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Your conclusion is your chance to summarize your thoughts and make a lasting impression, so it’s one of the most important parts of any essay or presentation. But is it a good idea to actually use the phrase “in conclusion” to do this? While this phrase is sometimes appropriate, it is also often overused. Luckily, there are a few other options if you want to go for something more unique, and we’ve compiled a helpful list of them. Keep reading to find the perfect phrase to connect your thoughts and end your paper or presentation with a bang!
- Formal alternatives: Finally, briefly, for review
- Informal alternatives: All in all, in short, at the end of the day
- One-word alternatives: In essence, therefore, overall
Finally This expression is an excellent alternative for both written essays and oral presentations. It has the same meaning and level of formality as “in conclusion”, but is slightly less common. You can use this phrase before a brief review of your argument or before a “call to action” (the part of the conclusion where you tell your audience what they should do next).[1]
Here are some examples:- “Ultimately, Mary Shelley’s work was revolutionary and should be considered the mother of the science fiction genre.”
- “Finally, we should do everything we can to tackle bullying in schools, so I urge you to sign this petition.”
Briefly “In summary” is a very similar term to “in conclusion”, so you can easily replace it in any paper or presentation. The phrase works best if you plan to go through your ideas one more time and synthesize your main points, to really get them across to the reader or listener. For example:
- “In short, Gutenberg’s printing press led to increased literacy and access to information, making it one of the most important inventions in human history.”
- “In short, rabies is deadly, but the vaccine is almost 100% effective, so it is essential to vaccinate your pets to prevent the spread of the disease.”
For review “Review” is basically interchangeable with the phrase “brief”. This signals that you are nearing the end of your paper or speech and that you will go over important points for the last time. It is also quite formal, so it is suitable for use in academic essays and presentations.
- “To review, the success of Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight heralded a boom in vampire literature and media that continues to this day.”
- “To reiterate, a vegetarian or vegan diet has positive effects on both your health and the environment.”
As shown If you’re looking for something a little more flowery, the phrase “as shown” (and other variations thereof) might be the way to go. It’s a particularly formal phrase, so it’s a good option if you’re hoping to improve your language. It is suitable for verbal presentations, but works especially well in written essays. Here are some examples:
- “As research has shown, using mobile devices before bed can disrupt sleep due to blue light emissions.”
- “As the reviews of the book show, Hurricane Heights was not well received in its time, although many literary scholars today consider it a masterpiece.”
As a final observation “As a closing observation” is a great phrase to use if you’re hoping to convey one last idea before closing a formal essay or presentation. This signals that you will leave the reader or listener with a thought-provoking final insight, rather than listing things you’ve already covered. For example:
- “As a final observation, the negative perception of romance novels may have more to do with how society views women than the value of the books themselves.”
- “As a final observation, the benefits of drinking coffee may be deeper than expected and more research should be done on the subject.”
Finally This phrase also lets your reader know that you are going to offer another point in your argument, just like “as a final observation.” It is formal enough to use in an academic essay or important presentation, but not too stuffy or ornate. This makes it a great option if you want to keep the tone elevated and smooth without overdoing it. Here are some examples:
- “Finally, the explosion in popularity of superhero movies has interesting implications for the things we value as a society.”
- “Ultimately, the study suggests that there are some important unanswered questions that researchers will need to address in the future.”
Finally “Finally” is a concise and effective alternative to “in conclusion”. It’s a great choice if you want to keep things simple but keep a formal and elevated tone in your essay or speech. As a “closing observation,” it works best when you offer another idea or insight in your conclusion, rather than reviewing ideas you’ve already covered.
- “Finally, it’s important to mention that exercise has a profound effect on mental as well as physical health.”
- “Finally, it is necessary to discuss the cultural and social context in which Dickens was writing when he published David Copperfield.”
At the end “Finally” works in the same way as “finally” in that it allows you to make one more thought-provoking observation before closing your paper or presentation. It has a slightly less formal connotation, so it’s a great choice if you’re trying to loosen up your language a bit without keeping things too casual. For example:
- “Finally, it is important to mention the author’s relationship with her family, as it reflects the family situation of her main character.”
- “Finally, I would like to briefly address how these policy changes will affect the productivity of individual employees.”
Ultimately “Ultimately” is another concise option that works well in writing and speaking, and is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts. It’s a good choice if you use your conclusion to synthesize your thoughts and present your main idea one last time. Here are some examples:
- “Ultimately, Romanticism was an artistic and intellectual movement that emerged in response to the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution.”
- “Ultimately, research shows that there are several health benefits to eating more fiber, including lower cholesterol and better gut health.”
All in all “Overall” is another great choice for summarizing all of your thoughts. Being slightly less formal, it is suitable for papers and speeches that have a more casual tone. Like “ultimately,” it works best when you want to reiterate your main points or main idea so it’s fresh in your reader’s or listener’s mind.
- “In general, studies show that social media breaks can be beneficial for your mental health, so it’s a good idea to try them if you’re dealing with anxiety.”
- “Overall, the novel is about the dangers of judging other people based on their appearance and the importance of thinking for yourself.”
Briefly “Briefly” is a great transition phrase to use if you want to condense all the ideas you’ve covered into a final statement, so it’s easier for your reader or listener to digest. It works best in informal writing or speeches. Here are some examples:
- “In short, the new training program will help new hires feel prepared and empowered to succeed in their roles.”
- “In short, Charlotte Brontë was one of the most important writers of the 19th century, and her works still captivate readers today.”
Briefly This casual phrase is perfect for informal writing and casual presentations. This lets your reader or listener know that you’re going to summarize your ideas one last time to really drive them home. Because of this, it works best when you want to repeat your main points, rather than introducing new ones.
- “In short, artists like Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter suggest pop music is headed in an exciting new direction.”
- “In short, The Wizard of Oz was an incredibly successful film in its day, and continues to delight audiences today.”
Long story “Long story short” is a fairly casual phrase, so it’s best suited for very informal presentations or writing. Just like “brief,” it signals that you’re going to restate your main points or main idea one last time, so they’re fresh in your audience’s minds. For example:
- “In short, the popularity of recent movie musicals shows that the genre is not dead.”
- “In short, we need to make some changes to our process to support our employees.”
At the end of the day “At the end of the day” is another casual phrase you can use in an informal setting. Although it can be used in writing, it works best in oral speeches or presentations. It basically means “the main idea is…” or “the point I want to make is…”. Here are some examples:
- “At the end of the day, we need to devote more resources to cleaning up our beaches.”
- “At the end of the day, our mental and physical health is the most important thing.”
All in all “All in all” basically means “total” or “all things considered”. It’s a fairly informal phrase, so it’s more suitable for casual writing or presentations. It lets your audience know that you’re going to summarize your main idea once again, in light of all the points you’ve made.
- “Overall, our team seems poised to have an excellent year.”
- “Overall, reports indicate that the problem has been resolved.”
Last but not least “Last but not least” is another informal expression that works best for oral speeches or presentations rather than essays or papers. This phrase signals that you will offer one more point before you finish. For example:
- “Last but not least, I would like to touch on the importance of reaching out to your supervisor for assistance if you have any questions.”
- “Last but not least, I’d like to talk about the exciting new projects we plan to start this year.”
Ask a rhetorical question. If you don’t want to use a typical transition phrase, consider asking a rhetorical question at the beginning of your conclusion. This type of question is not intended to elicit a response from your reader or listener; instead, it creates a dramatic effect and gets them thinking about the final idea you’re going to cover. Here are some examples:
- “Is there more to the novel than meets the eye? The symbolism and the author’s later comments definitely seem to suggest this.”
- “So, is it really possible to prolong life with a healthy diet and frequent exercise? Not definitively, but research suggests it certainly can’t hurt.”
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Source: HIS Education