“Like” is not a transition word. It is primarily a preposition used for comparisons, and it does not appear on standard lists of transition words published by grammar authorities such as Merriam-Webster or the Purdue Online Writing Lab. However, “like” does connect ideas in casual speech and writing, which is probably why the question comes up so often.
What “Like” Actually Does in a Sentence
“Like” serves several grammatical roles, but none of them are technically transition words. Its most common job is acting as a preposition that draws a comparison between two things. When you write “She runs like a cheetah,” the word “like” compares her running to a cheetah’s. It links two ideas within a single sentence rather than bridging one sentence or paragraph to the next, which is what transition words do.
“Like” can also introduce examples, though style guides generally recommend “such as” when you are listing specific items. “Like” implies a comparison or frame of reference (“I enjoy fruits like mango”), while “such as” signals a direct list of examples (“I enjoy fruits such as mango”). In formal or academic writing, “such as” is the safer choice when you mean “including.”
How Transition Words Are Different
Transition words and phrases guide a reader from one idea to the next. They signal relationships between sentences or paragraphs: contrast, addition, cause and effect, sequence, or similarity. Words like “however,” “therefore,” “meanwhile,” “nevertheless,” and “in contrast” are classic examples. They sit at the boundary between two thoughts and tell the reader how those thoughts relate.
“Like” does not do this. It operates inside a sentence to compare two nouns or noun phrases. You would not typically start a new paragraph with “Like” the way you would with “However” or “On the other hand.” That functional difference is why grammarians classify “like” as a preposition (or sometimes a conjunction in informal usage) rather than a transition word.
Why “Like” Gets Confused for a Transition
In everyday speech, “like” pops up constantly as a connector. Research on spoken English shows that “like” functions as what linguists call a discourse marker, a word that highlights or focuses attention on what comes next. When someone says “It was, like, really cold,” the word “like” is not comparing anything. It is drawing the listener’s attention to the description that follows. These patterns are regular and purposeful, not random verbal tics, but they belong to spoken language rather than formal writing.
Because “like” loosely connects ideas in conversation, it can feel similar to a transition word. But in writing, its job is narrower: comparison, not navigation between ideas.
Words to Use Instead
If you are writing an essay or a professional document and need a transition that shows similarity or comparison, here are words and phrases that do that job:
- Similarly signals that two ideas share common ground.
- Likewise indicates that the same point applies to a new subject.
- In the same way draws a parallel between two processes or situations.
- By comparison sets up a side-by-side look at two things.
- Compared to directly frames one item against another.
For contrast rather than similarity, standard transitions include “however,” “nevertheless,” “on the other hand,” “conversely,” and “in contrast.” These all do what true transition words are designed to do: move the reader smoothly from one point to the next while clarifying the relationship between them.
When “Like” Works Fine in Writing
None of this means you should avoid “like” altogether. It is perfectly appropriate for comparisons (“The new policy works like the old one”) and is widely accepted in informal writing when introducing examples (“Streaming platforms like Netflix have changed how people watch TV”). Just know that it is functioning as a preposition in those sentences, not as a transition.
If your teacher or style guide asks you to use transition words, reaching for “like” will not satisfy that requirement. Choose a word from the similarity or contrast categories above, and save “like” for the comparisons it handles well.