Writing

Concluding sentences: examples and how to write one

A concluding sentence is the last sentence of a paragraph. It wraps up the paragraph's main idea, often by restating the topic sentence in new words, drawing a small conclusion from the details, or leading into the next paragraph. It should not add a new point.

If the topic sentence opens the door to a paragraph, the concluding sentence closes it behind you. It tells the reader that the point has been made and reminds them what that point was. Without one, a paragraph can feel like a phone call that ends in the middle of a sentence.

What does a concluding sentence do?

It restates the main idea of the paragraph in fresh words.
It shows why the details matter, answering the reader's silent question, "So what?"
It signals that the paragraph is complete.
In an essay, it can point ahead to the next paragraph so the ideas connect.

A concluding sentence is not a place for new information. If you find yourself adding a fresh fact or a second argument in the last line, that material probably belongs in a paragraph of its own.

Concluding sentence vs. conclusion paragraph

A concluding sentence ends one paragraph. A conclusion paragraph ends a whole essay. They do similar jobs on different scales: both remind the reader of the main point and leave a final impression. In a five-paragraph essay, each body paragraph has its own concluding sentence, and the essay as a whole ends with a conclusion paragraph.

Five ways to write a concluding sentence

All five methods below close the same paragraph, the one about packed lunches on the topic sentence page. Its topic sentence is "Packing lunch saves more money than most students expect."

Method	How it works	Example
Restate	Say the topic sentence again in new words.	A few minutes of packing each morning can keep hundreds of dollars in a student's pocket.
Sum up	Name the key details in one short sweep.	With lower prices, fewer impulse snacks and less waste, a packed lunch is the smart choice.
Draw a conclusion	Say what the details add up to.	Clearly, the cheapest meal in the building is the one that comes from home.
Look ahead	Point to the next paragraph.	Saving money is only the first benefit, though; a packed lunch is often healthier, too.
Recommend	Tell the reader what to do with the point.	Students who want more spending money should start with their lunch bag.

Sentence starters for concluding sentences

Transition words tell the reader that you are wrapping up. Use them, but do not lean on the same one every time, and remember that the words after the starter matter more than the starter itself.

In short, ...
Clearly, ...
For these reasons, ...
As a result, ...
All in all, ...
This shows that ...
Because of this, ...
In the end, ...
That is why ...
Taken together, these details show that ...
Without [the thing you discussed], ...
Next time you [action], remember that ...

Concluding sentence examples in full paragraphs

In each sample below, the concluding sentence is the last one. Read the first and last sentences together and notice how they match without repeating each other.

Explaining paragraph

A thunderstorm grows through three stages. In the first stage, warm, moist air rises and cools, and the water vapor in it condenses into a towering cumulus cloud. In the mature stage, rain and sometimes hail fall while warm air keeps rushing upward, so the storm has strong updrafts and downdrafts at the same time. This is when lightning, gusty winds and heavy rain are most likely. In the final stage, the downdrafts take over and cut off the supply of warm air, and the storm slowly rains itself out. From its first puffy cloud to its last drizzle, every thunderstorm follows this same life cycle.

Story paragraph

The night our power went out turned into the best evening of the winter. At first, my little brother complained that his game had shut off in the middle of a level, and my mom worried about the food in the freezer. Then my dad found the old camping lantern in the garage, and we dragged blankets into the living room. We made grilled cheese on the gas stove, played cards until our fingers were cold, and told the kind of stories you only tell in the dark. When the lights finally flickered back on at ten o'clock, all four of us groaned.

Argument paragraph with a bridge to the next point

Public parks need more water fountains. On a hot July afternoon, the walking path in our town park stretches almost two miles without a single place to get a drink. Runners carry heavy bottles, parents with strollers cut their walks short, and older visitors sit on benches waiting for the heat to pass. Three or four fountains along the path would cost far less than the shade structures the town added last year, and they would serve every visitor. Fountains would solve the problem of thirst, but they would also make the park more welcoming in a second way.

The first concluding sentence restates the topic sentence. The second ends with an image that shows the point (nobody wanted the evening to end) instead of stating it, which works well in narrative writing. The third wraps up and then points ahead, a good move when another paragraph follows.

Topic sentence and concluding sentence pairs

Topic sentence	Concluding sentence
Learning a second language makes travel easier.	Even a few hundred words can turn a confusing trip into a comfortable one.
Our school's recycling program is not working.	Until the bins are emptied on time and labeled clearly, most of that paper will keep ending up in the trash.
Bread is simple to bake at home.	With flour, water, salt, yeast and some patience, almost anyone can pull a warm loaf out of the oven.
My first job taught me how to handle complaints.	By the end of the summer, an angry customer no longer made my hands shake.
Walking to school has real health benefits.	Those daily miles add up to a stronger heart and a better mood, all before first period.
The main character changes over the course of the story.	By the final page, the boy who would not share his lunch is cooking dinner for the whole street.

How to write a concluding sentence

Reread your topic sentence so the main idea is fresh in your mind.
Look over your supporting sentences and ask what they add up to.
Write a sentence that states that main idea or conclusion in new words.
Check that it adds no new fact, example or argument.
Read the topic sentence and the concluding sentence together. They should match in meaning but not in wording.

Common mistakes

Copying the topic sentence word for word. Repeating it exactly sounds careless; restate the idea in fresh language.
Adding a new point. "Also, dogs need regular baths" at the end of a paragraph about dog walking opens a topic you never discuss.
Ending with a throwaway line, such as "That is all about dogs" or "So that is my paragraph."
Ending on a quotation. Let your own words have the last say, and explain what the quotation shows.
Claiming too much. "And that is why bike helmets will save humanity" promises more than one paragraph can prove.
Using "In conclusion" at the end of every paragraph.

Do you always need a concluding sentence?

In most school paragraphs, yes, and many teachers grade for it. In longer essays and in college writing, a body paragraph sometimes ends on its last piece of analysis instead, because the next paragraph's opening does the linking. Narrative paragraphs often end on an image or a line of dialogue. When in doubt, follow the assignment. The Elements of Style gives the classic version of this advice in Rule 9: end a paragraph in a way that fits how it began.

Check yourself

1. What is the main job of a concluding sentence?

2. Topic sentence: "Learning to swim keeps children safe." Which concluding sentence works best?

3. Why should you usually avoid "In conclusion" at the end of a body paragraph?

4. Which of these belongs in a concluding sentence?

Pick an answer to start.