reach conclusion

You usually use this when you want to sound a bit more thoughtful. Instead of saying "I decided," you say "I reached a conclusion." It implies you put some effort into your thinking. You can use it with a or the. For example, reach a conclusion is general. Reach the conclusion refers to a specific decision everyone was waiting for. Don't forget to use the past tense reached for things you already decided!

This is perfect for meetings where a big decision was made. Use it when talking to your partner about a major life change. It works well in academic writing or when explaining a mystery. If you finally figured out why your car was making that weird noise, you reached a conclusion that it was the fan belt. It sounds much more impressive than just saying "I found the problem."

Avoid this for tiny, split-second choices. If you choose chocolate over vanilla ice cream in two seconds, don't say you reached a conclusion. That sounds way too dramatic! Your friends might think you are being sarcastic. Also, do not use it for things that are obvious. If it is raining, you don't reach a conclusion that you need an umbrella. You just grab one.

In Western culture, there is a big emphasis on logic and evidence. This phrase reflects that value. It suggests that your opinion is based on facts, not just feelings. It is a very common phrase in legal dramas and detective stories. Think of Sherlock Holmes explaining a case. He doesn't just "know" the answer; he reaches a conclusion through deduction. It makes the speaker sound rational and reliable.

You might hear people say come to a conclusion or arrive at a conclusion. These mean exactly the same thing. Jump to a conclusion is the evil twin of this phrase. It means you decided something too fast without having all the facts. Try to avoid jumping! Draw a conclusion is another cousin, often used when you are looking at data or evidence in a study.