Escalation (indeed / in fact)
SAT glossary · Reading & Writing
Definition
The relation in which sentence 2 is a stronger version of sentence 1 rather than an opposition to it ('The result was surprising. Indeed, it was unprecedented'). Students under-select indeed because escalation does not feel like a transition — it feels like the sentence continuing — and reach for 'however' when the second claim is outbidding the first, not opposing it.
Escalation (indeed / in fact) in plain English
'Escalation' describes a relationship between two sentences where the SECOND sentence isn't contradicting the first one — it's actually making an even STRONGER version of the same point, like 'The result was surprising. Indeed, it was unprecedented.' Students often under-select the word 'indeed' in these spots because escalation doesn't feel like a normal 'transition word' moment — it just feels like the sentence is naturally continuing the same thought — so people instead reach for a contrast word like 'however,' even though the second sentence isn't actually disagreeing with anything, it's just turning the volume UP on the same idea.
Also called: indeed / in fact
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