What Does "to conclude" Mean?
- Grammatical function: It primarily serves two roles: as a discourse marker (transition) to signal the end of a speech or text, and as an infinitive verb phrase expressing consequence, resolution, or the act of finishing a task.
- Typical sentence position: It is highly versatile, appearing in the initial position (as a transition), medial position (as a verb phrase), or final position (as an infinitive of purpose).
- Register: Generally formal to neutral. It is a staple of academic essays, legal reports, and professional presentations.
How to Use It
- Syntactic patterns: When used as a transition, it is often followed by a comma and a full independent clause. As a verb, it is frequently preceded by modal verbs (e.g., "expected to conclude") or nouns (e.g., "basis to conclude").
- Punctuation rules: Use a comma after "To conclude" when it starts a sentence. When used within a sentence as a verb, no special punctuation is required unless it is part of a parenthetical remark.
- Grammatical flexibility: It is highly flexible. It can start a sentence to summarize points, or be used in the passive voice (e.g., "The meeting was concluded"). It can also be negated: "There was no reason to conclude..."
- What sounds unnatural or incorrect: Using "to conclude" to introduce a minor point rather than a final summary is logically jarring. Additionally, using it in very casual text messages or informal speech can sound overly stiff.
Real-World Examples
These examples are sourced from to conclude on Ludwig.guru.
"To conclude, hold a brief discussion." — nytimes.com
"What are we to conclude?" — nytimes.com
"The investigation has yet to conclude." — theguardian.com
"To conclude – skiing is amazing." — theguardian.com
"Which leads me to conclude one thing." — theguardian.com
Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/to+conclude
Similar Phrases and Alternatives
| Phrase |
Context |
| in conclusion |
The most common formal alternative for ending an essay or speech. |
| to sum up |
Slightly less formal; excellent for oral presentations or concluding a list of points. |
| finally |
A simple transition used to signal the last item in a sequence or the end of a text. |
| to wrap up |
Idiomatic and informal; best suited for business meetings or casual conversations. |
| all in all |
Used to summarize a situation after considering all various aspects. |
| ultimately |
Focuses on the final result or the most important fact after everything is considered. |
Common Mistakes
- Wrong Register: Learners often use it to start a final paragraph in informal emails where 'anyway' or 'so' would be more appropriate for the register.
- Punctuation Errors: Forgetting the comma when "To conclude" acts as a sentence-level connector can make the sentence harder to parse.
- Redundancy: Pairing it with other concluding markers, such as "In conclusion, to conclude...", creates unnecessary repetition.
Quick-Reference Summary
| Expression |
Function |
Register |
Typical Position |
| to conclude |
Consequence / Closing |
Formal / Neutral |
Initial, Medial, or Final |
FAQs
Where in a sentence can to conclude appear?
The expression to conclude is highly mobile. It can appear in the sentence-initial position as a transition marker, in the mid-clause position as an infinitive verb, or at the end of a sentence to express a final goal.
What is the difference between to conclude and in conclusion?
While both signal an ending, in conclusion is exclusively a discourse marker used to start a final paragraph. In contrast, to conclude can also function as a verb phrase meaning to finish a process or reach a logical deduction.
Is it appropriate to use to conclude in an informal email?
No, using to conclude in casual correspondence often sounds too rigid or academic. Learners often use it to start a final paragraph in informal emails where anyway or so would be more appropriate for the register.