How to Start a Conclusion

Ever wondered how to start a conclusion while writing an essay? Writing a good conclusion is as important as writing an effective introduction. A conclusion summarises your essay or assignment, reiterates your main argument, and leaves an impression in the reader's mind. However, most students are at a loss about how to effectively start conclusions. This post will demonstrate how to start a conclusion paragraph with confidence and clarity.

Why the Conclusion Matters

The conclusion is the final part of your writing - the reader’s last takeaway. A good ending reinforces your main points and confirms that you’ve answered the prompt.This will make your essay feel complete and not as though it cuts off abruptly. Even very strong arguments can fall flat without a neat conclusion. With that in mind, how exactly should you begin the conclusion to make it effective?

How to Begin a Conclusion: Things to Keep in Mind

1. Signal to the Reader — Use a Conclusion Starter

Begin your concluding paragraph with a phrase that smoothly signals you are concluding. This tells the reader that the essay is coming to an end. Examples of conclusion starters include:

1. To conclude,

2. Ultimately,

3. Given these points,

4. On the whole,

5. To summarise

6. In summary,

These phrases clearly signal the shift from body to conclusion — without surprising the reader.

2. Review Your Thesis or Main Argument

While you shouldn't just copy-paste your original thesis verbatim, it's vital to go back to your central claim or purpose. This shows the reader what the whole essay is about. Most effective conclusions also restate that original argument in a more polished form.

3. Summarise or Synthesize Main Points — Without Repeating

Briefly summarize your main body paragraphs' key points, but synthesize rather than list: show how they connect, how they build up to your argument, and what larger conclusion flows from them.

4. Show the Relevance — Answer “Why It Matters”

A strong conclusion does more than summarize: It tells the reader why anyone should care about this argument. Good conclusions stress implications, possible future direction, or greater relevance of the findings presented in the essay.

5. Keep It Concise and Focused

Your conclusion should be proportional, usually about 5–10% of the total essay length. Refrain from bringing up new arguments or evidence; their place is in the body. Try to be clear and reach closure, not complexity.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Starting a Conclusion

1. Introducing new ideas or arguments. Your conclusion should bring your discussion to a close, rather than open up new topics or directions.

2. Repeating the introduction or body paragraphs point-by-point-This makes the conclusion feel redundant; your goal is to synthesise, not restate.

3. Skipping a clear conclusion starter is like jumping straight into the final paragraph without any transitional help; the end can be abrupt or unclear to the reader.

4. Writing an excessively long or non-focused conclusion. A meandering or repetitive conclusion diminishes the impact; keep it brief, purposeful, and to the point.

Having Difficulty with How to Start a Closing Paragraph? This is Why

1. Running out of ideas after the body — and not planning the conclusion until the last minute.

2. Concerned that beginning with a phrase such as “In conclusion” is formulaic or too obvious.

3. Trouble rewording the thesis without repeating it verbatim.

4. Learning how to summarize and synthesize without adding new material.

The result: conclusions that feel weak, rushed, or disconnected from the essay’s body.

How Locus Assignments Can Help 

Stuck on the conclusion and not knowing how to start, or how to convincingly wrap up your essay - you don't have to go it alone. Here are some services provided by Locus Assignments that can help you craft perfect assignments: Comprehensive assignment help and online assignment help for essays, research papers and coursework. Expert essay writing services and support in accordance with UK academic standards.  Guidelines on writing good introductions and conclusions, cohesive and flow, Review, editing, and proofreading services that enhance clarity and coherence. Avoid common pitfalls with the help of our assignment helper UK and make sure your conclusion leaves a mark. 

Conclusion: Make Your Ending with the Right Start

A conclusion may seem simple, but doing it well takes thought and care. Use a clear conclusion starter, restate your thesis, summarise and connect key points, and then show why your argument matters. Keep it concise — and always avoid introducing new arguments at the end. With a strong beginning and a satisfying close, your conclusion can give your essay real power —and leave readers with something meaningful to think about. Now that you have learnt how to start a conclusion, give the tips a try and should you need help, Locus Assignments is available 24/7!

FAQs

1. What is a good conclusion example?

A good conclusion restates the main idea of the essay, briefly summarises key points, and leaves the reader with a final thought, insight, or call-to-action, creating a sense of closure without introducing new ideas.

2. How to start a conclusion without saying “in conclusion”?

You can start a conclusion with transition phrases such as “Ultimately,” “Overall,” “To summarise,” “On the whole,” or “Given these points,” which signal the ending without sounding repetitive.

3. What is a good conclusion intro?

A good conclusion intro clearly signals that the discussion is ending while rephrasing the main argument in a fresh way to guide the reader toward the final summary.

4. What should be the first sentence of your conclusion?

The first sentence of your conclusion should restate the thesis or main argument concisely and clearly, preparing the reader for a brief synthesis of the essay’s main points.

About the Author

Dr. Oliver Bennett is a senior academic writing consultant and English studies tutor with more than 8 years of experience supporting students across UK higher education institutions. His areas of expertise include literary analysis, academic communication, and structured essay writing for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.