To conclude
Presentation and public speaking expression
Littéralement: To bring to an end
Use it to signal your final point in presentations or essays to sound organized and professional.
En 15 secondes
- Signals the end of a speech or essay.
- Summarizes the main point for the audience.
- Best used in professional or academic contexts.
Signification
This phrase is a signal that you are about to finish your speech, presentation, or writing. It tells your audience to pay attention because you are summarizing your final and most important thoughts.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Ending a business presentation
To conclude, our new marketing plan will double our reach by next year.
To conclude, our new marketing plan will double our reach by next year.
Writing a university essay
To conclude, the evidence clearly shows that the policy was a success.
To conclude, the evidence clearly shows that the policy was a success.
Texting a friend after a long explanation
To conclude this long story, I'm never going to that restaurant again!
To conclude this long story, I'm never going to that restaurant again!
Contexte culturel
In Western rhetoric, the 'conclusion' is seen as the most critical part of a message. This phrase stems from the Latin 'concludere', meaning to shut up or enclose. In modern business culture, it is used to ensure meetings end on time and with clear action items.
The Power of the Pause
When speaking, say `To conclude` and then pause for one full second. It builds anticipation for your final point.
Don't be a 'False Finisher'
Only use this when you are actually finished. If you keep talking for five minutes after saying it, your audience will get annoyed.
En 15 secondes
- Signals the end of a speech or essay.
- Summarizes the main point for the audience.
- Best used in professional or academic contexts.
What It Means
Think of To conclude as the final destination sign on a long highway. You have been talking or writing for a while, and now you are telling everyone the journey is almost over. It is a verbal flag that says, "Hey, listen up, I am about to give you the big takeaway!" It helps your audience transition from the details you just shared to the final message you want them to remember. It is the verbal equivalent of the "The End" screen in a classic movie.
How To Use It
You usually place this phrase at the very beginning of your last paragraph or your final spoken point. It is almost always followed by a comma when written. For example: To conclude, we need to change our strategy. In a speech, you should pause for a second after saying it. This pause creates a little bit of drama and gives people time to refocus. Keep the sentence that follows it short and punchy. You want your final message to be clear and memorable, not buried in a long sentence.
When To Use It
This phrase is a superstar in professional and academic settings. Use it when you are giving a presentation at work to show you are organized. It is perfect for university essays or formal reports to signal your final argument. If you are giving a speech at a wedding or a retirement party, it works beautifully to wrap up your stories. It makes you sound like someone who has a plan and knows how to manage time. It is great for any situation where you need to summarize a lot of information.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid using this during a quick, casual chat with a friend over coffee. If you say To conclude, I think we should get another latte, your friend might think you are being a bit too dramatic or stiff. It is too heavy for short text messages or small talk about the weather. Also, never use it if you still have three more points to make. There is nothing worse than a speaker saying To conclude and then talking for another ten minutes. That is a quick way to lose your audience's trust!
Cultural Background
In many English-speaking cultures, especially in the US and UK, "signposting" is a vital communication skill. We value directness and clear structure. We like to be told exactly where the speaker is going. Using phrases like To conclude shows respect for the listener's time and mental energy. It is a way of being polite by being organized. It helps avoid confusion and ensures that the most important information is delivered at the very end when people are most likely to remember it.
Common Variations
If To conclude feels a bit too formal for your vibe, you can try To wrap up. This is very common in business meetings. If you are writing a very serious academic paper, In conclusion is the classic choice. For a quick summary in a more relaxed setting, you might say Basically or In short. If you just want to signal the end of a list, Finally is your best friend. Each one changes the flavor slightly, but they all point toward the exit.
Notes d'usage
This phrase is primarily formal and neutral. It is highly effective in structured environments like offices and schools, but can feel out of place in intimate or very casual social settings.
The Power of the Pause
When speaking, say `To conclude` and then pause for one full second. It builds anticipation for your final point.
Don't be a 'False Finisher'
Only use this when you are actually finished. If you keep talking for five minutes after saying it, your audience will get annoyed.
The 'Signposting' Secret
English speakers love structure. Using `To conclude` makes you seem more intelligent and organized to native speakers.
Exemples
6To conclude, our new marketing plan will double our reach by next year.
To conclude, our new marketing plan will double our reach by next year.
Used here to deliver the most important goal of the presentation.
To conclude, the evidence clearly shows that the policy was a success.
To conclude, the evidence clearly shows that the policy was a success.
A standard way to begin the final paragraph of an academic paper.
To conclude this long story, I'm never going to that restaurant again!
To conclude this long story, I'm never going to that restaurant again!
Uses a formal phrase in a casual way for a slightly humorous effect.
To conclude, let's all raise a glass to the happy couple.
To conclude, let's all raise a glass to the happy couple.
Signals the final action of the speech.
To conclude my list of disasters, I also dropped my phone in the toilet.
To conclude my list of disasters, I also dropped my phone in the toilet.
Adds a dramatic, structured feel to a funny personal story.
To conclude, I want to thank you all for making me feel so welcome here.
To conclude, I want to thank you all for making me feel so welcome here.
Used to transition into a sincere expression of gratitude.
Teste-toi
Choose the best phrase to finish a professional email summarizing a project.
___, I believe we are on the right track for a successful launch.
'To conclude' is the most professional way to signal your final summary in an email.
Which punctuation usually follows 'To conclude' at the start of a sentence?
To conclude___ we must act now.
A comma is almost always used after introductory phrases like 'To conclude' in writing.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Formality of Ending Phrases
Used with friends or quick texts.
To wrap up...
Good for general speaking.
Finally...
Perfect for presentations and essays.
To conclude...
Used in legal or high-level academic work.
In conclusion...
Where to use 'To conclude'
University Thesis
Wrapping up your research findings.
Business Pitch
Ending your request for funding.
Formal Letter
Summarizing your complaint or request.
Public Speech
Ending a talk at a conference.
Questions fréquentes
11 questionsYes, they are very similar. In conclusion is slightly more common in formal writing, while To conclude is often used in both speaking and writing.
It might sound a bit too formal. For a text, try Anyway... or Long story short... instead.
The comma always goes immediately after the phrase when it starts a sentence, like this: To conclude, I am happy.
No, that would be confusing! Use it only when you are ready to finish the meeting.
Yes! It is a great way to summarize why you are the best candidate at the end of an answer.
You can say To wrap things up or To sum it all up for a more relaxed but still professional feel.
They are close, but Finally is usually used for the last item in a list, while To conclude signals the end of the entire topic.
Absolutely. It is a standard way to introduce the final summary of your results.
It is best at the very beginning of a sentence to make the transition clear to the reader.
Only if you use it in very casual settings. In professional environments, it sounds polished, not robotic.
Yes, you can say To conclude with a final thought... but To conclude, [sentence] is more common.
Expressions liées
In summary
A formal way to give a brief statement of the main points.
To wrap up
A neutral/informal way to finish a discussion or task.
To sum up
To give a brief summary of the most important facts.
All in all
A more casual way to summarize a situation after considering everything.
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