A cut is by far the most versatile, graceful transition in your repertoire of edit types. It's how most of us start editing, and it's the best way to get from scene to scene in a video.
As proof, study the edits in popular feature films and TV programs; more than 90 percent are cuts. Fancy visual tricks like dissolves, wipes and digital effects happen rarely.
That doesn't mean you shouldn't use them. In the right places, those edits can turn a milquetoast cut into magic. The secret is knowing when and how to use those dazzling effects …