Transition words in Yoast: the 30 percent target and its limits

What goes on Yoast's list

Yoast keeps a list of transition words and multi-word phrases for each supported language. They fall into familiar groups:

• Cause and effect: because, therefore, as a result, so that
• Contrast: however, on the other hand, in contrast, nevertheless
• Sequence: first, next, finally, after that
• Examples and emphasis: for example, in particular, above all
• Addition: also, in addition, furthermore

The check counts a sentence once if it contains any listed item, then compares the count to the total. The feedback is blunt when you fall short: "Only 12% of the sentences contain them. This is not enough. Use more transition words." With none at all it says "None of the sentences contain transition words. Use some."

For texts of 200 words or fewer, Yoast notes that you "probably don't need them" and shows green either way. Like passive voice, the check is only available in languages Yoast has built a word list for.

Yoast's English list also includes two-part transitions, pairs such as "either ... or", "not only ... but also" and "both ... and". A sentence counts when both halves appear, which is one reason a sentence can be credited with a transition you did not notice writing.

From composition class to plugin

Transition words are a standard part of writing instruction because they make the logic between sentences explicit. Without them, a reader has to infer whether the next sentence is a reason, an exception or a new point. With them, the relationship is stated.

Yoast has been open that the threshold took adjustment. In its write-up on how the readability analysis was built, it described finding that very few articles contained enough transition words under its early settings, and lowering the demand so the green, orange and red results were more evenly spread. The current 30 percent reflects that tuning, not a figure from linguistics research.

Pages where a low share is normal

Some formats are made of standalone statements that do not need connecting words:

• step-by-step instructions, where each step is its own sentence;
• recipes, specifications and changelogs;
• glossary entries and definition lists;
• FAQ pages, where each answer is short and separate.

On these pages, forcing transitions into each item adds clutter. The check also struggles with lists in general, because each list item may be counted as a sentence with no transition, which drags the percentage down on list-heavy posts. If your page is structured that way on purpose, an orange or red result is expected.

Adding flow without filler

Where a low score points to a real problem, it usually looks like a wall of statements that do not explain how they relate. Fix the logic and the words follow:

1. Give reasons. "Descale every month. Hard water leaves deposits." becomes "Descale every month, because hard water leaves deposits."
2. Mark the turn. Where a paragraph shifts to an exception, say so: "However, filtered water changes that."
3. Show the example. "For example" in front of an example is not filler; it tells the reader what kind of sentence comes next.
4. Sequence the steps in explanations, not only in numbered lists: "First", "then", "once that is done".

Avoid starting every sentence with a connector. "Additionally", "Moreover" and "Furthermore" in a row read as padding, and they can trip Yoast's consecutive sentences check if the same word opens several sentences in a row.

Readability checks in Hydrogen SEO

Hydrogen SEO's SEO score does not count transition words. Its readability part looks only at average sentence length. Joining two short, related sentences with "because" raises the average slightly, so there is a small trade-off; aim for clear logic first and let the score follow.