Meaning
To arrive at a final decision or judgment after considering information.
Cultural Background
In the US, 'coming to a conclusion' is often expected to happen quickly. Time is money, so 'jumping to a conclusion' is a risk people sometimes take to keep things moving. The phrase is deeply embedded in the UK legal system. Judges and juries 'come to a conclusion' based on the 'burden of proof'. It carries a weight of solemnity and finality. In global English-speaking academia, you never 'state a fact'; you 'come to a conclusion' based on data. This shows humility and respect for the scientific method. When Japanese professionals use this phrase in English, they often mean a 'consensus' has been reached (Nemawashi), which is a much slower and more collective process than the Western individualistic 'conclusion'.
Use 'The' for specific results
If you are about to say exactly what you decided, use 'the': 'I came to THE conclusion that...'
Don't 'Make' it
Remember, 'make a conclusion' is a very common mistake for non-native speakers. Always use 'come to'.
Meaning
To arrive at a final decision or judgment after considering information.
Use 'The' for specific results
If you are about to say exactly what you decided, use 'the': 'I came to THE conclusion that...'
Don't 'Make' it
Remember, 'make a conclusion' is a very common mistake for non-native speakers. Always use 'come to'.
Softening the blow
If you have bad news, starting with 'I've come to the conclusion that...' makes you sound more reasonable and less impulsive.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing verb in the correct tense.
After thinking for a long time, I finally ______ to the conclusion that I need a new phone.
We use the past tense 'came' because the thinking happened in the past and the decision is now finished.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Select the natural English sentence.
The standard collocation is 'come to a conclusion'. 'Reach' does not take the preposition 'to' (it would be 'reach a conclusion').
Complete the dialogue with the best phrase.
Boss: 'Have you decided on the marketing plan?' Employee: 'Yes, we've ______.'
'Come to a conclusion' is the most professional and natural way to say you have made a decision.
Match the adjective with the type of conclusion.
Match the pairs:
These are common adjectives used to modify 'conclusion'.
In which situation is 'come to a conclusion' MOST appropriate?
Choose the best context.
'Come to a conclusion' implies a serious process of weighing evidence, which fits a jury perfectly.
🎉 Score: /5
Visual Learning Aids
Come to vs. Jump to
Practice Bank
5 exercisesAfter thinking for a long time, I finally ______ to the conclusion that I need a new phone.
We use the past tense 'came' because the thinking happened in the past and the decision is now finished.
Select the natural English sentence.
The standard collocation is 'come to a conclusion'. 'Reach' does not take the preposition 'to' (it would be 'reach a conclusion').
Boss: 'Have you decided on the marketing plan?' Employee: 'Yes, we've ______.'
'Come to a conclusion' is the most professional and natural way to say you have made a decision.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are common adjectives used to modify 'conclusion'.
Choose the best context.
'Come to a conclusion' implies a serious process of weighing evidence, which fits a jury perfectly.
🎉 Score: /5
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt is neutral to formal. You can use it with your boss or in a university essay, but it's also fine with friends for serious topics.
Yes, they are almost identical. 'Reach' sounds slightly more like you worked hard to get the answer.
A decision is an action you choose to take. A conclusion is a belief or judgment you form after thinking. Often, a conclusion leads to a decision.
It sounds a bit too serious for that. It's better to say 'I've decided on chocolate.'
It's similar, but 'draw' is usually used when you are looking at evidence or data, like a scientist or detective.
Yes, if you have made several different judgments about a topic.
This is an idiom meaning someone decided something too fast without having all the facts. It's usually a criticism.
Usually 'about' (e.g., conclusion about the price) or 'that' (e.g., conclusion that he was right).
Both are correct. 'A' is more general; 'The' is used when you are about to explain the specific conclusion.
Use 'came': 'We came to a conclusion yesterday.'
Related Phrases
reach a conclusion
synonymTo arrive at a decision after effort.
jump to conclusions
contrastTo decide something too quickly without enough facts.
draw a conclusion
similarTo infer something from evidence.
in conclusion
builds onA transition phrase used to start a summary.
