Summative Linking (In Sum, To Recapitulate)

These words are special "glue" for your sentences. They almost always go at the very beginning of your final sentence. When you write them, you must use a comma after them. This gives the reader a tiny break to breathe. When you speak them, you should pause for a second. This pause is like a drumroll before a big surprise. It tells everyone that the most important point is coming. Most of these phrases are a bit formal. This means they are great for school or work. They are not usually for talking to your dog or ordering a pizza. Unless, of course, your dog is very fancy.

1. 1Using these words is as easy as making a sandwich. Follow these three simple steps:
2. 2Pick your summary word or phrase (like in sum or to sum up).
3. 3Add a comma if you are writing (,).
4. 4Write your final, most important sentence.
5. 5For example: In sum + , + the party was great. → In sum, the party was great.
6. 6It is a simple recipe for success. You do not need to change the verb or the noun. The summary word just sits at the front like a polite doorman.

You should use these when you want to be clear. Imagine you are in a job interview. You talked about your skills for five minutes. Now, you want the boss to remember you are a hard worker. You say, In sum, I love to work hard. It sounds professional and strong. Another great time is during a school presentation. When you reach the last slide, use to sum up. It tells the teacher you are finished. You can also use them in emails to your teacher or your boss. It shows that you are a serious student of English. It is much better than just stopping the email suddenly!

Do not use these words in a casual text message to your best friend. If you text "In sum, I will see you at 5:00 PM," your friend might think you are a robot. Use so or basically for friends. Also, do not use these words at the start of a conversation. You cannot summarize something you haven't said yet! That would be like eating the dessert before the soup. It feels backwards. Avoid using them for very short ideas too. If you only say one sentence, you do not need a summary word. Save them for when you have two or three ideas to connect.

The biggest mistake is forgetting the comma. In English writing, the comma after in sum is like a stop sign. Without it, the sentence runs too fast. Another mistake is using to recapitulate too often. It is a very big word. If you use it three times in one minute, people will think you are trying too hard. Think of it like a very expensive spice; a little bit is great, but too much ruins the meal. Also, watch your spelling! Summary has two 'm's. Many people forget the second one. Finally, do not use in conclusion and in sum in the same sentence. One is enough!

You might know the word so. So is the little brother of in sum. We use so every day because it is fast and easy. In sum is like the older brother who wears a suit. They do the same job, but one is fancier. Then there is finally. We use finally when we have a list of things (first, second, third, finally). In sum is different because it looks at the *whole* picture, not just the last item on a list. It is the difference between showing someone the last page of a book and telling them what the whole book was about.