14 Phrases for Drawing a Conclusion
Knowing how to wrap up your thoughts clearly is a powerful communication skill. Whether you’re finishing an essay, summarizing a meeting, or explaining your reasoning in a conversation, these 14 phrases for drawing a conclusion help you sound logical, confident, and fluent. Use them to tie ideas together and leave a strong final impression.
Common Ways to Say ‘So, What Does This Mean?’
Formal & Academic
- In conclusion,… The classic closing phrase for essays, speeches, and reports. In conclusion, the data supports our hypothesis.
- To summarize,… Neatly wraps up key points without introducing new info. To summarize, we’ve reduced costs, improved speed, and increased customer satisfaction.
- Based on the evidence,… Shows your conclusion is reasoned, not just opinion. Based on the evidence, the app needs a complete redesign.
- It’s clear that… Confident and direct—ideal for strong final statements. It’s clear that teamwork was the key to our success.
- Therefore,… Formal logical connector—common in academic or technical writing. Users reported frustration. Therefore, we recommend simplifying the interface.
Professional & Business
- All things considered,… Acknowledges complexity before concluding. All things considered, this is our best option right now.
- The bottom line is… Gets straight to the most important takeaway. The bottom line is we need more time to test before launch.
- We can conclude that… Collaborative and measured—great for team settings. We can conclude that remote work has improved morale.
- This leads us to believe that… Shows logical progression from data to insight. Retention rates doubled. This leads us to believe that the new onboarding works.
Casual & Conversational
- So, I guess that means… Natural and tentative—perfect for informal chats. We’re out of milk and coffee? So, I guess that means no morning latte!
- All in all,… Warm, reflective, and commonly used in everyday English. All in all, it was a great trip—even with the rain.
- At the end of the day,… Emphasizes what truly matters after everything else. At the end of the day, what matters is that everyone’s safe.
- Looks like… Casual and observational—great for quick takeaways. The bus just left? Looks like we’re walking.
Real-Life Dialogues
Team Lead: So, after reviewing the survey results…
Colleague: All things considered, customers love the product but hate the pricing.
Team Lead: Exactly. The bottom line is we need to adjust our strategy.
Friend A: The hotel was noisy, the flight was late, but the food was amazing!
Friend B: All in all, still worth it?
Friend A: Totally! At the end of the day, we had fun—and that’s what counts.
Quick Tips: Choosing the Right Phrase
| Situation | Recommended Expression | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Essay or presentation | In conclusion… | Expected, structured, and academically appropriate. |
| Business meeting | The bottom line is… | Clear, decisive, and focuses on what matters most. |
| Reflecting on an experience | All in all… | Warm, natural, and commonly used by native speakers. |
| Reasoning from data | Based on the evidence… | Shows objectivity and critical thinking. |
Practice Tip
After your next conversation or meeting, try summarizing it out loud using one phrase like “All in all…” or “The bottom line is…”—it builds fluency and clarity!
Why This Matters
- Using these 14 phrases for drawing a conclusion helps you organize thoughts and communicate with impact.
- It’s essential for success in school (essays), work (reports), and daily life (making decisions together).
- Native speakers use these expressions to sound thoughtful—not repetitive or vague.
Conclusions aren’t just endings—they’re your chance to make your point stick. Try using one of these 14 phrases for drawing a conclusion in your next message, meeting, or journal entry. You’ll sound more fluent, confident, and clear. Happy learning! 😊
