which transitions appeared and how often. The breakdown is sorted from most-used to least-used.
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4
Use density with judgment
Density is transition matches divided by total words. This tool does not count sentences, so compare Yoast-style sentence coverage separately if you need that metric.
English transitions tracked
The counter looks for these 18 English linking words and phrases:
also, although, as a result, because, consequently, finally, first, for example, furthermore, however, in addition, in contrast, meanwhile, moreover, nevertheless, next, therefore, thus.
Reading the results
The tool reports occurrence counts and word-density. Density is calculated as transition matches / total words, so 12 matches in a 600-word draft is 2.0% density.
Yoast SEO uses a different, sentence-based check. Its green threshold is roughly 30% of sentences containing a transition word, with lower bands below that. Treat that as external context, not as a value this counter computes.
| Manual share of sentences with a transition | Editorial signal |
|---|---|
| Under 10% | Choppy or note-like |
| 10 - 25% | Conversational, short-form |
| 25 - 40% | Balanced long-form or essay |
| 40 - 60% | Academic or heavily argued |
| Over 60% | Overwritten: start cutting |
Overused transitions to watch
- “Furthermore” / “Moreover” in short pieces: they can read stiff. “Also” or “and” usually work.
- “Thus” in marketing copy: often a sign that the tone has become too academic.
- “In addition” repeated across a paragraph: vary it with “also”, “on top of that”, or start a new sentence.
- “However” as the first word of three consecutive sentences: restructure the contrast instead.
Tips
- Run the counter after the first draft, not during. Watching the number while you write kills flow.
- If one transition dominates the count, replace some instances with a different phrase or remove the connector entirely.
- Zero matches in a 1,000-word English article usually means the draft needs clearer paragraph links.
- Good transitions are often outside the list, such as semicolons, repeated key terms or “and so”. The number is a signal, not a mandate.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Yoast popularised a sentence-based guideline where about 30% of sentences include a transition. This counter reports word-density and counts instead, so use the guideline only as context. The real goal is prose that flows.
Not yet. Those phrases are outside the 18-item English list and can overlap with everyday wording. The list stays conservative to avoid false positives.
The regex matches whole words from the curated list. Adding every variant would inflate the count without adding much signal.
No. The interface can be localized, but the analysis list is English-only. Spanish, French or Japanese drafts would need their own transition lists.
No. Nothing you paste is sent to a server. Counting happens in your browser only.
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