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List of 50 "In Conclusion" Synonyms—Write Better with ProWritingAid

By Alex Simmonds

Table of Contents

Why is it wrong to use "in conclusion" when writing a conclusion, what can i use instead of "in conclusion" for an essay, what are some synonyms for "in conclusion" in formal writing, what are some synonyms for "in conclusion" in informal writing, what is another word for "in conclusion", what should a conclusion do in an article or paper.

The final paragraphs of any paper can be extremely difficult to get right, and yet they are probably the most important. They offer you a chance to summarize the points you have made into a neat package and leave a good impression on the reader.

Many people choose to start the last paragraph with the phrase in conclusion , but this has its downsides.

Firstly, you should only use it once. Any more than that and your essay will sound horribly repetitive. Secondly, there is the question of whether you should even use the phrase at all?

Though it’s okay to use in conclusion in a speech or presentation, when writing an essay it comes across as stating the obvious. The phrase will come across as a bit unnecessary or "on the nose."

Its use in an essay is clichéd, and there are far cleaner and more elegant ways of indicating that you are going to be concluding the paper. Using in conclusion might even irritate and alienate your audience or readers.

Thankfully, there are hundreds of synonyms available in the English language which do a much better (and much more subtle) job of drawing a piece of writing to a close.

The key is to choose ones which suit the tone of the paper. Here we will look at both formal options for an essay or academic paper, and informal options for light-hearted, low key writing, or speeches.

If you are writing an academic essay, a white paper, a business paper, or any other formal text, you will want to use formal transitional expressions that successfully work as synonyms for in conclusion .

The following are some suggestions you could use:

As has been demonstrated

A simple way of concluding all your points and summarizing everything you have said is to confidently state that those points have convincingly proven your case:

As the research has demonstrated , kids really do love chocolate.

As all the above points have demonstrated , Dan Brown really was the most technically gifted writer of the 20th Century.

As has been demonstrated in this paper , the side-effects of the vaccine are mild in comparison to the consequences of the virus.

As has been shown

This is another way of saying as has been demonstrated , but perhaps less scientific and more literary. As has been shown would work well in literature, history, or philosophy essays.

For example:

As has been shown above , the First World War and industrialization were the drivers for a new way of seeing the world, reflected in Pound’s poetry.

In the final analysis

This is a great expression to use in your conclusion, since it’s almost as blunt as in conclusion , but is a more refined and far less clichéd way of starting the concluding paragraph.

Once you have finished your argument and started drawing things to a close, using in the final analysis allows you to tail nicely into your last summation.

In the final analysis , there can be little doubt that Transformers: Dark of the Moon represents a low point in the history of cinema.

Along with let’s review , this is short and blunt way of announcing that you intend to recap the points you have made so far, rather than actually drawing a conclusion.

It definitely works best when presenting or reading out a speech, but less well in an essay or paper.

However, it does work effectively in a scientific paper or if you wish to recap a long train of thought, argument, or sequence before getting to the final concluding lines.

To review , of the two groups of senior citizens, one was given a placebo and the other a large dose of amphetamines.

Another phrase you could consider is in closing . This is probably better when speaking or presenting because of how double-edged it is. It still has an in conclusion element to it, but arguably it could also work well when drawing an academic or scientific paper to a conclusion.

For example, it is particularly useful in scientific or business papers where you want to sum up your points, and then even have a call to action:

In closing then, it is clear that as a society, we all need to carefully monitor our consumption of gummy bears.

Or in an academic paper, it offers a slightly less blunt way to begin a paragraph:

In closing , how do we tie all these different elements of Ballard’s writing together?

Perhaps the most similar expression to in conclusion is in summary . In summary offers a clear indication to the reader that you are going to restate the main points of your paper and draw a conclusion from those points:

In summary , Existentialism is the only philosophy that has any real validity in the 21st century.

In summary , we believe that by switching to a subscription model...

On top of those previously mentioned, here are some other phrases that you can use as an alternative to in conclusion :

To summarize

Overall, it may be said

Taking everything into account

On the whole

In general, it can be said that

With this in mind

Considering all this

Everything considered

As a final observation

Considering all of the facts

For the most part

In light of these facts

When it comes to finishing up a speech, a light-hearted paper, blog post, or magazine article, there are a couple of informal phrases you can use rather than in conclusion :

In a nutshell

The phrase in a nutshell is extremely informal and can be used both in speech and in writing. However, it should never be used in academic or formal writing.

It could probably be used in informal business presentations, to let the audience know that you are summing up in a light-hearted manner:

In a nutshell , our new formula Pro Jazzinol shampoo does the same as our old shampoo, but we get to charge 20% more for it!

You can also use it if you want to get straight to the point at the end of a speech or article, without any fluff:

In a nutshell , our new SocialShocka app does what it says on the tin—gives you an electric shock every time you try to access your social media!

At the end of the day

This is a pretty useful expression if you want to informally conclude an argument, having made all your points. It basically means in the final reckoning or the main thing to consider is , but said in a more conversational manner:

At the end of the day , he will never make the national team, but will make a good living as a professional.

At the end of the day , the former President was never destined to unite the country…

Long story short

Another informal option when replacing in conclusion is to opt for to make a long story short —sometimes shortened to long story short .

Again, this is not one you would use when writing an academic or formal paper, as it is much too conversational. It’s a phrase that is far better suited to telling a joke or story to your friends:

Long story short , Billy has only gone and started his own religion!

Would you ever use it in writing? Probably not, except for at the end of friendly, low-key presentations:

Long story short , our conclusion is that you are spending far too much money on after work company bowling trips.

And possibly at the end of an offbeat magazine article or blog post:

Long story short , Henry VIII was a great king—not so great a husband though!

Other "In Conclusion" Synonyms for Informal Writing

You can use any of the synonyms in this article when writing informally, but these are particularly useful when you want your writing to sound conversational:

By and large

On a final note

Last but not least

For all intents and purposes

The bottom line is

To put it bluntly

To wrap things up

To come to the point

To wind things up

Instead of opting for one of the above expressions or idioms, there are several different singular transition words you can use instead. Here are a couple of examples:

The perfect word to tell the reader you are reaching the end of your argument. Lastly is an adverb that means "at the end" or "in summary." It is best used when you are beginning your conclusion:

Lastly , with all the previous points in mind, there is the question of why Philip K Dick was so fascinated with alternate history?

But can also be used at the very end of your conclusion too:

Lastly then, we are left with Eliot’s own words on his inspiration for "The Waste Land."

Finally does exactly the same job as lastly . It lets the reader know that you are at the final point of your argument or are about to draw your conclusion:

Finally , we can see from all the previous points that...

Another word that can be used at beginning of the conclusion is the adverb ultimately . Meaning "in the end" or "at the end of the day," it can be used as a conclusion to both informal and formal papers or articles:

Ultimately , it comes down to whether one takes an Old Testament view of capital punishment or...

It can also be used in more survey, scientific, or charity appeal style articles as a call to action of some sort:

Ultimately , we will all need to put some thought into our own carbon footprints over the next couple of years.

A good word to conclude a scientific, or survey style paper is overall . It can be used when discussing the points, arguments or results that have been outlined in the paper up until that point.

Thus, you can say:

Overall , our survey showed that most people believe you should spread the cream before you add the jam, when eating scones.

Other Transition Words to Replace "In Conclusion"

Here are a few transition word alternatives to add to your arsenal:

Considering

Essentially

Principally

Summarizing

Pro tip: You should use transition words throughout your essay, paper, or article to guide your reader through your ideas towards your conclusion. ProWritingAid’s Transitions Report tells you how many transition words you’ve used throughout your document so you can make sure you’re supporting your readers’ understanding.

It’ll also tell you what type of transitions you’ve used. If there are no conclusion words in your writing, consider using one of the synonyms from this article.

Sign up for a free ProWritingAid account to try the Transitions Report.

One of the most effective ways of finishing up a piece of writing is to ask a question, or return to the question that was asked at the beginning of the paper using. This can be achieved using how , what , why , or who .

This is sometimes referred to as the "so what?" question. This takes all your points and moves your writing (and your reader) back to the broader context, and gets the reader to ask, why are these points important? Your conclusion should answer the question "so what?" .

To answer that, you circle back to the main concept or driving force of the essay / paper (usually found in the title) and tie it together with the points you have made, in a final, elegant few sentences:

How, then, is Kafka’s writing modernist in outlook?

Why should we consider Dickens’ work from a feminist perspective?

What, then , was Blake referring to, when he spoke of mind forged manacles?

In Conclusion

There are plenty of alternatives for drawing an effective and elegant close to your arguments, rather than simply stating in conclusion .

Whether you ask a question or opt for a transition expression or a single transition word, just taking the time to choose the right synonyms will make all the difference to what is, essentially, the most important part of your paper.

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Alex Simmonds

Alex Simmonds is a freelance copywriter based in the UK and has been using words to help people sell things for over 20 years. He has an MA in English Lit and has been struggling to write a novel for most of the last decade. He can be found at alexsimmonds.co.uk.

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10 Other Ways To Say “In Conclusion”

The phrase “in conclusion” is often overused. We’ll go over synonyms for “in conclusion” (five formal and five casual) and provide examples showing how to use them.

What’s Another Way To Say “In Conclusion”?

There are many other phrases that can be used in place of in conclusion when writing an essay, report, or any other type of text.

A formal synonym you can use instead is in summary .

• In summary , the results of the experiment supported our hypothesis.

A casual way of saying in conclusion is to wrap things up .

• To wrap things up , that’s everything we had to deal with today.

Need Another Way of Saying “In Conclusion”?

The mighty conclusion : along with the introduction, it’s the most vital piece of your writing. It’s what readers will remember the most, what will be branded into their brains. Do you really want to start this vital paragraph with a lackluster phrase like in conclusion?

Some writers may see no problem with using this phrase, as it might be the one that fits their writing best. But if you’re looking for synonyms for in conclusion, you’ve come to the right place.

Synonyms for “In Conclusion”: Formal Phrases

Below, you’ll find five synonyms for in conclusion that are best suited for formal settings, such as professional and academic writing.

1) In summary

Like in conclusion , the phrase in summary serves as a transition phrase that signals you are starting the last paragraph of your writing. When using in summary , you should briefly review the main points of your text.

In summary , the destruction of natural habitats will soon become a problem not just for the animals but for humans, too.

2) Ultimately

Ultimately is an effective transition word you can use in place of in conclusion. It indicates that you’ve clearly expressed the central idea of your writing, but it’s particularly useful for declaring the importance of a specific call to action.

Ultimately , the decision is up to humans on whether saving the ecosystem is on our list of priorities.

3) As has been demonstrated

As has been demonstrated is a great transition expression that shows that as a writer, you are confident that you’ve thoroughly presented enough evidence or reasoning to prove your point.

As has been demonstrated in this paper, if corporations aren’t held accountable for their role in plastic pollution, millions of different species of fish, dolphins, corals, and more will become endangered.

4) In closing

In closing is another effective transition expression to let your readers know you are at the end of your writing. After using this synonym for in conclusion , you can either summarize the central principle of your text or write a call to action.

In closing , everyone can benefit from transitioning from single-use plastics to eco-friendly alternatives, like stainless steel.

This synonym for in conclusion is especially useful in argumentative or informative essays when you are about to make the last point. It is commonly found in the first or last sentence of the conclusion.

Lastly , you should remember that no change is insignificant. Small changes make a big difference.

Synonyms for “In Conclusion”: Casual Phrases

Sometimes in conclusion is too lofty for the topic you’re writing about. Here are five casual synonyms you could use instead :

6) In a nutshell

This phrase is a friendly and informal equivalent of to summarize . After this transition expression, you’d review the prominent points of your text.

In a nutshell , the beach clean-up was a fun yet important activity for the kids.

7) Long story short

This synonym for in conclusion is best reserved for writing that carries a conversational tone. It also signals that you will briefly state the essence of what you’ve written.

Long story short , the field trip to the beach was a success, and I’d highly recommend other teachers try it.

8) To sum up

This transition phrase is another informal synonym of to summarize. Again, this phrase is best used for casual writing and signals you’ve reached the end of your text.

To sum up , all the activities showed the kids that living an eco-friendly life is both easy and important.

9) At the end of the day

This is the informal way of saying ultimately . Similarly, it’s helpful in pointing out a call to action.

At the end of the day , it’s up to the adults to teach the children how to live a sustainable life.

10) To wrap things up

Another informal synonym of in conclusion is to wrap things up. These linking words illustrate that you’ve reached the end of your writing and will briefly summarize the main idea.

To wrap things up , a beach clean-up was an effective way of letting the students have fun while learning about the importance of taking care of nature.

Commas are necessary in almost every synonym to in conclusion ; where they are placed depends on the wording.

All In All, Conclusions Are Important

Regardless of how you decide to conclude your writing, the most significant aspect of the conclusion is proper spelling and grammar. A simple typo or incorrect placement of a comma can make readers forget about everything you’ve written.

LanguageTool helps you avoid this by checking for spelling and grammar errors as you type. This intelligent, multilingual text editor will also enhance your writing by providing synonyms and suggesting stylistic improvements. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide whether you want flawless writing or not.

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39 Different Ways to Say ‘In Conclusion’ in an Essay (Rated)

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

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The phrase “In conclusion …” sounds reductive, simple and … well, just basic.

You can find better words to conclude an essay than that!

So below I’ve outlined a list of different ways to say in conclusion in an essay using a range of analysis verbs . Each one comes with an explanation of the best time to use each phrase and an example you could consider.

Read Also: How to Write a Conclusion using the 5C’s Method

List of Ways to Say ‘In Conclusion’ in an Essay

The following are the best tips I have for to say in conclusion in an essay.

1. The Weight of the Evidence Suggests…

My Rating: 10/10

Overview: This is a good concluding phrase for an evaluative essay where you need to compare two different positions on a topic then conclude by saying which one has more evidence behind it than the other.

You could also use this phrase for argumentative essays where you’ve put forward all the evidence for your particular case.

Example: “The weight of the evidence suggests that climate change is a real phenomenon.”

2. A Thoughtful Analysis would Conclude…

My Rating: 9/10

Overview: I would use this phrase in either an argumentative essay or a comparison essay. As an argument, it highlights that you think your position is the most logical.

In a comparison essay, it shows that you have (or have intended to) thoughtfully explore the issue by looking at both sides.

Example: “A thoughtful analysis would conclude that there is substantial evidence highlighting that climate change is real.”

Related Article: 17+ Great Ideas For An Essay About Yourself

3. A Balanced Assessment of the Above Information…

Overview: This phrase can be used to show that you have made a thoughtful analysis of the information you found when researching the essay. You’re telling your teacher with this phrase that you have looked at all sides of the argument before coming to your conclusion.

Example: “A balanced assessment of the above information would be that climate change exists and will have a strong impact on the world for centuries to come.”

4. Across the Board…

My Rating: 5/10

Overview: I would use this phrase in a less formal context such as in a creative discussion but would leave it out of a formal third-person essay. To me, the phrase comes across as too colloquial.

Example: “Across the board, there are scientists around the world who consistently provide evidence for human-induced climate change.”

5. Logically…

My Rating: 7/10

Overview: This phrase can be used at the beginning of any paragraph that states out a series of facts that will be backed by clear step-by-step explanations that the reader should be able to follow to a conclusion.

Example: “Logically, the rise of the automobile would speed up economic expansion in the United States. Automobiles allowed goods to flow faster around the economy.

6. After all is Said and Done…

Overview: This is a colloquial term that is more useful in a speech than written text. If you feel that the phrase ‘In conclusion,’ is too basic, then I’d also avoid this term. However, use in speech is common, so if you’re giving a speech, it may be more acceptable.

Example: “After all is said and done, it’s clear that there is more evidence to suggest that climate change is real than a hoax.”

7. All in All…

Overview: ‘All in all’ is a colloquial term that I would use in speech but not in formal academic writing. Colloquialisms can show that you have poor command of the English language. However, I would consider using this phrase in the conclusion of a debate.

Example: “All in all, our debate team has shown that there is insurmountable evidence that our side of the argument is correct.”

8. All Things Considered…

My Rating: 6/10

Overview: This term is a good way of saying ‘I have considered everything above and now my conclusion is..’ However, it is another term that’s more commonly used in speech than writing. Use it in a high school debate, but when it comes to a formal essay, I would leave it out.

Example: “All things considered, there’s no doubt in my mind that climate change is man-made.”

9. As a Final Note…

My Rating: 3/10

Overview: This phrase gives me the impression that the student doesn’t understand the point of a conclusion. It’s not to simply make a ‘final note’, but to summarize and reiterate. So, I would personally avoid this one.

Example: “As a final note, I would say that I do think the automobile was one of the greatest inventions of the 20 th Century.”

10. As Already Stated…

My Rating: 2/10

Overview: I don’t like this phrase. It gives teachers the impression that you’re going around in circles and haven’t organized your essay properly. I would particularly avoid it in the body of an essay because I always think: “If you already stated it, why are you stating it again?” Of course, the conclusion does re-state things, but it also adds value because it also summarizes them. So, add value by using a phrase such as ‘summarizing’ or ‘weighing up’ in your conclusion instead.

Example: “As already stated, I’m going to repeat myself and annoy my teacher.”

11. At present, the Best Evidence Suggests…

My Rating: 8/10

Overview: In essays where the evidence may change in the future. Most fields of study do involve some evolution over time, so this phrase acknowledges that “right now” the best evidence is one thing, but it may change in the future. It also shows that you’ve looked at the latest information on the topic.

Example: “At present, the best evidence suggests that carbon dioxide emissions from power plants is the greatest influence on climate change.”

12. At the Core of the Issue…

Overview: I personally find this phrase to be useful for most essays. It highlights that you are able to identify the most important or central point from everything you have examined. It is slightly less formal than some other phrases on this list, but I also wouldn’t consider it too colloquial for an undergraduate essay.

Example: “At the core of the issue in this essay is the fact scientists have been unable to convince the broader public of the importance of action on climate change.”

13. Despite the shortcomings of…

Overview: This phrase can be useful in an argumentative essay. It shows that there are some limitations to your argument, but , on balance you still think your position is the best. This will allow you to show critical insight and knowledge while coming to your conclusion.

Often, my students make the mistake of thinking they can only take one side in an argumentative essay. On the contrary, you should be able to highlight the limitations of your point-of-view while also stating that it’s the best.

Example: “Despite the shortcomings of globalization, this essay has found that on balance it has been good for many areas in both the developed and developing world.”

14. Finally…

My Rating: 4/10

Overview: While the phrase ‘Finally,’ does indicate that you’re coming to the end of your discussion, it is usually used at the end of a list of ideas rather than in a conclusion. It also implies that you’re adding a point rather that summing up previous points you have made.

Example: “Finally, this essay has highlighted the importance of communication between policy makers and practitioners in order to ensure good policy is put into effect.”

15. Gathering the above points together…

Overview: While this is not a phrase I personally use very often, I do believe it has the effect of indicating that you are “summing up”, which is what you want out of a conclusion.

Example: “Gathering the above points together, it is clear that the weight of evidence highlights the importance of action on climate change.”

16. Given the above information…

Overview: This phrase shows that you are considering the information in the body of the piece when coming to your conclusion. Therefore, I believe it is appropriate for starting a conclusion.

Example: “Given the above information, it is reasonable to conclude that the World Health Organization is an appropriate vehicle for achieving improved health outcomes in the developing world.”

17. In a nutshell…

Overview: This phrase means to say everything in the fewest possible words. However, it is a colloquial phrase that is best used in speech rather than formal academic writing.

Example: “In a nutshell, there are valid arguments on both sides of the debate about socialism vs capitalism.”

18. In closing…

Overview: This phrase is an appropriate synonym for ‘In conclusion’ and I would be perfectly fine with a student using this phrase in their essay. Make sure you follow-up by explaining your position based upon the weight of evidence presented in the body of your piece

Example: “In closing, there is ample evidence to suggest that liberalism has been the greatest force for progress in the past 100 years.”

19. In essence…

Overview: While the phrase ‘In essence’ does suggest you are about to sum up the core findings of your discussion, it is somewhat colloquial and is best left for speech rather than formal academic writing.

Example: “In essence, this essay has shown that cattle farming is an industry that should be protected as an essential service for our country.”

20. In review…

Overview: We usually review someone else’s work, not our own. For example, you could review a book that you read or a film you watched. So, writing “In review” as a replacement for “In conclusion” comes across a little awkward.

Example: “In review, the above information has made a compelling case for compulsory military service in the United States.”

21. In short…

Overview: Personally, I find that this phrase is used more regularly by undergraduate student. As students get more confident with their writing, they tend to use higher-rated phrases from this list. Nevertheless, I would not take grades away from a student for using this phrase.

Example: “In short, this essay has shown the importance of sustainable agriculture for securing a healthy future for our nation.”

22. In Sum…

Overview: Short for “In summary”, the phrase “In sum” sufficiently shows that you are not coming to the moment where you will sum up the essay. It is an appropriate phrase to use instead of “In conclusion”.

But remember to not just summarize but also discuss the implications of your findings in your conclusion.

Example: “In sum, this essay has shown the importance of managers in ensuring efficient operation of medium-to-large enterprises.”

23. In Summary…

Overview: In summary and in sum are the same terms which can be supplemented for “In conclusion”. You will show that you are about to summarize the points you said in the body of the essay, which is what you want from an essay.

Example: “In summary, reflection is a very important metacognitive skill that all teachers need to master in order to improve their pedagogical skills.”

24. It cannot be conclusively stated that…

Overview: While this phrase is not always be a good fit for your essay, when it is, it does show knowledge and skill in writing. You would use this phrase if you are writing an expository essay where you have decided that there is not enough evidence currently to make a firm conclusion on the issue.

Example: “It cannot be conclusively stated that the Big Bang was when the universe began. However, it is the best theory so far, and none of the other theories explored in this essay have as much evidence behind them.”

25. It is apparent that…

Overview: The term ‘ apparent ’ means that something is ‘clear’ or even ‘obvious’. So, you would use this word in an argumentative essay where you think you have put forward a very compelling argument.

Example: “It is apparent that current migration patterns in the Americas are unsustainable and causing significant harm to the most vulnerable people in our society.”

26. Last but not least…

Overview: The phrase “last but not least” is a colloquial idiom that is best used in speech rather than formal academic writing. Furthermore, when you are saying ‘last’, you mean to say you’re making your last point rather than summing up all your points you already made. So, I’d avoid this one.

Example: “Last but not least, this essay has highlighted the importance of empowering patients to exercise choice over their own medical decisions.”

27. Overall…

My Rating: 7.5/10

Overview: This phrase means ‘taking everything into account’, which sounds a lot like what you would want to do in an essay. I don’t consider it to be a top-tier choice (which is why I rated it 7), but in my opinion it is perfectly acceptable to use in an undergraduate essay.

Example: “Overall, religious liberty continues to be threatened across the world, and faces significant threats in the 21 st Century.”

28. The above points illustrate…

Overview: This phrase is a good start to a conclusion paragraph that talks about the implications of the points you made in your essay. Follow it up with a statement that defends your thesis you are putting forward in the essay.

Example: “The above points illustrate that art has had an overwhelmingly positive impact on humanity since the renaissance.”

29. The evidence presented in this essay suggests that…

Overview: I like this phrase because it highlights that you are about to gather together the evidence from the body of the essay to put forward a final thesis statement .

Example: “The evidence presented in this essay suggests that the democratic system of government is the best for securing maximum individual liberty for citizens of a nation.”

30. This essay began by stating…

Overview: This phrase is one that I teach in my YouTube mini-course as an effective one to use in an essay conclusion. If you presented an interesting fact in your introduction , you can return to that point from the beginning of the essay to provide nice symmetry in your writing.

Example: “This essay began by stating that corruption has been growing in the Western world. However, the facts collected in the body of the essay show that institutional checks and balances can sufficiently minimize this corruption in the long-term.”

31. This essay has argued…

Overview: This term can be used effectively in an argumentative essay to provide a summary of your key points. Follow it up with an outline of all your key points, and then a sentence about the implications of the points you made. See the example below.

Example: “This essay has argued that standardized tests are damaging for students’ mental health. Tests like the SATs should therefore be replaced by project-based testing in schools.”

32. To close…

Overview: This is a very literal way of saying “In conclusion”. While it’s suitable and serves its purpose, it does come across as being a sophomoric term. Consider using one of the higher-rated phrases in this list.

Example: “To close, this essay has highlighted both the pros and cons of relational dialectics theory and argued that it is not the best communication theory for the 21 st Century.”

33. To Conclude…

Overview: Like ‘to close’ and ‘in summary’, the phrase ‘to conclude’ is very similar to ‘in conclusion’. It can therefore be used as a sufficient replacement for that term. However, as with the above terms, it’s just okay and you could probably find a better phrase to use.

Example: “To conclude, this essay has highlighted that there are multiple models of communication but there is no one perfect theory to explain each situation.”

34. To make a long story short…

My Rating: 1/10

Overview: This is not a good phrase to use in an academic essay. It is a colloquialism. It also implies that you have been rambling in your writing and you could have said everything more efficiently. I would personally not use this phrase.

Example: “To make a long story short, I don’t have very good command of academic language.”

35. To Sum up…

Overview: This phrase is the same as ‘In summary’. It shows that you have made all of your points and now you’re about to bring them all together in a ‘summary’. Just remember in your conclusion that you need to do more than summarize but also talk about the implications of your findings. So you’ll need to go beyond just a summary.

Example: “In summary, there is ample evidence that linear models of communication like Lasswell’s model are not as good at explaining 21 st Century communication as circular models like the Osgood-Schramm model .”

36. Ultimately…

Overview: While this phrase does say that you are coming to a final point – also known as a conclusion – it’s also a very strong statement that might not be best to use in all situations. I usually accept this phrase from my undergraduates, but for my postgraduates I’d probably suggest simply removing it.

Example: “Ultimately, new media has been bad for the world because it has led to the spread of mistruths around the internet.”

37. Undoubtedly…

Overview: If you are using it in a debate or argumentative essay, it can be helpful. However, in a regular academic essay, I would avoid it. We call this a ‘booster’, which is a term that emphasizes certainty. Unfortunately, certainty is a difficult thing to claim, so you’re better off ‘hedging’ with phrases like ‘It appears’ or ‘The best evidence suggests’.

Example: “Undoubtedly, I know everything about this topic and am one hundred percent certain even though I’m just an undergraduate student.”

38. Weighing up the facts, this essay finds…

Overview: This statement highlights that you are looking at all of the facts both for and against your points of view. It shows you’re not just blindly following one argument but being careful about seeing things from many perspectives.

Example: “Weighing up the facts, this essay finds that reading books is important for developing critical thinking skills in childhood.”

39. With that said…

Overview: This is another phrase that I would avoid. This is a colloquialism that’s best used in speech rather than writing. It is another term that feels sophomoric and is best to avoid. Instead, use a more formal term such as: ‘Weighing up the above points, this essay finds…’

Example: “With that said, this essay disagrees with the statement that you need to go to college to get a good job.”

Do you Need to Say Anything?

Something I often tell my students is: “Can you just remove that phrase?”

Consider this sentence:

• “In conclusion, the majority of scientists concur that climate change exists.”

Would it be possible to simply say:

• “ In conclusion, The majority of scientists concur that climate change exists.”

So, I’d recommend also just considering removing that phrase altogether! Sometimes the best writing is the shortest, simplest writing that gets to the point without any redundant language at all.

How to Write an Effective Conclusion

Before I go, I’d like to bring your attention to my video on ‘how to write an effective conclusion’. I think it would really help you out given that you’re looking for help on how to write a conclusion. It’s under 5 minutes long and has helped literally thousands of students write better conclusions for their essays:

You can also check out these conclusion examples for some copy-and-paste conclusions for your own essay.

In Conclusion…

Well, I had to begin this conclusion with ‘In conclusion…’ I liked the irony in it, and I couldn’t pass up that chance.

Overall, don’t forget that concluding an essay is a way to powerfully summarize what you’ve had to say and leave the reader with a strong impression that you’ve become an authority on the topic you’re researching. 

So, whether you write it as a conclusion, summary, or any other synonym for conclusion, those other ways to say in conclusion are less important than making sure that the message in your conclusion is incredibly strong.

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10 Other Ways to Say “In Conclusion” (With Examples)

Wrapping up an essay, report, or presentation effectively is just as important as starting it off on the right foot. Using the phrase “in conclusion” repeatedly can become monotonous and may not always fit the tone or context of your content. To keep your writing fresh and engaging, it’s beneficial to explore other ways to say “in conclusion.”

In this blog post, we’ll delve into ten different expressions that can add variety and clarity to your closing remarks. From the formal “to conclude” to the more conversational “to wrap up,” these alternatives will help you finish your writing with impact and style.

What to Say Instead of “In Conclusion”

Here are 10 different ways to say “in conclusion”:

• To conclude
• As a final point

Here are the explanations and examples for each alternative way to say “in conclusion”:

1. To sum up

“To sum up” is a concise way to bring together all the main points discussed. It works well in both formal and informal contexts. This phrase indicates that you are about to summarize the essential information.

Usage examples:

• To sum up , our project was a success due to the team’s dedication and hard work.
• To sum up , your performance this quarter has been exceptional, and I am very proud of your achievements.
• To sum up , this has been an insightful discussion, and your contributions were invaluable.

2. In summary

“In summary” is often used in formal writing and presentations to provide a brief overview of the key points. It signals that you are about to recap the main ideas in a concise manner.

• In summary , the data shows a significant improvement in our sales figures.
• In summary , you have shown remarkable growth in your role, and I’m very proud of you.
• In summary , our findings support the hypothesis and provide a clear direction for future research.

3. Ultimately

“Ultimately” is used to present the final outcome or conclusion of a discussion. It emphasizes the end result after considering all factors.

• Ultimately , the decision was made to proceed with the new strategy.
• Ultimately , your dedication and hard work have paid off, and I am incredibly proud of you.
• Ultimately , the project was a success, thanks to everyone’s contributions.

4. All in all

“All in all” is a casual way to sum up the overall picture. It is often used in spoken language and informal writing to provide a general conclusion.

• All in all , it was a great year for our team.
• All in all , you did an excellent job, and I am very proud of your efforts.
• All in all , this experience has been highly rewarding and educational.

5. To conclude

“To conclude” is a formal phrase used to signal the end of a discussion or presentation. It indicates that you are wrapping up your points and providing a final summary.

• To conclude , the evidence supports our initial theory.
• To conclude , I want to commend you on your outstanding performance.
• To conclude , we have seen significant progress, and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together.

6. In closing

“In closing” is used to indicate that you are about to end your remarks. It is often used in speeches and presentations to prepare the audience for the conclusion.

• In closing , I want to thank everyone for their hard work and dedication.
• In closing , your accomplishments this year have been remarkable, and I am proud of you.
• In closing , let’s continue to strive for excellence in all that we do.

7. In the end

“In the end” is used to present the final outcome after considering all the factors. It is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

• In the end , the project was a success thanks to everyone’s efforts.
• In the end , your perseverance and hard work have made me very proud.
• In the end , we achieved our goals and set a new standard for success.

8. As a final point

“As a final point” is used to introduce the last important idea or conclusion. It emphasizes that you are about to make your closing remarks.

• As a final point , I want to highlight your exceptional teamwork and dedication.
• As a final point , your contributions have been invaluable, and I am proud of your achievements.
• As a final point , let’s remember the importance of collaboration and innovation.

9. To wrap up

“To wrap up” is a more casual way to indicate that you are concluding your discussion. It works well in both formal and informal settings.

• To wrap up , I want to express my gratitude for your hard work.
• To wrap up , you have exceeded expectations, and I am very proud of you.
• To wrap up , this has been a productive and successful project.

10. Finally

“Finally” is a straightforward way to introduce the last point or conclusion. It is commonly used in both spoken and written language to signal the end.

• Finally , I want to congratulate you on your outstanding achievements.
• Finally , your hard work and dedication have paid off, and I am very proud of you.
• Finally , let’s continue to build on our successes and strive for even greater accomplishments.

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11 Other Ways to Say “in Conclusion” in An Essay (See Examples)

In academic writing, effectively concluding an essay is just as crucial as the introduction. However, many students repeatedly use the phrase “in conclusion” to signal the end of their discussions, which can become redundant and uninspiring.

Exploring other ways to say “in conclusion” is beneficial to elevating the quality of your essay and engaging your readers until the very last word . This approach not only enhances your writing style but also demonstrates a mastery of language that can impress your readers and graders alike.

In this blog post, we’ll delve into several alternative phrases that you can use to conclude your essays effectively, with practical examples to illustrate how to implement them seamlessly into your writing.

11 Synonyms for “in Conclusion” in An Essay (With Usage Examples)

Here are 11 alternatives to say “in conclusion” in an essay:

• To summarize
• All things considered
• In the final analysis
• To wrap things up
• On the whole
• As a final point

1. To summarize

To summarize is a clear and direct way to signal that you’re about to recap the main points of your essay or argument. This phrase is particularly useful when you want to condense complex information into a more digestible format for your readers.

It’s often used in academic writing, reports, and formal presentations where clarity is key. When using to summarize , it’s important to ensure that you’re truly providing a concise overview rather than introducing new information.

This phrase can be especially effective when followed by a numbered or bulleted list of your main points.

Usage example:

To summarize , this essay has explored three main factors contributing to climate change: industrial emissions, deforestation, and agricultural practices.

2. Ultimately

Ultimately is a versatile transition word that can be used to introduce a final point or conclusion. It implies that you’ve considered various aspects or arguments before arriving at your final statement.

This word is particularly effective when you want to emphasize the most important or overarching conclusion of your essay.

Ultimately can also be used to suggest that despite conflicting evidence or opinions, you’ve reached a definitive stance. It’s a good choice when you want to sound authoritative without being overly formal.

Ultimately , while there are valid arguments on both sides, the benefits of renewable energy far outweigh the initial costs of implementation.

3. All things considered

The phrase all things considered signals to the reader that you’ve taken a comprehensive view of the topic before drawing your conclusion. It’s particularly useful when you’ve discussed multiple perspectives or factors in your essay.

This phrase implies that you’ve weighed various aspects carefully before reaching your final point. It can be especially effective in persuasive essays or when discussing complex issues with no clear-cut answers. All things considered also adds a tone of fairness and objectivity to your conclusion.

All things considered , while social media has its drawbacks, its ability to connect people across vast distances has revolutionized communication in the 21st century.

4. In essence

In essence is a concise way to introduce the core or fundamental idea of your argument. This phrase is particularly useful when you want to distill a complex topic down to its most basic elements . It’s often used to provide a simplified version of a more elaborate argument or to highlight the most crucial point among many.

In essence can help you cut through less important details and focus your reader’s attention on what you consider to be the heart of the matter. This phrase works well in both academic and more casual writing styles.

In essence , the novel explores the timeless conflict between individual desires and societal expectations.

5. As a final point

As a final point clearly signals to your reader that you’re about to present your last argument or observation. This phrase is straightforward and can be used to introduce a concluding statement that you want to emphasize or that ties together your previous points.

It’s particularly useful when you want to add one last thought that might not fit neatly into your main argument but is still important to mention. As a final point can also be used to introduce a call to action or a suggestion for further research or consideration.

As a final point , it’s worth noting that while this study provides valuable insights, further research is needed to understand the long-term implications of these findings fully.

6. In summary

In summary is a straightforward and formal way to introduce your concluding remarks. This phrase is particularly useful when you want to provide a brief overview of the main points discussed in your essay or presentation. It’s commonly used in academic writing, business reports, and formal speeches.

 When using in summary , it’s important to focus on restating your key arguments or findings without introducing new information. This phrase can be especially effective when followed by a concise, well-structured paragraph that ties together your main ideas.

In summary , this report has examined the economic impact of remote work on urban centers, highlighting reduced commuter traffic, decreased commercial real estate demand, and shifts in local business revenues.

7. To sum up

To sum up is a slightly less formal alternative to “in summary” or “in conclusion.” It’s a versatile phrase that can be used in both academic and more casual contexts. When you use to sum up , you’re signaling to your reader that you’re about to consolidate the main ideas of your essay or argument.

This phrase is particularly effective when you want to present a concise, clear final statement that encapsulates your overall message. It’s also useful when you want to remind your audience of the key points before moving on to your final thoughts or recommendations.

To sum up , while artificial intelligence offers numerous benefits in various fields, it also presents significant ethical challenges that society must address proactively.

8. In closing

In closing, is a polite and somewhat formal way to signal that you’re reaching the end of your essay or speech. This phrase is often used in professional settings, such as business presentations or formal letters.

When you use in closing , you’re indicating that you’re about to wrap up your main arguments and possibly offer some final thoughts or a call to action. It’s particularly effective when you want to leave your audience with a strong, memorable final impression.

This phrase can also be used to transition into a brief summary of your key points before presenting your concluding statement.

In closing , I’d like to emphasize the critical role that community engagement plays in the success of urban renewal projects.

9. To wrap things up

To wrap things up is a more casual and conversational way to introduce your conclusion. This phrase is well-suited for less formal essays, blog posts, or presentations. When you use to wrap things up , you’re signaling to your audience that you’re about to bring your discussion to an end .

It’s particularly effective when you want to maintain a friendly, approachable tone while still providing a clear structure to your conclusion. This phrase can be useful when summarizing key points or when transitioning to a final thought or call to action.

To wrap things up , let’s review the three main strategies we’ve discussed for improving work-life balance in the modern workplace.

10. On the whole

On the whole is a phrase used to introduce a general conclusion or overall assessment after considering various aspects of a topic. This expression is particularly useful when you’ve discussed multiple factors or perspectives in your essay.

When you use on the whole , you’re indicating that you’ve taken a broad view of the subject and are now presenting your overall judgment or conclusion. It’s especially effective when you want to acknowledge the complexity of an issue while still offering a clear, overarching statement.

This phrase can help balance different viewpoints and show that you’ve considered the bigger picture.

On the whole , despite some setbacks, the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has made significant progress over the past decade.

11. In the final analysis

In the final analysis, a more formal and thoughtful way to introduce your concluding remarks is needed. This phrase suggests that you’ve conducted a thorough examination of the topic before reaching your conclusion.

When you use in the final analysis , you’re signaling that you’re about to present your ultimate conclusion after careful consideration of all relevant factors. It’s particularly effective in academic writing or when discussing complex issues with multiple variables.

This phrase can add weight and credibility to your final statement, implying that it’s the result of deep analysis rather than a superficial observation.

In the final analysis , while genetic factors play a role in personal health outcomes, lifestyle choices and environmental factors have a more significant impact on overall well-being.

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30 ‘In Conclusion’ Synonyms and How To Use Them Write Better Essays

• How To Write A Conclusion
• Step 1 - Sign off your argument: Terms like ‘in conclusion’ are the perfect way to indicate that your argument is drawing to a close. Try to find engaging synonyms or snappy alternatives that highlight that you’re building up to a well crafted conclusion.
• Step 2 - Restate your topic: In a conclusion section, you should re-emphasise the topic, or the questions you were aiming to answer. This helps to refocus the reader and ensures there are no loose ends left by your argument.
• Step 3 - Summarize key points: Highlight the essential points from each section of your essay without repeating them exactly as you already have. You don’t have to cover all of the information in your essay, just the most significant points for your argument. The points you choose should be the most persuasive and impactful.
• Step 4 - Be reflective: Some essays require more reflection than others, but, in general, the conclusion is a great place to highlight the broader implications of your findings and arguments.
• Step 5 - A final call to action: Leave a lasting impression with a punchy final thought or a call to action. This is the line or statement that you want to resonate with the reader. It will either provoke further thought or encourage them to take immediate action.
• Should You Use ‘In Conclusion’ When Finishing An Essay?

Formal Vs. Casual Conclusions

• A List Of Synonyms for ‘In Conclusion’
• Myriam-Webster Dictionary
• To sum up: To sum up, the results indicate a need for further research.
• In summary: In summary, our project was a success.
• to summarise: To summarise, we have achieved all our goals.
• To conclude: To conclude, we recommend immediate action.
• In closing: In closing, I'd like to thank everyone for their hard work.
• In brief: In brief, the meeting was productive.
• In short: In short, the proposal was accepted.
• All in all: All in all, it was a profitable year.
• Ultimately: Ultimately, the decision lies with you.
• At the end of the day: At the end of the day, we must prioritise safety.
• To wrap up: To wrap up, let's review the main points.
• As a final point: As a final point, remember to submit your reports.
• To finalise: To finalise, here are the next steps.
• In a nutshell: In a nutshell, we need more funding.
• Finally: Finally, I appreciate your attention to this matter.
• Last but not least: Last but not least, congratulations to the team.
• On the whole: On the whole, the project was a success.
• Overall: Overall, the feedback has been positive.
• In the end: In the end, it was a valuable experience.
• To recapitulate: To recapitulate, the key findings are summarised.
• To round off: To round off, let's acknowledge our sponsors.
• In essence: In essence, our goals remain unchanged.
• To close: To close, I wish you all the best.
• As a summary: As a summary, the main points are listed below.
• In retrospect: In retrospect, we could have planned better.
• Thus: Thus, we have decided to extend the deadline.
• Therefore: Therefore, I propose we take immediate action.
• Hence: Hence, we should revise our strategy.
• Consequently: Consequently, we expect higher sales.
• Summing up: Summing up, our efforts have paid off.
• Need More Help With Crafting The Perfect Conclusion?

Introducing Transition Words: What Are They and How to Use Them

We’re going to explore what transition words for essays are, why they matter, and how you can use them. We’ll even discuss the specific categories of transition words, including transition words for conclusions, contrast transition words, and more. Before we get into how to use these, let’s first talk about what transition words are.

How to Write a Cause and Effect Essay: 4 Steps and a Free Sample

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Writing a cause and effect essay lets you dive deep into the relationship between events and their outcomes. This guide offers a step-by-step approach and three exemplary essays to help you master this format.

50+ Synonyms for “In Conclusion” with Examples | Other Ways to Say “In Conclusion”

Crafting a well-rounded conclusion is essential to the impact of your writing. It’s the final opportunity to emphasize the main points and create a lasting impression. While the classic phrase “in conclusion” signals the end of your discourse, it can become tiresome with overuse. There are numerous alternatives that can enhance your writing with subtlety and sophistication.

In Conclusion Synonyms

In Conclusion Meaning

“ In conclusion ” is a transitional phrase used to indicate that you are approaching the end of your writing. It serves to summarize the main points or indicate a final thought or opinion. Using synonyms for “in conclusion” can help maintain your reader’s interest and offer a sense of variety and sophistication in your writing.

• In conclusion , the research findings strongly support the need for additional funding in the healthcare sector.
• In conclusion , it is crucial to prioritize sustainability in all future urban development projects.
• In conclusion , it is imperative to reevaluate the current marketing strategy to reach a wider audience.

List of Synonyms for In Conclusion

• In summary,…
• After all is said and done,..
• All in all,…
• All things considered,…
• As a result,…
• As a final observation,…
• At the end of the day…
• Briefly to conclude…
• Bringing up rear,…
• By and large,…
• Considering all of these,…
• Everything considered,…
• Finally, it may be concluded…
• Finally/ Lastly,…
• In a nutshell…
• In closing,…
• In concluding,…
• In consolidation,…
• In ending this,…
• In essence,…
• In review,…
• In the end,…
• In the final analysis…
• It is concluded that…
• It’s apparent that through…
• Last but not least…
• On a final note…
• On the whole,…
• Overall, it may be said…
• Summing up,…
• Taking everything into account,…
• Taking this into account,…
• The research papers in the main…
• To briefly paraphrase…
• To come to the point…
• To conclude,…
• To end things off…
• To make the long story short…
• To put it all together…
• To put it bluntly…
• To sum up,…
• To summarise the above…
• To summarise,…
• To wrap it all up,…
• Ultimately,..

Types of Synonyms for In Conclusion

• In summary : To summarize, in short, to sum up
• Finally : Ultimately, lastly, in the end
• To conclude : To wrap up, to finish, to close
• Overall : All in all, in general, on the whole
• In closing : To end, in finality, to finish off

Common Synonyms for In Conclusion

In conclusion vs. in summary.

The phrases “ in conclusion ” and “ in summary ” are often used to signal the end of a discussion or presentation, but they have slightly different connotations.

“ In conclusion ” is typically used to emphasize the final remarks or main points of an argument or presentation. It often indicates a more formal and definitive ending to the discussion.

“ In summary ” is used to provide a brief overview or recap of the main points or key findings without necessarily signaling the end of the discussion. It is often used in a more neutral or objective tone.

• In conclusion , the evidence overwhelmingly supports the need for stricter environmental regulations.
• In summary , the study highlighted the correlation between regular exercise and improved cognitive function.

In Conclusion vs. In A Nutshell

“ In conclusion ” is typically used to summarize the main points or arguments of a discussion or presentation. It is often used at the end of an essay, speech, or formal presentation to bring together the key ideas and provide a sense of closure.

“ In a nutshell ” is also used to summarize information, but it tends to be more informal and concise. It is often used in casual conversations or when providing a quick overview of a complex topic.

• In conclusion , it is clear that climate change presents a significant threat to the planet, and urgent action is needed to address this issue.
• In a nutshell , the new tax policy aims to simplify the tax code and reduce the burden on middle-income earners.

In Conclusion vs. To Sum Up

“ In conclusion ” and “ to sum up ” are both phrases used to signal the end of a discussion or presentation and to summarize the main points.

“ In conclusion ” is typically used in formal writing or public speaking to signal the final thoughts or remarks on a topic.

“ To sum up ” is more commonly used in informal conversations or presentations to provide a brief overview or recap of the main points.

• The team’s research clearly demonstrates the need for more sustainable practices in the manufacturing industry. In conclusion , it is imperative that we take immediate action to reduce our environmental impact.
• To sum up , the key takeaways from today’s meeting are increased productivity and better communication.

Purpose of Formal Conclusions

In academic writing, we recognize the importance of a formal conclusion as a critical component that encapsulates our discussion in a coherent manner. We employ this section to achieve several key objectives.

Firstly,  we summarize  the main points we have presented, providing a concise recapitulation of our argument’s core elements. This enables our readers to easily recall the fundamental aspects of our discourse without having to revisit the entire text.

Secondly,  we synthesize  our ideas, demonstrating how individual arguments coalesce into a unified thesis. This synthesis not only clarifies the relationship between discrete sections of our work but also emphasizes the integrated nature of our research findings.

Moreover,  we articulate the implications  of our arguments, outlining potential impacts on the field of study or further research. This aspect of the conclusion underscores the relevance and contribution of our work to the broader academic conversation.

Lastly, we aim to leave our readers with  a final thought or recommendation , which can range from a call to action to a suggestion for future inquiry. It is through this parting notion that we invite ongoing engagement with the subject matter.

To ensure clarity and formality, we employ specific phrases as signposts to indicate that we are drawing our discourse to a close. Below is a list of formal synonyms that can be suitively applied in academic conclusions:

• To summarize
• Upon consideration

By adhering to these conventions, we ensure that our conclusions fulfill their intended purpose with the appropriate academic rigor.

Synonyms for In Conclusion in Different Contexts

Formal writing.

• To summarize: To summarize,  the quarterly results exceeded expectations due to a rise in online sales.
• Ultimately: Ultimately,  the merger between the two firms will lead to a greater market share.
• Finally: Finally , to denote the last point in a series.

Academic Essays

• In summary: In summary,  the experiment’s outcomes support the initial hypothesis.
• Overall: Overall,  the literature points to a need for further research in this area.

Presentations

• In closing: In closing,  I’d like to thank everyone for their active participation.
• To wrap this up: To wrap this up,  let’s revisit the main points discussed today.

Business Meetings

• In brief: In brief,  we must increase our marketing efforts to meet our sales targets.
• To conclude: To conclude,  I propose a follow-up meeting next week to discuss the implementation plan.

Daily Communication

Casual conclusions.

• In a nutshell: In a nutshell , the game was thrilling.
• In short: In short , it was a great day.

Informal Summarizations

• So: So , we’ll touch base next week.
• Basically: Basically , that’s what happened.
• Long story short: Long story short , it all worked out in the end.
• To cut a long story short: To cut a long story short , we met our goals.

Absolute and Near Synonyms for In Conclusion

Absolute synonyms for in conclusion.

Near Synonyms for In Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some alternative phrases to use in place of ‘in conclusion’ for summarizing a report?

Alternative phrases that effectively summarize a report include “To summarize,” “Overall,” and “Taking everything into account.” These provide a clear signal to the reader that a summary is forthcoming without repeating the common ‘in conclusion.’

Could you provide examples of how to effectively end an essay without using ‘in conclusion’?

One way to end an essay is to say, “Ultimately,” which denotes the final point without redundancy. Another is “In summary,” which cues the reader to a wrap-up of the essay’s main points.

What does ‘in conclusion’ imply, and what are other terms with similar meanings?

‘In conclusion’ implies that you are summarizing the main points or providing a final perspective. Terms with similar meanings include “To wrap up,” “In essence,” and “To sum up.”

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What Is Another Way to Say “In Conclusion” (+ Examples)

When it comes to writing, finding the right words to conclude an essay or article can be a daunting task. Saying “in conclusion” can feel repetitive and unoriginal, leaving writers searching for alternative phrases. Fortunately, there are several other ways to wrap up your writing that can give your work a fresh and polished feel.

One option is to use a transitional phrase that signals the end of your piece while also summarizing your main points. For example, “To sum up” or “In summary” can be effective ways to wrap up your writing without resorting to the overused “in conclusion.” Another option is to use a more creative phrase that reflects the tone or theme of your writing. For instance, “In the end, it all boils down to” or “Ultimately, the key takeaway is” can add a unique flair to your conclusion.

No matter which phrase you choose, it’s important to remember that the conclusion is your last chance to leave a lasting impression on your reader. By using a thoughtful and well-crafted phrase, you can ensure that your writing ends on a high note and leaves your reader with a sense of satisfaction.

Table of Contents

What is another way to say in conclusion, 1. to sum up, 2. in summary, 3. ultimately, 4. to wrap it up, 5. all in all, 6. in the end, 7. to finalize, 8. to bring it all together, 9. to draw a conclusion, 10. in closing.

1. To sum up 2. In summary 3. Ultimately 4. To wrap it up 5. All in all 6. In the end 7. To finalize 8. To bring it all together 9. To draw a conclusion 10. In closing

This phrase is used to provide a concise summary of the main points discussed in a conversation, presentation, or written piece. It is typically used towards the end of the discussion or writing to provide closure and a clear understanding of the key takeaways.

It is most appropriate to use this phrase when you have covered a lot of information and want to ensure that your audience understands the main points. It is also useful when you want to emphasize the importance of the information presented.

Example: After discussing the benefits and drawbacks of different marketing strategies, to sum up, it is essential to focus on the target audience’s needs and preferences to create an effective marketing campaign.

This phrase is similar to “to sum up” and is used to provide a brief overview of the key points discussed. It is often used in written pieces such as reports, essays, or articles.

It is most appropriate to use this phrase when you want to provide a clear and concise summary of the information presented. It is also useful when you want to emphasize the main points and ensure that your audience understands them.

Example: In summary, the study found that regular exercise can improve mental health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

This phrase is used to introduce the final conclusion or result of a discussion or decision-making process. It is often used when there are multiple options or solutions available, and a final decision or outcome needs to be made.

It is most appropriate to use this phrase when you want to emphasize the final decision or outcome and how it was reached. It is also useful when you want to highlight the importance of the decision or outcome.

Example: Ultimately, the company decided to invest in upgrading its technology infrastructure to improve efficiency and productivity.

This phrase is used to signal the end of a discussion or presentation and to provide a summary of the key points. It is often used in informal settings such as meetings or presentations.

It is most appropriate to use this phrase when you want to signal that the discussion or presentation is coming to a close and provide a brief summary of the main points. It is also useful when you want to emphasize the importance of the information presented.

Example: To wrap it up, we have discussed the key challenges facing our organization and identified several strategies to overcome them.

This phrase is used to provide an overall summary of the discussion or situation. It is often used to signal the end of a discussion or to provide a final conclusion.

It is most appropriate to use this phrase when you want to provide a comprehensive summary of the main points and emphasize the overall significance of the discussion or situation.

Example: All in all, the project was a success, and we were able to achieve our goals within the given timeline and budget.

This phrase is similar to “ultimately” and is used to introduce the final conclusion or result of a discussion or decision-making process. It is often used when there are multiple options or solutions available, and a final decision or outcome needs to be made.

Example: In the end, we decided to hire a new marketing team to help us improve our brand image and increase sales.

This phrase is used to indicate that the process of making a decision or completing a task is coming to an end. It is often used in business or legal settings to signal the completion of a contract or agreement.

It is most appropriate to use this phrase when you want to emphasize the final steps of a process and indicate that a decision or task is being completed.

Example: We need to finalize the details of the contract before it can be signed and implemented.

This phrase is used to indicate that the various parts of a discussion or presentation are being tied together to form a cohesive whole. It is often used to provide a summary of the main points and emphasize their interconnectedness.

It is most appropriate to use this phrase when you want to emphasize the overall significance of the information presented and how it all fits together.

Example: To bring it all together, the key to successful project management is effective communication, collaboration, and planning.

This phrase is used to indicate that a final decision or outcome has been reached after considering all the available information. It is often used in academic or research settings to summarize the findings of a study or experiment.

It is most appropriate to use this phrase when you want to emphasize the final conclusion or outcome and how it was reached based on the available evidence.

Example: To draw a conclusion, the study found that there is a correlation between regular exercise and improved mental health and reduced risk of chronic diseases.

This phrase is used to signal the end of a discussion or presentation and to provide a final summary or conclusion. It is often used in formal settings such as speeches or presentations.

It is most appropriate to use this phrase when you want to signal that the discussion or presentation is coming to a close and provide a final summary or conclusion.

Example: In closing, I would like to thank you all for your attention and support throughout this project, and I look forward to working with you again in the future.

In conclusion, there are various ways to wrap up a piece of writing, and using the same phrase repeatedly can make it sound monotonous. Therefore, it is essential to explore other ways to say “in conclusion” to add variety and interest to your writing.

One alternative to “in conclusion” is to sum up your main points concisely. For instance, you could say, “To summarize,” “To sum up,” or “To conclude.” These phrases indicate that you are about to provide a brief overview of your main points. Another option is to use transitional phrases such as “Ultimately,” “In the end,” or “All things considered.” These phrases signal that you are moving toward the end of your argument and are about to provide your final thoughts.

In conclusion, using different ways to say “in conclusion” can improve the flow and impact of your writing. By using transitional phrases or summarizing your main points, you can provide a clear and concise ending to your piece. So, the next time you’re concluding your writing, try to be creative and experiment with different phrases to make your conclusion stand out.

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Alternatives to “In Conclusion”: How to Wrap Up Your Writing Effectively

Giving your writing a strong conclusion is essential to leave a lasting impact on your readers. While the phrase “in conclusion” is commonly used, adding variety to your endings can greatly enhance your writing. In this guide, we will explore several formal and informal alternatives to the phrase “in conclusion.” Whether you need to conclude an academic essay, a business report, or simply an informal email, we’ve got you covered.

Table of Contents

Formal Alternatives to “In Conclusion”

When it comes to formal writing, it’s essential to maintain a professional tone and select appropriate ways to conclude your piece. Here are some alternatives you can use:

1. To Summarize

One effective way to signal your conclusion is by using the phrase “to summarize.” This alternative prompts the reader to consider the key points you’ve made throughout your writing.

Example: To summarize, the evidence presented in this study supports the hypothesis that regular exercise improves cognitive function.

2. In Summary

When you want to wrap up your writing concisely without using the traditional phrase, “in summary” serves as a suitable choice.

Example: In summary, the company’s financial situation heavily relies on restructuring its debt and implementing cost-cutting measures.

3. In a Nutshell

If you want to emphasize that you are capturing the essence of your topic, “in a nutshell” provides a vivid option.

Example: In a nutshell, the new advertising campaign successfully increased brand awareness among the target demographic.

4. To Conclude

A direct and simple way to lead into your final thoughts is to use “to conclude.” This phrase prepares your readers for your final remarks.

Example: To conclude, the findings of this research study strongly suggest a link between sleep deprivation and decreased productivity.

Informal Alternatives to “In Conclusion”

While formal writing often follows specific protocols, informal writing allows for more creativity and flexibility. Here are some alternatives to “in conclusion” that are suitable for informal contexts:

1. All in all

The phrase “all in all” indicates that you are considering the entirety of the subject matter, making it a versatile option for informal conclusions.

Example: All in all, yesterday’s road trip was filled with adventure, laughter, and unforgettable memories.

2. To Wrap it Up

To express a desire to conclude your writing in an informal way, “to wrap it up” works well and adds a touch of informality.

Example: Well, that’s it for now. To wrap it up, make sure to grab your tickets before they sell out!

3. In a Word

If you want to provide a brief, informal summary of your thoughts, “in a word” can be a suitable choice.

Example: In a word, that movie was phenomenal! I highly recommend it to everyone.

4. In Short

A versatile option for informal writing is “in short,” which allows you to give a condensed, punchy conclusion.

Example: In short, the party was a blast. The guests, music, and atmosphere all contributed to an unforgettable night.

Tips for Strong Conclusions

Now that you have a range of alternatives to choose from, here are some additional tips to ensure you craft a strong conclusion:

1. Review and Reinforce

Ensure that your conclusion summarizes the main points of your writing and reinforces your overall message.

2. Consider the Tone

The tone of your conclusion should match the overall tone of your writing. Whether it’s formal or informal, consistency is key.

3. Connect to the Introduction

Your conclusion should wrap up your writing by connecting back to your introduction, giving your piece a cohesive structure.

4. Create a Call to Action

If appropriate, use your conclusion to inspire action, leaving your readers with a clear next step or something to ponder.

5. Keep it Concise

Avoid introducing new ideas or going off on tangents in your conclusion. Instead, focus on a concise and impactful wrap-up of your main points.

By following these tips and employing alternative phrases, you can provide a strong and memorable conclusion that leaves a lasting impression on your readers.

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About The Author

Elaine Olivia

59 Ways to Say 'In Conclusion'

In this article, we’ll learn 59 alternative ways to say ‘in conclusion.’ In other words, you’re going to learn some synonyms of the common expression.

If you find yourself using the words ‘in conclusion’ a lot and wish you knew of other ways to say it, then you’ve come to the right place.

Other Ways to Say ‘In Conclusion'

So you want to learn new ways to say ‘in conclusion?’ Whether it’s for a formal or more casual setting, knowing alternative words for this popular expression can always come in handy.

So without further ado, let’s dive in.

‘In Conclusion’ Definition

First of all, what does ‘in conclusion’ mean? That’s an excellent place to start.

• It's an expression you use at the end of an idea to wrap up what you’ve said so far and to introduce your findings or thoughts on the matter.
• You’ll usually find these words at the end of a paragraph, a section, or at the very end of the piece itself.

Here are some examples of texts where you’ll often (if not always) find a conclusion:

• A blog article
• A research paper

For example, any well-structured blog deserves to be concluded. If you scroll to the end of any of our articles, you’ll always find that the very last section is a conclusion section where we summarize what was learned throughout the blog and any final thoughts on the topic.

Formal Ways to Say ‘In Conclusion’

The expression ‘in conclusion’ is often used in formal writing, such as academic essays or research papers, because those are the kinds of writing that require one. But if there’s one crucial thing in a well-written paper, it’s avoiding repetition and showing that you have a wide and varied vocabulary.

Is that you? Are you currently writing an academic paper or other text you hope to impress with? If so, this section is for you.

Here are some alternative ways to say ‘in conclusion’ in a formal setting:

1. By way of conclusion 2. To conclude 3. On a final note 4. To summarize 5. In closing 6. All things considered 7. Finally 8. In brief 9. Ultimately 10. For all intents and purposes 11. In essence 12. The bottom line is 13. To bring things to a close 14. To wrap things up 15. The main takeaway 16. If you take anything from this, let it be that 17. As I've demonstrated 18. As has been shown 19. Lastly 20. To review 21. By way of final observation

Casual Ways to Say ‘In Conclusion’

22. In a nutshell 23. Basically 24. Long story short 25. All in all 26. At the end of the day 27. So what I’m saying is 28. The gist of it is 29. On the whole 30. To sum up 31. To get to the point 32. After all is said and done

Different Ways to Conclude

There are a bunch of other ways you can conclude your argument, text, or speech. I'm going to list these below, and while they're not synonymous with 'in conclusion' like the phrases outlined above, they're still effective for rounding up or finalizing your argument.

33. By and large 34. Mostly 35. In general 36. Most importantly 37. Taking everything into account 38. In the end 39. As a result 40. As you can see 41. In the final analysis 42. For the most part 43. In the main 44. Chiefly 45. In short 46. Upon consideration 47. Upon further review 48. Overall 49. Predominantly 50. What I mean by that 51. In summary 52. What this means 53. Generally 54. With this in mind 55. Considering all this 56. Everything considered 57. All things considered 58. Considering all of the facts 59. In light of these facts

Examples in a Sentence

Okay, so now we’ve got some alternative ways of saying ‘in conclusion,’ how about we look at how to use some of these in context?

Let’s use some real-life sentence examples to illustrate.

Here are some formal setting examples:

To summarize our findings, it appears that when the rats were in a peaceful setting, they chose healthier food. For all intents and purposes, their hearts are in the right place. All things considered, the girls seemed just as likely as the boys to want to play team sports. I think the important thing here is to look at the bottom line. The bottom line is that it’s good for the soul to listen to music .

And now some examples of more casual conversations:

In a nutshell, I think you and I should be together. So what I'm saying is, what counts is what you do, not what you don't do. The gist of it is that it makes more sense to book in advance than to show up on the day. Long story short, I'm back in New York and looking for a job. At the end of the day, he just does whatever he wants to, regardless of the consequences.

Final Thoughts

And this is the moment where we begin our conclusion to this article. As I mentioned earlier, all good articles need a conclusion.

Let’s summarize what we’ve learned:

• Use a conclusion at the end of your text, speech, or argument.
• Choose the correct expression based on the context you’re in.
• Use the concluding section to make any final remarks about your findings or your thoughts on the topic.

And if you found this article helpful, head to our blog , where you’ll find lots more like this.

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55 Other Ways to Say in Conclusion: Want a Memorable Finish?

• Learn English
• James Prior
• No Comments
• Updated July 24, 2023

In order to be a better writer or speaker, you need to use synonyms for in conclusion. After all, everyone knows ‘in conclusion’, and if you want to stand out you need to mix things up! So, if you’re ready to vary the way you end a piece of writing or finish a presentation read on for 55 alternatives for in conclusion!

Table of Contents

55 synonyms for in conclusion

What’s another word for in conclusion? Take a look at these in conclusion replacements:

• All in all,
• All things considered,
• As a conclusion,
• As a final observation,
• As a final point,
• As demonstrated,
• As you can see,
• At the end of the day,
• Briefly to conclude,
• By and large, we can say
• Considering all of this,
• Everything considered,
• For the most part,
• For these reasons,
• Generally speaking,
• In a nutshell,
• In closing,
• In general, it may be concluded that…
• In summary,
• In summation,
• In the end,
• It can be concluded…
• Last but not least,
• On a final note,
• On the whole,
• Simply put,
• Summing up,
• Taking everything into account,
• The bottom line is…
• The conclusion is…
• To conclude,
• To cut a long story short,
• To end things off,
• To end with,
• To put it all together,
• To put it briefly,
• To summarize,
• To wrap it all up,
• Ultimately,
• Upon analyzing,
• Upon reflection,
• Upon review,
• With this in mind,

There you have it, 55 alternatives for in conclusion! Many of these can also be used as in conclusion transition words or as a transition phrase.

This should allow you to form a variety of in conclusion phrases for your academic essay or any other piece of writing you are working on.

If you’re not currently writing anything, but want to practice using some of these for real, check out these 50 prompts for narrative writing .

Otherwise, for some other in conclusion phrases and their pronunciation, check out this video:

But when should you use these and what is the meaning of in conclusion?

In conclusion meaning

‘In conclusion’ means to evaluate and summarise everything that came before and provide a final argument. It can be used in both the academic and professional environment and you will find it in some form or another at the end of essays, speeches, books, reports and sales pitches.

Arguably, a conclusion makes up the most important part of academic and professional writing. This is because it lets the reader know that there is a conclusion coming and forms a key part of the overall written structure. Plus, if you know how to write a conclusion that sticks in the mind of the reader, they are much more likely to remember your message.

When to use in conclusion?

In conclusion, or one of the many in conclusion synonyms, can be used at the end of a piece of writing or speaking when you want to indicate to your audience that you are approaching your closing words and are about to summarise what you have written before.

Using in conclusion in speeches and oral presentations actually works every well. Some people would argue that it works even better than in academic or professional writing, where using in conclusion may sometimes be unnecessary. Alternatively, you might just want to find a better, more suitable term to replace it. After all, that’s why we created this list!

Before we go any further, if you want an in conclusion paragraph example, let’s sum up this article:

In conclusion, a conclusion can be found at the end of a piece of writing and evaluates and summarises everything that came before. It lets the reader know what they have read and can also establish your final argument and closing position on the subject.

In conclusion or to conclude?

In conclusion and to conclude are what are known as complete synonyms and mean exactly the same thing. You can therefore interchange them as much as you like and use whichever fits best.

In summary or in conclusion?

You may have already seen variations of the word ‘summary’ in this article. In summary can be used in the same way as in conclusion, which is at the end of a piece of writing or speaking to indicate the beginning of the closing statement. However, it doesn’t have the exact same meaning as in conclusion and is therefore known as a close synonym. Nevertheless, you can replace in conclusion with in summary in most instances and it is a great example of another way to say in conclusion. Speaking of which, here are a variety of in conclusion examples using some of the other words we outlined above:

In conclusion synonyms with examples

All in all , the event was a great success.

All things considered ; it’s clear that the internet radically changed the world.

At the end of the day , he made a mistake by not preparing correctly.

By and large , we can say that polar bears prefer a cold environment.

Lastly , the computer course is clearly great value.

In a nutshell , the manager hadn’t resolved his problem.

In brief , the meeting didn’t go well.

In conclusion , squirrels preferred acorns to nuts from the supermarket.

In short , they weren’t ready and this caused their downfall.

In sum , they should reduce their expenses.

In summary , money is needed in order to survive.

In the end , a draw was a fair result.

Last but not least , it will definitely help the employees.

On the whole , I’m against the statement.

To conclude , DVDs were always going to be replaced by new technology.

To sum up , there is only one obvious solution.

To summarise , this wasn’t the right approach.

Ultimately , they decided on the best course of action.

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15 Other Ways to Say “In Conclusion”

Think of all the times you’ve had to wrap up a speech, presentation, or written work. You’ve probably found yourself repeatedly using the phrase “in conclusion.”

While it’s a perfectly acceptable way to signal the end of your message, there are plenty of other expressions that can add a touch of creativity and freshness to your closing remarks.

Whether you’re bidding farewell to your audience, wrapping up an essay, or concluding a public speaking engagement, let’s explore some imaginative alternatives to “in conclusion.”

Table of Contents

Other Ways to Say “In Conclusion”

Closing remarks.

When you’re rounding off a presentation or speech, consider using these phrases:

1. Final Thoughts

Example: “Before we conclude today’s meeting, I’d like to share my final thoughts on the matter.”

Meaning: Last insights or opinions shared at the end of a discussion or presentation, often to summarize key points.

Usage: Effective in encouraging the audience to reflect on the main ideas presented and leaving them with something to ponder.

2. To Sum It Up

Example: “ To sum it up , our project’s success relies on effective communication, collaboration, and dedication.”

Meaning: A concise way to provide a summary of the main points or key takeaways.

Usage: Clear and straightforward, suitable for various contexts to reiterate the message succinctly.

Wrapping It Up

If you’re concluding a written work, you might opt for these alternatives:

3. In Summary

Example: “ In summary , the research findings suggest a strong correlation between exercise and mental well-being.”

Meaning: To provide a brief overview or recap of the primary content or findings.

Usage: Neatly summarizes the main ideas, often used in academic or professional writing.

4. To Conclude

Example: “ To conclude this essay, it’s evident that technology has revolutionized various aspects of our lives.”

Meaning: To signal the end of an argument, discussion, or written work with a slightly formal tone.

Usage: Commonly used in academic papers and formal essays to wrap up the content.

5. Bringing It All Together

Example: “ Bringing it all together , our marketing strategy integrates social media, content marketing, and influencer partnerships.”

Meaning: Emphasizing the synthesis and interconnectedness of ideas or components.

Usage: Indicates that the various elements discussed are unified and complement each other.

Parting Words

When you’re bidding farewell to your audience, these phrases can add a touch of elegance:

6. In Farewell

Example: “ In farewell , I wish you all continued success in your endeavors.”

Meaning: A formal and courteous way to bid farewell or say goodbye.

Usage: Suitable for speeches and formal occasions, conveying good wishes as you part ways.

7. In Closing

Example: “ In closing , let’s remember the importance of environmental conservation in preserving our planet for future generations.”

Meaning: Similar to “in conclusion,” but with a polished and sophisticated tone, used to summarize key points.

Usage: Suitable for formal speeches and presentations, providing a polished closure.

8. To Wrap It Up

Example: “ To wrap it up , our fundraising campaign has exceeded our expectations, thanks to your generous contributions.”

Meaning: A casual yet effective way to indicate that you’re bringing a discussion or presentation to a close.

Usage: Conveys a sense of informality while summarizing the main points.

9. To Close Out

Example: “ To close out this chapter of our journey, I want to express my gratitude to our loyal customers.”

Meaning: Suggests that you’re concluding your remarks or a particular phase.

Usage: Effective in both formal and informal settings to signal the end of a discussion or period.

10. Last but Not Least

Example: “And finally, last but not least , I’d like to acknowledge the dedication of our hardworking team.”

Meaning: Emphasizes the importance or significance of the final point or idea being presented.

Usage: Adds a touch of significance to the concluding statement, often used in speeches or presentations.

11. In the Final Analysis

Example: “ In the final analysis , the success of our business venture hinges on effective market research and adaptability.”

Meaning: Adds a formal touch and suggests a comprehensive examination of the topic.

Usage: Suitable for formal reports, presentations, or discussions to convey a thorough examination of the subject matter.

Broad Perspective

12. in the grand scheme of things.

Example: “ In the grand scheme of things , individual setbacks are minor compared to the collective progress we’ve achieved.”

Meaning: Places ideas or events in a broader context, highlighting their relative significance.

Usage: Effective when discussing larger, long-term implications or perspectives.

13. To Bring the Curtain Down

Example: “And with that final revelation, we bring the curtain down on this captivating story.”

Meaning: Adds drama and flair to the conclusion, often used in creative or storytelling contexts.

Usage: Creates a sense of closure in a dramatic or narrative manner.

Gentle Closure

14. to draw to a close.

Example: “As the sun sets on this memorable day, let us draw this celebration to a close. ”

Meaning: A gentle and elegant way to signal the end of an event, discussion, or written work.

Usage: Provides a graceful conclusion, particularly in formal or celebratory contexts.

Direct Conclusion

15. in the end.

Example: “ In the end , our shared values and commitment will lead us to success.”

Meaning: A straightforward way to indicate the final remarks, summary, or conclusion.

Usage: Commonly used in both formal and informal settings to wrap up discussions or presentations.

Choosing the Right Expression

The choice of which alternative to use depends on the context and your relationship with your audience. Here’s a breakdown of when to use different closing expressions:

Formal Presentations and Academic Settings

In formal presentations, lectures, or academic papers, it’s essential to maintain a professional tone. Opt for expressions like “to conclude” or “in summary” to wrap up your ideas succinctly. These phrases are clear and indicate that you’re bringing your discourse to an orderly close.

Casual Conversations and Informal Settings

In more relaxed settings, such as conversations with friends, family, or casual gatherings, you have more freedom to use informal and friendly expressions. Phrases like “closing remarks” or “final thoughts” work well in these situations, as they maintain a friendly tone while signifying the end of your discussion.

Speeches and Public Speaking

When delivering speeches or public addresses, you may want to choose expressions like “in farewell” or “in closing” to add a touch of formality and elegance to your conclusion. These phrases can leave a strong impression on your audience, especially in more ceremonial or celebratory contexts.

Written Works and Essays

For written pieces like essays, articles, or reports, it’s essential to select closing expressions that align with the overall tone and purpose of your work. “In summary” or “to sum it up” work well for academic and informative pieces, while “bringing it all together” can be suitable for more creative or reflective writing.

In conclusion, the choice of words in the concluding part of an invitation is crucial in leaving a lasting impression on the recipients. By selecting the right phrase, you can effectively summarize your message and create excitement for your event.

For more detailed examples and a comprehensive list of synonyms for “in conclusion,” you can explore the article 50+ Synonyms for ‘In Conclusion’ with Examples on 7ESL.

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40+ Fresh Ways to Say “In Conclusion” with Examples

If you find yourself being repetitive and constantly using the same words, you might be surprised to learn that there are many other ways to say “in conclusion” in the English language. Need a replacement for “ in conclusion “? Here, you can find plenty of alternatives for this common transition phrase. You can easily enrich your emails, writing, essays , and academic papers with these options.

Phrases To Use Instead Of “In Conclusion”

Check Also: ☛ Other Ways to Say SAID + PDF ✔ ☛ Other Ways To Say Commonly Used English Expressions ☛ Useful Academic Expressions & Phrases For Essay Writing

Here are example sentences using different ways to say “in conclusion”:

• In summary, the project was a success due to the team’s hard work and dedication.
• After all is said and done, the results speak for themselves.
• All in all, we achieved our goals and surpassed expectations.
• All things considered, the benefits outweigh the costs.
• As a result, we can see a significant improvement in productivity.
• As a final observation, it is worth noting the positive feedback from users.
• At the end of the day, our efforts have paid off.
• Briefly to conclude, the new strategy has proven effective.
• Bringing up the rear, the last quarter’s performance was exceptional.
• By and large, the initiative has been well-received by the community.
• Considering all of these, the plan is feasible and should be implemented.
• Everything considered, we are in a much better position now.
• Finally, it may be concluded that our hypothesis was correct.
• Finally/Lastly, I want to thank everyone for their contributions.
• In a nutshell, our goals have been met.
• In brief, the experiment was a success.
• In closing, I would like to reiterate the main points.
• In concluding, we should focus on the lessons learned.
• In consolidation, this project has strengthened our team.
• In ending this, I hope we continue to build on this success.
• In essence, our approach has been validated.
• In review, the key objectives have been achieved.
• In short, we have made significant progress.
• In sum, the benefits of the new policy are clear.
• In the final analysis, the data supports our initial theory.
• It is concluded that the new system is more efficient.
• It’s apparent that through our efforts, we have improved performance.
• Last but not least, thank you all for your hard work.
• On a final note, we should celebrate our achievements.
• On the whole, the project was a success.
• Overall, the feedback has been positive.
• It may be said that we have reached a milestone.
• Summing up, the results are promising.
• Taking everything into account, the future looks bright.
• Taking this into account, we should move forward confidently.
• The research papers in the main indicate a positive trend.
• To briefly paraphrase, our findings are significant.
• To come to the point, the initiative was worthwhile.
• To conclude, I am optimistic about our future.
• To end things off, I want to highlight our success.
• To make the long story short, we have accomplished our mission.
• To put it all together, our efforts have led to success.
• To put it bluntly, we need to address the remaining issues.
• To sum up, our strategy has been effective.
• To summarize the above, we have met all our targets.
• To summarize, we should continue on this path.
• To wrap it all up, we have exceeded our expectations.
• Ultimately, we have achieved our goals.
• In the end, the project has been a great success.

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• 40 Useful Words and Phrases for Top-Notch Essays

To be truly brilliant, an essay needs to utilise the right language. You could make a great point, but if it’s not intelligently articulated, you almost needn’t have bothered.

Developing the language skills to build an argument and to write persuasively is crucial if you’re to write outstanding essays every time. In this article, we’re going to equip you with the words and phrases you need to write a top-notch essay, along with examples of how to utilise them.

It’s by no means an exhaustive list, and there will often be other ways of using the words and phrases we describe that we won’t have room to include, but there should be more than enough below to help you make an instant improvement to your essay-writing skills.

If you’re interested in developing your language and persuasive skills, Oxford Royale offers summer courses at its Oxford Summer School , Cambridge Summer School , London Summer School , San Francisco Summer School and Yale Summer School . You can study courses to learn english , prepare for careers in law , medicine , business , engineering and leadership.

General explaining

Let’s start by looking at language for general explanations of complex points.

1. In order to

Usage: “In order to” can be used to introduce an explanation for the purpose of an argument. Example: “In order to understand X, we need first to understand Y.”

2. In other words

Usage: Use “in other words” when you want to express something in a different way (more simply), to make it easier to understand, or to emphasise or expand on a point. Example: “Frogs are amphibians. In other words, they live on the land and in the water.”

3. To put it another way

Usage: This phrase is another way of saying “in other words”, and can be used in particularly complex points, when you feel that an alternative way of wording a problem may help the reader achieve a better understanding of its significance. Example: “Plants rely on photosynthesis. To put it another way, they will die without the sun.”

4. That is to say

Usage: “That is” and “that is to say” can be used to add further detail to your explanation, or to be more precise. Example: “Whales are mammals. That is to say, they must breathe air.”

5. To that end

Usage: Use “to that end” or “to this end” in a similar way to “in order to” or “so”. Example: “Zoologists have long sought to understand how animals communicate with each other. To that end, a new study has been launched that looks at elephant sounds and their possible meanings.”

Adding additional information to support a point

Students often make the mistake of using synonyms of “and” each time they want to add further information in support of a point they’re making, or to build an argument. Here are some cleverer ways of doing this.

6. Moreover

Usage: Employ “moreover” at the start of a sentence to add extra information in support of a point you’re making. Example: “Moreover, the results of a recent piece of research provide compelling evidence in support of…”

7. Furthermore

Usage:This is also generally used at the start of a sentence, to add extra information. Example: “Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that…”

8. What’s more

Usage: This is used in the same way as “moreover” and “furthermore”. Example: “What’s more, this isn’t the only evidence that supports this hypothesis.”

9. Likewise

Usage: Use “likewise” when you want to talk about something that agrees with what you’ve just mentioned. Example: “Scholar A believes X. Likewise, Scholar B argues compellingly in favour of this point of view.”

10. Similarly

Usage: Use “similarly” in the same way as “likewise”. Example: “Audiences at the time reacted with shock to Beethoven’s new work, because it was very different to what they were used to. Similarly, we have a tendency to react with surprise to the unfamiliar.”

11. Another key thing to remember

Usage: Use the phrase “another key point to remember” or “another key fact to remember” to introduce additional facts without using the word “also”. Example: “As a Romantic, Blake was a proponent of a closer relationship between humans and nature. Another key point to remember is that Blake was writing during the Industrial Revolution, which had a major impact on the world around him.”

12. As well as

Usage: Use “as well as” instead of “also” or “and”. Example: “Scholar A argued that this was due to X, as well as Y.”

13. Not only… but also

Usage: This wording is used to add an extra piece of information, often something that’s in some way more surprising or unexpected than the first piece of information. Example: “Not only did Edmund Hillary have the honour of being the first to reach the summit of Everest, but he was also appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.”

14. Coupled with

Usage: Used when considering two or more arguments at a time. Example: “Coupled with the literary evidence, the statistics paint a compelling view of…”

15. Firstly, secondly, thirdly…

Usage: This can be used to structure an argument, presenting facts clearly one after the other. Example: “There are many points in support of this view. Firstly, X. Secondly, Y. And thirdly, Z.

16. Not to mention/to say nothing of

Usage: “Not to mention” and “to say nothing of” can be used to add extra information with a bit of emphasis. Example: “The war caused unprecedented suffering to millions of people, not to mention its impact on the country’s economy.”

Words and phrases for demonstrating contrast

When you’re developing an argument, you will often need to present contrasting or opposing opinions or evidence – “it could show this, but it could also show this”, or “X says this, but Y disagrees”. This section covers words you can use instead of the “but” in these examples, to make your writing sound more intelligent and interesting.

17. However

Usage: Use “however” to introduce a point that disagrees with what you’ve just said. Example: “Scholar A thinks this. However, Scholar B reached a different conclusion.”

18. On the other hand

Usage: Usage of this phrase includes introducing a contrasting interpretation of the same piece of evidence, a different piece of evidence that suggests something else, or an opposing opinion. Example: “The historical evidence appears to suggest a clear-cut situation. On the other hand, the archaeological evidence presents a somewhat less straightforward picture of what happened that day.”

19. Having said that

Usage: Used in a similar manner to “on the other hand” or “but”. Example: “The historians are unanimous in telling us X, an agreement that suggests that this version of events must be an accurate account. Having said that, the archaeology tells a different story.”

20. By contrast/in comparison

Usage: Use “by contrast” or “in comparison” when you’re comparing and contrasting pieces of evidence. Example: “Scholar A’s opinion, then, is based on insufficient evidence. By contrast, Scholar B’s opinion seems more plausible.”

21. Then again

Usage: Use this to cast doubt on an assertion. Example: “Writer A asserts that this was the reason for what happened. Then again, it’s possible that he was being paid to say this.”

22. That said

Usage: This is used in the same way as “then again”. Example: “The evidence ostensibly appears to point to this conclusion. That said, much of the evidence is unreliable at best.”

Usage: Use this when you want to introduce a contrasting idea. Example: “Much of scholarship has focused on this evidence. Yet not everyone agrees that this is the most important aspect of the situation.”

Adding a proviso or acknowledging reservations

Sometimes, you may need to acknowledge a shortfalling in a piece of evidence, or add a proviso. Here are some ways of doing so.

24. Despite this

Usage: Use “despite this” or “in spite of this” when you want to outline a point that stands regardless of a shortfalling in the evidence. Example: “The sample size was small, but the results were important despite this.”

25. With this in mind

Usage: Use this when you want your reader to consider a point in the knowledge of something else. Example: “We’ve seen that the methods used in the 19th century study did not always live up to the rigorous standards expected in scientific research today, which makes it difficult to draw definite conclusions. With this in mind, let’s look at a more recent study to see how the results compare.”

26. Provided that

Usage: This means “on condition that”. You can also say “providing that” or just “providing” to mean the same thing. Example: “We may use this as evidence to support our argument, provided that we bear in mind the limitations of the methods used to obtain it.”

27. In view of/in light of

Usage: These phrases are used when something has shed light on something else. Example: “In light of the evidence from the 2013 study, we have a better understanding of…”

28. Nonetheless

Usage: This is similar to “despite this”. Example: “The study had its limitations, but it was nonetheless groundbreaking for its day.”

29. Nevertheless

Usage: This is the same as “nonetheless”. Example: “The study was flawed, but it was important nevertheless.”

30. Notwithstanding

Usage: This is another way of saying “nonetheless”. Example: “Notwithstanding the limitations of the methodology used, it was an important study in the development of how we view the workings of the human mind.”

Giving examples

Good essays always back up points with examples, but it’s going to get boring if you use the expression “for example” every time. Here are a couple of other ways of saying the same thing.

31. For instance

Example: “Some birds migrate to avoid harsher winter climates. Swallows, for instance, leave the UK in early winter and fly south…”

32. To give an illustration

Example: “To give an illustration of what I mean, let’s look at the case of…”

Signifying importance

When you want to demonstrate that a point is particularly important, there are several ways of highlighting it as such.

33. Significantly

Usage: Used to introduce a point that is loaded with meaning that might not be immediately apparent. Example: “Significantly, Tacitus omits to tell us the kind of gossip prevalent in Suetonius’ accounts of the same period.”

34. Notably

Usage: This can be used to mean “significantly” (as above), and it can also be used interchangeably with “in particular” (the example below demonstrates the first of these ways of using it). Example: “Actual figures are notably absent from Scholar A’s analysis.”

35. Importantly

Usage: Use “importantly” interchangeably with “significantly”. Example: “Importantly, Scholar A was being employed by X when he wrote this work, and was presumably therefore under pressure to portray the situation more favourably than he perhaps might otherwise have done.”

Summarising

You’ve almost made it to the end of the essay, but your work isn’t over yet. You need to end by wrapping up everything you’ve talked about, showing that you’ve considered the arguments on both sides and reached the most likely conclusion. Here are some words and phrases to help you.

36. In conclusion

Usage: Typically used to introduce the concluding paragraph or sentence of an essay, summarising what you’ve discussed in a broad overview. Example: “In conclusion, the evidence points almost exclusively to Argument A.”

37. Above all

Usage: Used to signify what you believe to be the most significant point, and the main takeaway from the essay. Example: “Above all, it seems pertinent to remember that…”

38. Persuasive

Usage: This is a useful word to use when summarising which argument you find most convincing. Example: “Scholar A’s point – that Constanze Mozart was motivated by financial gain – seems to me to be the most persuasive argument for her actions following Mozart’s death.”

39. Compelling

Usage: Use in the same way as “persuasive” above. Example: “The most compelling argument is presented by Scholar A.”

40. All things considered

Usage: This means “taking everything into account”. Example: “All things considered, it seems reasonable to assume that…”

How many of these words and phrases will you get into your next essay? And are any of your favourite essay terms missing from our list? Let us know in the comments below, or get in touch here to find out more about courses that can help you with your essays.

At Oxford Royale Academy, we offer a number of  summer school courses for young people who are keen to improve their essay writing skills. Click here to apply for one of our courses today, including law , business , medicine  and engineering .

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• Writing Tips

5 Examples of Concluding Words for Essays

4-minute read

• 19th September 2022

If you’re a student writing an essay or research paper, it’s important to make sure your points flow together well. You’ll want to use connecting words (known formally as transition signals) to do this. Transition signals like thus , also , and furthermore link different ideas, and when you get to the end of your work, you need to use these to mark your conclusion. Read on to learn more about transition signals and how to use them to conclude your essays.

Transition Signals

Transition signals link sentences together cohesively, enabling easy reading and comprehension. They are usually placed at the beginning of a sentence and separated from the remaining words with a comma. There are several types of transition signals, including those to:

●  show the order of a sequence of events (e.g., first, then, next)

●  introduce an example (e.g., specifically, for instance)

●  indicate a contrasting idea (e.g., but, however, although)

●  present an additional idea (e.g., also, in addition, plus)

●  indicate time (e.g., beforehand, meanwhile, later)

●  compare (e.g., likewise, similarly)

●  show cause and effect (e.g., thus, as a result)

●  mark the conclusion – which we’ll focus on in this guide.

When you reach the end of an essay, you should start the concluding paragraph with a transition signal that acts as a bridge to the summary of your key points. Check out some concluding transition signals below and learn how you can use them in your writing.

To Conclude…

This is a particularly versatile closing statement that can be used for almost any kind of essay, including both formal and informal academic writing. It signals to the reader that you will briefly restate the main idea. As an alternative, you can begin the summary with “to close” or “in conclusion.” In an argumentative piece, you can use this phrase to indicate a call to action or opinion:

To conclude, Abraham Lincoln was the best president because he abolished slavery.

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As Has Been Demonstrated…

To describe how the evidence presented in your essay supports your argument or main idea, begin the concluding paragraph with “as has been demonstrated.” This phrase is best used for research papers or articles with heavy empirical or statistical evidence.

As has been demonstrated by the study presented above, human activities are negatively altering the climate system.

The Above Points Illustrate…

As another transitional phrase for formal or academic work, “the above points illustrate” indicates that you are reiterating your argument and that the conclusion will include an assessment of the evidence you’ve presented.

The above points illustrate that children prefer chocolate over broccoli.

In a Nutshell…

A simple and informal metaphor to begin a conclusion, “in a nutshell” prepares the reader for a summary of your paper. It can work in narratives and speeches but should be avoided in formal situations.

In a nutshell, the Beatles had an impact on musicians for generations to come.

Overall, It Can Be Said…

To recap an idea at the end of a critical or descriptive essay, you can use this phrase at the beginning of the concluding paragraph. “Overall” means “taking everything into account,” and it sums up your essay in a formal way. You can use “overall” on its own as a transition signal, or you can use it as part of a phrase.

Overall, it can be said that art has had a positive impact on humanity.

Proofreading and Editing

Transition signals are crucial to crafting a well-written and cohesive essay. For your next writing assignment, make sure you include plenty of transition signals, and check out this post for more tips on how to improve your writing. And before you turn in your paper, don’t forget to have someone proofread your work. Our expert editors will make sure your essay includes all the transition signals necessary for your writing to flow seamlessly. Send in a free 500-word sample today!

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Synonyms and antonyms of in conclusion in English

In conclusion.

Word of the Day

procrastination

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the act of delaying something that must be done, often because it is unpleasant or boring

Like a bull in a china shop: talking about people who are clumsy

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In conclusion.

The phrase in conclusion can be used at the end of a speech or essay, and it means "to sum things up" or "finally." In conclusion , it’s a very handy phrase for formal speaking and writing.

There are other ways to finish up a paper or oral report, but in conclusion makes it clear that you're getting close to the end, and it reminds your audience of what your main idea or thesis is. It’s a type of transitional word, which are words such as first , next , or finally . Transitional words are like bridges between thoughts. The word conclusion comes from the Latin concludere , which combines con- , "completely," and claudere , "to shut."

• adverb the item at the end synonyms: finally , last , lastly

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Thesaurus for In conclusion

Related terms for in conclusion - synonyms, antonyms and sentences with in conclusion, similar meaning.

• as a conclusion
• when all is said and done
• in summation
• in the final analysis
• in winding up
• as a final point
• in consummation
• in the long run
• in a nutshell
• in the sequel
• finally yet importantly
• last but not least
• to conclude

Opposite meaning

• first and foremost
• in the first place
• first of all
• at the beginning
• before anything else
• in the beginning
• without further ado
• to begin with
• from the beginning
• at the outset
• at the start
• in the first instance
• before all else
• before everything
• to start with
• most importantly

Common usage

• close a deal
• brief summary
• summarized information

Sentence Examples

Proper usage in context.

• Finally, in conclusion, let me say just this Peter Sellers
• A word in conclusion on cooperation between our two institutions
• A word in conclusion on Mr Seppänen's report
• Allow me in conclusion to thank the rapporteurs
• I wish in conclusion to commend UNAMID for its activities

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• in conclusion

adverb as in finally

Weak matches

• to conclude

Related Words

Words related to in conclusion are not direct synonyms, but are associated with the word in conclusion . Browse related words to learn more about word associations.

adverb as in beyond any doubt

• beyond recall
• beyond shadow of doubt
• conclusively
• convincingly
• determinately
• for all time
• inescapably
• irrevocably
• once and for all
• past regret
• permanently
• with conviction

adverb as in in the end; after period of time

• after a while
• as a sequel
• at long last
• at the eleventh hour
• at the last moment
• despite delay
• in spite of all
• in the eleventh hour
• in the long run
• sooner or later
• subsequently

adverb as in in the end

• lastly/last
• bringing up rear
• in the rear
• it's about time

Viewing 5 / 6 related words

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.

Photo by Chris Steele-Perkins/Magnum

Make it awkward!

Rather than being a cringey personal failing, awkwardness is a collective rupture – and a chance to rewrite the social script.

by Alexandra Plakias   + BIO

A man knows he should speak up about the sexist behaviour of his coworkers, but doesn’t, because they’re his friends and he doesn’t want to make it awkward. A tenured professor is bothered by her colleague’s flirtatious remarks, but says nothing, because it would be awkward to bring it up. A person runs into a recently bereaved coworker, and wonders whether to address their loss, but doesn’t know what to say, so doesn’t mention it.

We often joke about awkwardness; it’s a staple of contemporary comedy. The exclamation ‘Awkward!’ functions as a light-hearted deflection, defusing social tension. The reality is heavier. Awkwardness can be funny, but it can also be serious – it inhibits our ability to act even when we know we should, and it can shut down or pre-empt conversations about important topics like menstruation, money, menopause, mortality. The desire to avoid awkwardness acts as a powerful social inhibition, preventing people from speaking up, and motivating compliance with problematic social and moral norms. So, which is it, then? Is awkwardness a funny, quirky, everyday occurrence, something we should learn to live with and even embrace? Is it a serious social inhibitor with negative implications for moral decision-making and social change? Or – in truly awkward fashion – might it be both?

It often seems that awkwardness is a personal problem. Indeed, one of the most surprising things I discovered while writing my book Awkwardness (2024) was just how many people self-identify as awkward – and how attached people become to this label. Movies and popular culture reinforce the idea of awkward people, typically portrayed as socially inept misfits who stick out and don’t fit in with trends or social norms. This focus on individuals suggests that the best way to avoid awkwardness is through silence and conformity – to imitate others, blend in, and say nothing.

But this is only part of the story, and it gets awkwardness wrong in important ways. Yes, awkwardness is caused by a failure to conform to existing social norms. But this failure isn’t individual and, rather than think in terms of awkward people, we ought to think in terms of awkward situations. And yes, awkwardness can be painful, and unpleasant. But it’s not embarrassing, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. Contrary to popular belief, our awkward moments aren’t cringeworthy. Rather than cringing inwardly about them, we ought to examine them more closely. Because once we realise the true nature of awkwardness, we can stop seeing it as an individual failure and start seeing it as an opportunity for social change. In short: we should take awkwardness less personally, and more seriously.

W hat is awkwardness? This turns out to be a tricky question. Most of us know it when we see it (or experience it), but definitions are hard to come by. Partly that’s because empirical work on awkwardness tends to treat it as a type or symptom of embarrassment. But this is a mistake. Embarrassment happens when an individual commits a social gaffe; its characteristic facial and bodily expressions involve a kind of apology. Embarrassment is thus a kind of social repair. But awkwardness is different: it’s not something an individual causes, and it’s not something an individual can resolve on their own; it’s a social rupture. The failure involved in embarrassment is a failure to conform to existing norms. Awkwardness is different: it happens when we don’t have a social script to conform to. In other words, embarrassment happens when we violate socially prescribed scripts; awkwardness happens when we lack prescriptions to guide us.

People often feel like awkwardness is about them – that they are awkward, or not. But awkwardness is a collective production. More accurately, it’s a collective failure. Awkwardness is a kind of normative negative space, offering what Adam Kotsko calls ‘insight through breakdown’. It arises when people find themselves suddenly without a social script to guide them through an interaction or an event. The term ‘script’ carries associations of playacting, and that’s not a bad way to understand awkwardness. But the lesson of awkwardness is that, in the dramedy of life, we’re not just the actors, we’re the writers.

Is this a date, or a work dinner? When two people land on different answers: awkward!

The sociologist Erving Goffman recognised that social interaction is a kind of performance in which we occupy various roles. When a performance fails, the actor feels discredited – to use Goffman’s term, he loses ‘face’. Maybe he’s trying to play a role his audience won’t grant him (for example, a failed attempt to flirt, or a rejected marriage proposal) or he loses his composure and botches the performance. We usually perform one self at a time: our roles and our audiences are ‘ segregated ’, thereby preventing the kind of uncomfortable clash that can happen when, say, you run into your boss while out on a date, or have to talk about sex with your parents. But sometimes this clash is unavoidable, and things can get awkward. A character on the TV show My So-Called Life (1994-5) summed up the problem: ‘What I, like, dread is when people who know you in completely different ways end up in the same area. And you have to develop this, like, combination you on the spot.’

The ‘on the spot’ nature of social performance marks a disanalogy with theatre: unlike an actor memorising a script, the social scripts that guide everyday interactions are highly flexible and shift quickly, without explicit negotiation or reflection. A single person will play many roles in the course of a day, or even a single afternoon. In this sense, our interactions are more like social improvisation than scripted drama. And like improvisation, successful social interaction depends on a cooperative partner willing to go along with the scene.

The social cues by which we navigate the world range from the explicit – a dress code; the ‘no presents’ written on a party invitation – to the nearly imperceptible. Even where cues are explicit, there are often unspoken understandings in place: what counts as ‘black tie’ or ‘festive cocktail attire’? Is the request ‘no presents’ really to be taken literally, or is it merely a polite pretence that everyone will ignore? Slight changes in a conversational partner’s speech pattern; a gaze held just a little too long; a centimetre of physical distance – any of these can shift people’s understanding of the interaction taking place. Is this a date, or a work dinner? Are they about to hug, kiss or shake hands? When two people land on different answers: awkward!

A wkwardness thrives in uncertainty. This explains the link between awkwardness and silence: since silence can mean so many things, it makes it difficult to coordinate on and curate an interpretation of a situation. For example, is no one speaking up because no one else has a problem with the sexist comment someone just made? Or is everyone as uncomfortable as I am, but equally unsure how to act? Sometimes silence is acquiescence; other times, it’s a form of protest. In contrast to an explicitly voiced objection, the silence on an issue can be hard to read.

Indeed, awkwardness is fundamentally a kind of social disorientation. There’s a certain comfort in being able to socially situate oneself. That’s not to say that hierarchies are comfortable or beneficial for everyone – far from it. But even as social rejection and downranking hurt, there is a different kind of discomfort that comes along with being socially lost and disoriented, and this is the discomfort associated with awkwardness. This disorientation is built into the very etymology of the term: it derives from the Middle English ‘awk’, meaning ‘wrong’ or ‘clumsy’, and the English suffix ‘-ward’, denoting direction or orientation – yielding ‘facing the wrong way’. But just like passing someone on a road, facing the right way depends on knowing how things are done around here.

Awkwardness requires the presence of others: individuals aren’t awkward, interactions are

Knowing social scripts is one thing; truly internalising them is another. From the Italian sprezzatura to the French nonchalance to the Chinese concept of wu wei , various traditions have admired the ability ‘to practise in everything a certain nonchalance that shall conceal design and show that what is done and said is done without effort’, as the 16th-century Italian diplomat Baldassare Castiglione put it. By contrast, contemporary putdowns like ‘try-hard’ or ‘pick me’ show that it’s not enough to know the social script; its execution should look effortless.

This is one way awkwardness functions to distinguish insiders and outsiders. It’s also why we should be wary of labelling others ‘awkward’. This gets awkwardness wrong – it’s not a personality or character trait, but something that emerges from social interactions. Awkwardness requires the presence of others: individuals aren’t awkward, interactions are. This might seem surprising: people often describe themselves (or others) as ‘awkward’, and it seems that some people do have more difficulty navigating social interactions than others. But there are practical as well as theoretical reasons for resisting the idea that awkwardness is an individual trait. The label ‘awkward’ is not as innocuous as it seems: it’s ambiguous, and it obscures more than it reveals.

For example, suppose I describe my colleague Rob as ‘awkward at parties’. This is ambiguous: am I saying that he feels awkward at parties, or that he makes me feel awkward at parties? Or both? This ambiguity creates a dangerous space for bias or even ostracism: I may mistake my own discomfort at Rob’s presence for a property of Rob – projecting my own feelings of awkwardness on to him in a sort of pathetic fallacy. For example, suppose Rob is in a wheelchair, and I have little experience interacting with wheelchair users. I might feel some uncertainty about how to approach the situation, worrying about saying ‘the wrong thing’ or not knowing whether to stand or kneel while speaking with him. Using the term ‘awkward’ risks placing responsibility for my discomfort on to Rob. Not only is this fundamentally unfair, but it means that I’m less likely to try to remedy my ignorance – what arrangement would make Rob most comfortable? And since I’ve now classified Rob (in my own mind, if not to others) as ‘awkward’, I may be less likely to seek out interactions with him in the future. As the feminist scholar Sara Ahmed writes in The Promise of Happiness (2010): ‘To create awkwardness is to be read as being awkward. Maintaining public comfort requires that certain bodies “go along with it’’.’

W e can now begin to see how awkwardness becomes threatening, and how it can be weaponised, as Megan Garber has argued in The Atlantic . Because awkwardness is often aversive, those perceived as causing it risk ostracism. Changing social norms and rituals isn’t easy; adopting new ones can be costly. The person whose presence reveals the inadequacy of the status quo thus presents a threat. For example, in a department where the men routinely take clients to a strip club after dinner, or tell sexually explicit jokes in meetings, the presence of women colleagues might make things awkward, as they are forced to confront the clash between their workplace rituals and professional norms. One option would be to accept this conflict as of their own making, and adjust their behaviour accordingly. But too often, it’s the presence of the women that is blamed: now it’s awkward to tell those jokes, because there are women here. Blame falls on those perceived as different for ‘making’ things awkward. In many cases, though, it was awkward all along: that awkwardness was just being borne by someone else, as they tried to conform to others’ expectations.

Understood in these terms, awkwardness won’t necessarily become any less unpleasant to experience. But it’s worth paying more attention to when and where it arises, and be more willing to tackle it head-on. An unspoken expectation in many social interactions is that people already know how to navigate them. People avoid admitting social ignorance, and we are embarrassed by those who do, as if they’ve violated some unspoken social norm. But why should not knowing which pronoun, title or fork to use be any different from not knowing where the bathroom is, or what time the café opens? The reluctance to ask that social norms be made explicit reveals a deeper expectation: that social interaction should appear effortless. Awkwardness highlights the fact that our interactions are scripted. Its aversiveness shows the extent to which people prefer not to be reminded of this fact. And the lucky among us may not have to be.

We engage with physical infrastructure daily, often without thinking about it. That thoughtlessness is a privilege: when I walk into the lecture theatre and reach for the light switch, it’s more or less at arm’s reach, and I expect that to be the case in every room I walk into. Sometimes, the cord that pulls down the screen is a bit too high for me and I have to stand on a chair, and this is mildly annoying, embarrassing even. At that point I begin to feel irritated with the design of the room. I might wonder, who is it made for? Social scripts are like light switches and cords – we reach for them automatically, only really noticing their placement or existence when they’re not where we expect or need them to be. Of course, that’s not true for everyone. For many people, navigating the demands of daily life requires giving a good deal of thought to the placement of light switches, doorknobs and the like. For people who are neurodivergent, who struggle with reading facial cues, or who find themselves in unfamiliar social settings, the world is full of rooms with unpredictable, unreachable infrastructure. Awkwardness is a reminder that social infrastructure exists and that it is not equally accessible to everyone.

Because awkwardness is felt as a form of social discomfort, it doesn’t attach to everyone equally

The good news is that with effort and attention, social resources can be made more accessible. Awkwardness highlights where that work needs to happen. Understanding the social origins of awkwardness also helps reconceptualise it. Instead of thinking about it as a personal failure – a cringeworthy source of personal embarrassment, or shame – it can be recognised for what it is: the result of collective ignorance or absence.

And this is where the trope of the awkward misfit does a disservice. When awkwardness is understood as an individual failure to fit in, the response is supposed to be: do better; conform; learn the script. But that’s not always possible. Nor is it always desirable. In some cases, those norms are not serving everyone – or anyone. For example, many job interviews now eschew small talk and follow-up questions, following a scripted formula in which candidates are all asked the same questions with no follow-ups. This may feel awkward, especially for interviewers used to casual chit-chat. But that same chit-chat might unfairly skew the process by emphasising considerations of ‘fit’ and disadvantaging candidates who have less in common with interviewers. Professors may feel awkward asking students to share their pronouns, but this takes the burden of awkwardness off the students who might otherwise have had to jump in and correct people’s assumptions.

The upshot is that awkwardness isn’t something an individual should, or even can, fix on their own. To view awkwardness as shameful, or embarrassing, is therefore not just a philosophical mistake but a practical one: it is to miss out on an opportunity to repair the social infrastructure. Take the case of pronouns again: someone who finds it awkward to state their pronouns, but understands this awkwardness in terms of shame, might see the problem as stemming from a lack of courage or assertiveness, and feel bad about their failure to speak up. This puts the burden on them, going into new social or professional situations, to summon up the courage to change how they introduce themselves, which can make new interactions a source of stress or anxiety. If we understand awkwardness in terms of social scripts, things are different: the person might work with friends or colleagues to think about ways to build pronouns into introductions, or emails, or the structure of meetings.

But it’s important, too, to be mindful of who’s doing this work. Because awkwardness is felt as a form of social discomfort, it doesn’t attach to everyone equally. Social expectations of who does the work to make others feel comfortable – and correspondingly, who is held accountable when people feel uncomfortable – intersect with scripts around gender and social status. Women are often tasked with managing others’ moods and are expected to get along with others; this ‘emotional labour’ includes the work of repairing social interactions that become awkward. There’s a privilege in not worrying about others’ discomfort.

All of this might seem like a lot to put on a minor, everyday irritation. If we’re used to thinking of awkwardness as the kind of thing that crops up on bad dates, or a minor annoyance of office life, then what I’ve been saying so far might seem a bit overblown. Doesn’t everyone have awkward moments, and is it really such a big deal? The answer is that some of us have more awkward moments than others. And some awkward moments are a big deal: it matters that we have social scripts to talk about grief, or harassment, or race, because not talking about these topics erases an important part of people’s experiences. The silence associated with awkwardness can function to erase important parts of people’s experiences. But if we listen to it carefully, it can also tell us where more work is needed. The work of building our social infrastructure often goes unremarked upon. Awkwardness alerts us to the fact that our social norms are under construction. It’s an opportunity to examine the work that goes into our social lives, and why that work so often remains invisible.

In the drama of life, we don’t have to settle for being actors – we can be writers, too. Not everyone can afford to do this work. Not everyone’s contributions receive equal credit. But for those of us willing and able, awkward moments are an alert that our current social scripts are not working, and an opportunity to get to work writing better ones.

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