what is the name for a word we repeat often but that adds no value to a sentence? (e.g. "like")

The about convincing ideas in the world, expressed in the most cute sentences, volition move no 1 unless those ideas are properly connected. Unless readers can motion easily from one thought to another, they will surely find something else to read or turn on the tv.

Providing transitions between ideas is largely a matter of attitude. Yous must never presume that your readers know what yous know. In fact, it's a good idea to assume not just that your readers need all the information that y'all have and need to know how yous arrived at the point you're at, but also that they are not quite as quick as you are. Yous might be able to bound from i side of the stream to the other; believe that your readers need some stepping stones and exist sure to place them in readily attainable and visible spots.

There are four basic mechanical considerations in providing transitions between ideas: using transitional expressions, repeating key words and phrases, using pronoun reference, and using parallel form.

Transitional tags run the gamut from the most simple — the little conjunctions: and, but, nor, for, yet, or, (and sometimes) so — to more complex signals that ideas are somehow connected — the conjunctive adverbs and transitional expressions such every bit still, moreover, nevertheless, on the other paw.

For boosted information on conjunctions, click Hither.

The utilise of the footling conjunctions — especially and and merely — comes naturally for well-nigh writers. Yet, the question whether ane can begin a sentence with a small conjunction often arises. Isn't the conjunction at the beginning of the sentence a sign that the judgement should have been connected to the prior sentence? Well, sometimes, yes. But frequently the initial conjunction calls attention to the sentence in an constructive way, and that's just what you want. Over-used, beginning a sentence with a conjunction can be distracting, but the device can add a refreshing dash to a sentence and speed the narrative flow of your text. Restrictions against beginning a judgement with and or but are based on shaky grammatical foundations; some of the most influential writers in the linguistic communication have been happily ignoring such restrictions for centuries.*

Here is a chart of the transitional devices (too called conjunctive adverbs or adverbial conjunctions) accompanied with a simplified definition of function (annotation that some devices appear with more than than one definition):

addition	over again, too, and, and so, as well, equally important, finally, first, further, furthermore, in addition, in the kickoff place, last, moreover, next, second, still, too
comparing	also, in the same mode, too, similarly
concession	granted, naturally, of course
contrast	although, and yet, at the aforementioned time, but at the same time, despite that, yet, fifty-fifty though, for all that, still, in contrast, in spite of, instead, all the same, notwithstanding, on the contrary, on the other hand, otherwise, regardless, still, though, withal
emphasis	certainly, indeed, in fact, of grade
case or illustration	after all, as an illustration, even, for instance, for instance, in determination, indeed, in fact, in other words, in brusque, it is truthful, of course, namely, specifically, that is, to illustrate, thus, truly
summary	all in all, birthday, equally has been said, finally, in cursory, in conclusion, in other words, in particular, in short, in simpler terms, in summary, on the whole, that is, therefore, to put it differently, to summarize
time sequence	after a while, afterward, again, also, and then, as long equally, at last, at length, at that time, before, besides, earlier, eventually, finally, formerly, further, furthermore, in addition, in the commencement identify, in the past, last, lately, meanwhile, moreover, adjacent, now, before long, second, shortly, simultaneously, since, so far, shortly, still, subsequently, and so, thereafter, too, until, until now, when

A word of caution: Do not interlard your text with transitional expressions only because you know these devices connect ideas. They must appear, naturally, where they belong, or they'll stick like a fishbone in your reader's craw. (For that same reason, in that location is no point in trying to memorize this vast list.) On the other hand, if you lot can read your unabridged essay and detect none of these transitional devices, then you must wonder what, if anything, is holding your ideas together. Practice by inserting a tentative however, nevertheless, consequently. Reread the essay later to see if these words provide the gum you needed at those points.

Repetition of Key Words and Phrases

The ability to connect ideas by means of repetition of key words and phrases sometimes meets a natural resistance based on the fright of being repetitive. Nosotros've been trained to loathe redundancy. At present we must learn that catching a give-and-take or phrase that'southward important to a reader'south comprehension of a piece and replaying that discussion or phrase creates a musical motif in that reader'south head. Unless it is overworked and obtrusive, repetition lends itself to a sense of coherence (or at least to the illusion of coherence). Call back Lincoln's advice:

Yous tin can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the fourth dimension, merely you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.

In fact, you can't forget Lincoln'south advice, because it has become part of the music of our language.

Remember to use this device to link paragraphs besides as sentences.

Pronoun Reference

Pronouns quite naturally connect ideas because pronouns virtually always refer the reader to something before in the text. I cannot say "This is truthful because . . ." without causing the reader to consider what "this" could mean. Thus, the pronoun causes the reader to sum upwardly, apace and subconsciously, what was said earlier (what this is) before going on to the because part of my reasoning.

Nosotros should hardly need to add together, even so, that it must e'er be perfectly clear what a pronoun refers to. If my reader cannot instantly know what this is, then my sentence is ambiguous and misleading. Also, do not rely on unclear pronoun references to avoid responsibility: "They say that . . ."

Parallelism

Though weak, this paragraph is not a total washout. Information technology starts with a topic judgement, and the sentences that follow are clearly related to the topic sentence. In the language of writing, the paragraph is unified (i.e., information technology contains no irrelevant details). However, the paragraph is non coherent. The sentences are disconnected from each other, making it difficult for the reader to follow the writer's train of idea.

Below is the same paragraph revised for coherence. Italics indicates pronouns and repeated/restated central words, assuming indicates transitional tag-words, and underlining indicates parallel structures.

The paragraph is now much more coherent. The organization of the information and the links between sentences help readers move hands from one judgement to the next. Notice how this writer uses a variety of coherence devices, sometimes in combination, to achieve overall paragraph coherence.

*Authority: The New Fowler's Mod English Usage edited by R.W. Burchfield. Clarendon Printing: Oxford, England. 1996. Used with the permission of Oxford Academy Press.

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Source: http://guidetogrammar.org/grammar/transitions.htm

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