Writing a compelling conclusion presents its share of challenges, including how to avoid repetitiveness while captivating the readers’ attention. A frequent faux pas is overusing the phrase ‘in conclusion.’ Although clear and straightforward, this term does not always create the desired impact.
Luckily, alternatives are available for enhancing your writing style, and we’re here to explore these options in detail.
Formal Writing Conclusions
For formal papers, academic essays and presentations, there are several expressions available as alternatives:
- In Summary: This phrase works similarly to ‘in conclusion,’ representing your research’s main idea or conclusion briefly.
- To Sum Up: Commonly used in oral presentations, ‘to sum up’ offers a less formal way to summarize your points.
- Let’s Review or To Review: These transitional phrases work particularly well when you wish to review the logic of an argument before concluding.
- In Closing: This expression is a classy and somewhat formal alternative to ‘in conclusion,’ is perfect for the last or penultimate sentence of a conclusion.
Informal Writing Conclusions
In less formal contexts, such as blog posts or light-hearted articles, these phrases can add a creative flair:
- In a Nutshell: This cute and informal metaphor represents your intention to give a short summary. However, avoid it in contexts requiring a serious, formal register.
- Long Story Short: This phrase, sometimes abbreviated to ‘long story short,’ indicates that a lengthy narrative has been shortened to the most essential points
Transition Words for Conclusions
In addition to these expressions, you can employ distinct transition words to signal the conclusion of your paper or presentation:
- Ultimately: This adverb works perfectly in the first or last sentence of your conclusion, implying an “at last” effect.
- Lasty: This adverb is excellent for expressing a final point in your summary or argument.
- Overall: This one is perfect for summarizing an argument or an idea as part of your conclusion.
Open-Ended Questions in Conclusions
Sometimes a question or a series of open-ended or leading questions can effectively end an argumentative essay or speech. These questions can trigger thoughtful contemplation in your audience or readers, leaving them pondering the arguments you’ve made.
Conclusions
Creating impactful conclusions requires more than just wrapping up your ideas. It’s about leaving a lasting impression on your reader and driving the main points home. Remember, the concluding remarks represent the final opportunity to leave an impression on the reader. Therefore, exploring different ways to present your conclusions can greatly improve your writing style. Don’t limit yourself to just ‘in conclusion,’ choose from the sea of attractive alternatives that can take your writing to the next level.