You're talking, and then you want to change the subject — but the words don't come. So you go
silent, or you say "and… and… umm," and the jump feels sudden and awkward. Maybe you finished
one point and just stopped, not knowing how to start the next one. This is so common, and it
has nothing to do with your vocabulary. You're just missing a few small bridges — transition
phrases that signal "I'm moving on now." They're short, easy to learn, and they make your
speech feel planned and calm instead of jumpy. Let's pick up the ones that matter most.
Quick answer: Transition phrases are short signals like "speaking of which," "moving
on," "by the way," and "anyway" that tell the listener you're shifting to a new topic.
They stop your speech from feeling sudden or broken. You only need a handful — group them by
job (changing topic, going back, wrapping up), say each in an example aloud, and use them the
same day. Smooth shifts beat fancy words.
What is a transition phrase, and why does it matter?
A transition phrase is a small bridge between two topics. Without it, you jump; with it, you
walk across smoothly. It gives the listener a half-second warning that the subject is changing,
so they can follow you.
Compare:
Sudden: "I finished the report. Did you eat lunch?"
Smooth: "I finished the report. By the way, did you eat lunch?"
Same words — but the second one feels natural and friendly. The bridge does all the work.
You don't need new vocabulary; you need a signal.
Remember: A transition phrase buys you a moment to think and tells the listener where
you're going. That's two jobs from two small words.
Which phrases help me change the topic?
These are your everyday topic-changers. Use them when you want to move to something new without
it feeling random.
| Phrase | When to use | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| By the way | add a side topic | "By the way, did you call the office?" |
| Speaking of which | linked topic | "Speaking of which, how's your new job?" |
| That reminds me | a memory pops up | "That reminds me — I owe you money." |
| On another note | clearly new topic | "On another note, are you free Sunday?" |
| Moving on | leave one topic | "Moving on, let's talk about the budget." |
"By the way" is your safest, friendliest option — it works almost everywhere. "Moving on"
sounds a little more organised, so it's great for meetings.
How do I go back to an earlier point?
Sometimes you drift, then need to return. These phrases pull the talk back without confusing
anyone.
- "Anyway" — "Anyway, as I was saying, the plan is ready."
- "As I was saying" — "As I was saying, we need two more days."
- "Coming back to that" — "Coming back to your question, yes, I agree."
- "Where was I?" — "Where was I? Oh yes, the trip."
"Anyway" is the quiet hero here. It softly closes a side-topic and brings you home. Use it when
you realise you've wandered and want to land safely back on the main point. To keep your
sentences joined while you do this, see
English connectors to link your sentences.
Which phrases help me move forward in a list or plan?
When you're explaining steps or covering points one by one, these keep you organised and easy
to follow.
| Phrase | Use | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| First of all | start a list | "First of all, let me explain the issue." |
| Next | move a step on | "Next, we send the email to the client." |
| After that | the following step | "After that, we wait for their reply." |
| Then | continue | "Then, we plan the next meeting." |
| Finally | the last point | "Finally, we share the report." |
These five turn a messy answer into a clear one. In an interview or a presentation, "First of
all… next… finally" makes you sound prepared even when you're thinking on the spot.
How do I wrap up and close a topic?
When you're done with a subject, these phrases signal "that's it" cleanly, instead of trailing
off into silence.
- "So that's about it" — "So that's about it on the project."
- "To sum up" — "To sum up, we're on track."
- "In short" — "In short, it went well."
- "Long story short" — "Long story short, we missed the bus."
- "Anyway, that's all from my side" — used to close politely in a meeting.
Closing clearly is just as important as opening. A clean wrap-up tells the listener your point
is finished, so they don't sit waiting for more.
Say this, not that
- ❌ "I finished. Did you eat?" ✅ "I finished. By the way, did you eat?"
- ❌ "Stop. Other topic now." ✅ "On another note, let's talk about Sunday."
- ❌ (long silence, then jump) ✅ "Anyway, coming back to your question…"
- ❌ "And and the next thing." ✅ "Next, we send the email."
- ❌ "Ok done bye topic." ✅ "So that's about it on this. Moving on…"
The fixes don't add hard words. They add a small bridge so the jump feels smooth.
Common mistakes with transition phrases
- Using none at all. Jumping topics with no signal confuses listeners. One bridge fixes it.
- Using too many. "By the way… anyway… moving on…" in one breath sounds nervous. One is enough.
- Mismatching the setting. "Long story short" is casual; in a formal meeting use "to sum up."
- Learning them silently. A phrase you never say won't come out when you need it.
- Forgetting to actually return. Say "as I was saying" only when you really go back.
How do I tailor these to the situation?
The same shift sounds different in different places:
- Casual chat with friends: "By the way," "that reminds me," "anyway," "long story short."
- Work or meetings: "Moving on," "on another note," "to sum up," "coming back to that."
- Interviews or a GD: "First of all," "next," "finally," "to sum up" — they sound structured.
- Storytelling: "Anyway," "so then," "long story short" carry the listener along.
Pick the set that fits where you'll speak today. You don't need all of them — three or four,
used smoothly, already make you sound organised. Pair them with phrases for sharing your view,
like those in
words and phrases for giving your opinion.
Say it out loud (2-minute practice)
Transition phrases only help if they come out while you speak. Drill it now:
- Talk about your morning for 20 seconds. Then say "by the way" and switch to your evening plan.
- Drift onto a side topic, then use "anyway, as I was saying" to come back.
- Explain any task in steps using "first of all… next… finally."
- Close a topic three ways: "so that's about it," "to sum up," "in short."
- Record a 30-second talk that changes topics twice. Play it back — did the jumps feel smooth?
For gentle practice with topic shifts, you can
speak daily with the FirstWords English AI partner,
which lets you try these bridges without any pressure. A few reps and they'll appear on their own.
A quick word on the fear
Many learners freeze at topic changes because they're scared the switch will sound clumsy. So
they stay silent and the talk dies. But a tiny phrase like "by the way" is all you need — no
one judges it. If a smooth bridge won't come, use the simplest one and keep going. The listener
follows the signal, not your grammar. Don't wait until your English is perfect to change topics.
Speak, bridge, and grow. Aim for communication, not perfection.
Mini-FAQ
How many transition phrases do I really need?
Just five or six. Learn "by the way, anyway, moving on, first of all, to sum up" first — they
cover most situations.
Can I start a sentence with these in normal speech?
Yes, absolutely. "By the way, did you call?" "Anyway, let's go." In speaking, leading with a
transition phrase is completely natural.
What's the difference between "by the way" and "on another note"?
Both change topic. "By the way" is light and casual; "on another note" feels slightly more
deliberate, good for work.
Why does my topic-changing still feel awkward?
Usually there's no bridge at all — just a sudden jump. Add one short phrase before the new
topic and practise it aloud, and it smooths out fast.
Your next step
You now have transition phrases grouped by job — changing topic, going back, moving forward,
and wrapping up — plus a plan to make them automatic: bridge your topics out loud until the
phrases slip in by themselves. If you'd like to build that smooth, organised way of speaking
in just 20 minutes a day with a patient partner, that's exactly what
the FirstWords English spoken-English programme
is built for.
Next, keep growing your spoken vocabulary with
100 everyday English words and phrases,
English connectors to link your sentences, and
words and phrases for giving your opinion.