- Do you ever feel like you’re “making” a conclusion instead of “reaching” one?
- Are you unsure whether to say “in conclusion” or “at the conclusion”?
- Do you want to sound more professional when summarizing your ideas in meetings or essays?
Mastering collocations—words that naturally live together—is the fastest way to bridge the gap between intermediate and advanced English. For the word conclusion, using the right verb or adjective doesn’t just improve your grammar; it builds your authority as a speaker and reduces the “language anxiety” that comes from second-guessing your word choices.
Essential Collocations using CONCLUSION as a Noun
In modern English, “conclusion” is almost exclusively used as a noun. While the action is “to conclude,” the noun form carries the weight of results, endings, and logical findings. Below are the most frequent pairings used in professional and academic settings today.
Common Verbs Used with Conclusion
In English, we don’t usually “make” a conclusion. Instead, we use verbs that describe the process of getting to the end result.
- Reach a conclusion: To arrive at a decision after a lot of thought.
Example: After hours of debate, the board finally reached a conclusion. - Come to a conclusion: Very similar to “reach,” used commonly in daily conversation.
Example: I’ve come to the conclusion that we need a bigger budget. - Draw a conclusion: To make a judgment based on information or evidence provided.
Example: From these survey results, we can draw a conclusion about user behavior. - Jump to conclusions: To decide something too quickly without having all the facts.
Example: Don’t jump to conclusions before you hear his side of the story. - Bring something to a conclusion: To finish or end a process or event.
Example: The referee brought the match to a conclusion after ninety minutes. - Support a conclusion: To provide evidence that shows a conclusion is correct.
Example: This data doesn’t support the conclusion that the marketing campaign failed.
Adjectives that Describe Conclusions
Using the right adjective adds precision to your English, showing exactly what kind of ending or decision you are discussing.
- A foregone conclusion: A result that is obvious or certain before it even happens.
Example: With the champion in top form, the victory was a foregone conclusion. - A logical conclusion: A result that makes sense based on the facts.
Example: Taking a break is the logical conclusion to a twelve-hour workday. - A tentative conclusion: A temporary decision that might change when more facts are known.
Example: We have reached a tentative conclusion, but we need more testing. - A firm/solid conclusion: A decision that is unlikely to change.
Example: The investigators haven’t reached a firm conclusion about the cause of the fire. - A sweeping conclusion: A statement that is too broad and ignores important details.
Example: Avoid making sweeping conclusions about an entire culture based on one person.
Prepositional Phrases with Conclusion
Prepositions are often the trickiest part for ESL learners. Here is how “conclusion” fits into standard sentence structures.
- In conclusion: Used at the start of a final paragraph or speech segment (Signaling).
Example: In conclusion, I would like to thank you all for coming. - At the conclusion of: Meaning “at the end of” a specific event.
Example: Certificates were handed out at the conclusion of the seminar. - Leads to the conclusion that: Used to connect evidence to a result.
Example: The evidence leads to the conclusion that the software needs an update.
The Master Summary Table
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Reach a conclusion | Verb + Noun | To decide after thinking |
| Foregone conclusion | Adjective + Noun | An inevitable result |
| Jump to conclusions | Verb + Noun | Decide too quickly |
| In conclusion | Preposition + Noun | To summarize/end a talk |
| Draw a conclusion | Verb + Noun | Deduce from evidence |
| Logical conclusion | Adjective + Noun | A result that makes sense |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| Make a conclusion | Reach / Draw / Come to a conclusion |
| In the conclusion of the movie | At the conclusion of the movie |
| Fast conclusions | Jump to conclusions |
| A waited conclusion | A long-awaited conclusion |
Contextual Story
“After reviewing the quarterly sales figures, the team had to reach a conclusion regarding the new product line. While it was a logical conclusion to cut costs, the CEO was hesitant to jump to conclusions without seeing the December data. At the conclusion of the meeting, they reached a tentative conclusion to delay the launch. In conclusion, the project remains on hold until further evidence supports a conclusion for a full release.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Conclusion Collocations
Is it “in conclusion” or “to conclude”?
Both are correct but used differently. “In conclusion” is a prepositional phrase used as a transition at the start of a sentence (usually in writing). “To conclude” is an infinitive verb phrase often used in speeches or formal presentations to signal you are finishing your points.
Can I say “make a conclusion”?
While people might understand you, it is not common for native speakers. It is much more natural to say “reach a conclusion,” “come to a conclusion,” or “draw a conclusion.” Using these verbs will significantly improve your fluency scores in exams like IELTS or TOEFL.
What does “jump to conclusions” imply?
This phrase usually has a negative connotation. It implies that someone is being impulsive, irrational, or unfair by deciding something before they have all the necessary information.
What is the difference between “at the conclusion” and “in conclusion”?
“In conclusion” is a transition word meaning “lastly.” “At the conclusion of [something]” refers to the specific physical or temporal end of an event, like a concert, a movie, or a contract.
Is “foregone conclusion” used for positive or negative things?
It can be used for both! It simply means the result is predictable. For example, “His promotion was a foregone conclusion” (Positive) or “The team’s defeat was a foregone conclusion” (Negative).
This is great. I always tell my students that collocations make English sound more authentic. This article is a perfect example to share with them.
We appreciate your kind words, Roberto! You're absolutely right – authenticity is key, and collocations are fundamental to achieving it. We're delighted you find our content shareable for your students!
Thank you for the practical examples! The sentence structure really helps clarify the usage. I'll be trying to use 'reach a conclusion' in my next report.
You're very welcome, Fatima! Applying what you learn immediately is the best way to solidify new vocabulary. We're confident your reports will sound even more polished and professional with these collocations!
I never thought about 'conclusion' having so many specific verb partners. This is really eye-opening for someone trying to move beyond intermediate English.
That's exactly what we hope to achieve, Min-jun! Collocations are often the hidden key to sounding more advanced and natural. Keep exploring these natural word pairings, and you'll find your English fluency making significant leaps!
Is there a significant difference between 'arrive at a conclusion' and 'reach a conclusion'?
Another excellent question, Omar! In most contexts, 'arrive at a conclusion' and 'reach a conclusion' are virtually interchangeable. Both convey the idea of coming to a final decision or understanding after a period of thought or process. 'Arrive at' might sometimes suggest a slightly more formal tone, but the meaning is fundamentally the same. Feel free to use either with confidence!
This article explains why my English often sounds a bit 'off' even when my grammar is technically correct. Collocations are truly the key to sounding natural.
You've articulated a common experience for many advanced learners, Hina! Grammatically correct sentences can still sound unnatural without the right collocations. It's truly the bridge to sounding more like a native speaker. Keep focusing on these natural pairings, and your fluency will shine!
My boss often says, 'What's your conclusion on this?' Is that different from 'reaching a conclusion'?
That's a good observation, David! When your boss asks, 'What's your conclusion on this?', 'conclusion' is being used as a standalone noun, essentially asking 'What is your final thought/decision/finding on this matter?' It's a valid and common usage. 'Reaching a conclusion' describes the *process* of arriving at that final thought. So, you might *reach a conclusion* and then present *your conclusion* to your boss.
So for essays, should I always use 'In conclusion,' or are there other phrases that work well for academic summaries?
While 'In conclusion' is perfectly fine, Anja, it's good to vary your phrases in academic writing to avoid repetition. Other strong options include: 'To conclude,' 'To summarize,' 'In summary,' 'Overall,' 'Ultimately,' or 'To recap.' Choosing the best one depends on the nuance you want to convey in your summary!
Could you give an example of 'at the conclusion' used specifically in a business meeting context? I want to make sure I use it correctly.
Absolutely, Thiago! In a business meeting, you might hear: 'At the conclusion of our discussion, we will vote on the proposed budget.' Or, 'The CEO will provide a summary statement at the conclusion of the quarterly review.' It signals the end of a specific event or segment of the meeting.
Great article! The point about 'language anxiety' really resonated with me. Knowing the right collocations makes me feel much more confident when speaking in English meetings.
It's wonderful to hear that, Sophie! Reducing language anxiety is one of our main goals. When you're confident in your word choices, you can focus more on your message, which makes a huge difference in professional settings. Keep practicing, and that confidence will only grow!
I notice the article mentions 'modern English'. Has 'make a conclusion' ever been correct or acceptable in the past? Just curious about the linguistic evolution.
That's a very insightful historical question, Kofi! While 'make a conclusion' might have been less strictly frowned upon in older forms of English or in more localized dialects, it has largely fallen out of favor in standard, formal usage. Language evolves, and what sounds natural and correct often shifts over time. The preferred collocations like 'reach' or 'draw' solidified as standard for clarity and precision.