When we write, concluding strong is as important as starting well. It’s where we tie up loose ends and summarise our points. But this can be tricky to articulate without repeating yourself.
Fear not! Here is a simple guide to spice up your writing with interesting words and phrases to sign off your papers and speeches.
Formal Alternatives to ‘In Conclusion’
- ‘In summary’ is straightforward and formal. It indicates you’re stating the main idea or conclusion of your work.
- Using ‘In closing’ indicates you’re close to wrapping up your speech or essay. It’s formal and effective to signal a call to action.
- If you want a complete sentence to transition, use ‘Let’s review’. It’s suited to spoken presentations and entails a review of the logic behind your conclusion.
Informal Phrases for a Conclusion
- The cute metaphor, ‘In a nutshell’, allows one to give a brief summary in a creative light. Just avoid it in formal contexts.
- For an informal presentation, employ ‘Long story short’ or its abbreviation when giving a short summary.
Transition Words for a Conclusion
- If simplicity is your game, then ‘Ultimately’, an adverb meaning “in the end; at last; finally,” fits the bill. It’s best used in the first or last sentence of your conclusion.
- ‘Lastly’, another adverb, signals the final point of your summary or argument.
- If you want to summarize a complete idea or argument, use ‘Overall’, which is a formal way of saying “in a nutshell”.
Creative Calls to Action
If you’re writing an argumentative essay or speech, end with open-ended or leading questions. This leaves the audience thinking about your arguments. Start these questions with WH-words like, ‘Who’ or ‘What’.
Conclusion
Use these words and phrases to bring variety and flair to your conclusion. Craft a strong ending and leave your audience with a lasting impression. Be aware of the tone and context of your piece to choose the right word or phrase. Good writing is not merely about the right words but about using them right. So, when you’re stuck for inspiration, know there’s more than one way to conclude.