This shows us that

Using this phrase is like building a three-story house. The first floor is your evidence. Maybe it’s a drop in website traffic or a strange noise in your car. The second floor is the phrase itself: this shows us that. The third floor is your conclusion. For example: 'The car is making a clunking sound (Evidence), this shows us that we need a mechanic (Conclusion).' It’s very common in presentations because it keeps the audience focused on the 'why' instead of just the 'what.' You can use it at the start of a sentence or in the middle. If you're looking at a graph on a Zoom call, you might say, 'The green line is going up, and this shows us that our TikTok strategy is actually working.' It’s a great way to sound smart without sounding like a robot. Just remember to keep the evidence clear so the conclusion feels earned. If you say, 'The sky is blue, and this shows us that I should buy a boat,' your audience might be a little confused by your logic.

This phrase lives in the 'Golden Zone' of English. It is professional enough for a board meeting at Google, but casual enough for a text to your roommate. It’s 'neutral-formal.' In a job interview, it makes you sound analytical and observant. In a casual conversation, it makes you sound thoughtful. However, because it uses us, it always feels slightly collaborative. If you want to be super formal or academic, you might drop the us and say this indicates that or this demonstrates that. But for 90% of your life—emails, Slack messages, school projects, or explaining a movie plot—this shows us that is your best friend. It’s like a well-fitted blazer; you can wear it to a wedding or a nice dinner and look perfectly in place. Just avoid using it for super obvious things, or you’ll sound like a Captain Obvious. 'The rain is wet, which shows us that it is raining' is a great way to make people roll their eyes.

Let’s look at how this pops up in the wild. Imagine an Instagram influencer looking at their analytics. They might post a Story saying, 'My last reel got 50k shares! This shows us that you guys really love travel tips.' Or think about a gamer on Discord. They might say, 'The boss didn't take damage from that fire spell, so this shows us that he's probably immune to fire.' Even in world news, a reporter might say, 'The recent polls are shifting, and this shows us that voters are worried about the economy.' It’s everywhere—from Netflix subtitles in a detective drama to a nutritionist explaining your blood test results. It’s a versatile tool for anyone who needs to explain the 'big picture.' You’ll hear it in YouTube tutorials all the time. 'Notice how the paint is cracking? This shows us that the surface wasn't cleaned properly.' It’s the language of experts and enthusiasts alike.

Use this when you want to be the smartest person in the room—but in a nice way. It’s perfect for transitions. If you've just finished explaining a complicated point, use this phrase to wrap it up with a bow. It’s also great for being persuasive. If you want your boss to give you a raise, you might show them a list of your successful projects and say, 'Looking at these results, this shows us that I’ve outgrown my current role.' It’s also very useful for conflict resolution. If you and a friend are arguing about why a plan failed, you can look at the facts and say, 'We didn't check the weather, and this shows us that we need to be better at planning next time.' It takes the 'blame' away and focuses on the 'lesson.' It’s basically the 'learning moment' phrase.

Don't use this for purely emotional or subjective feelings. If you tell your partner, 'You didn't text me back, and this shows us that you don't love me,' things are going to get heavy very fast. It sounds too clinical for a romantic argument. Use 'I feel like' instead. Also, avoid it when the connection is too weak. If you say, 'I saw a black cat today, and this shows us that my meeting will go poorly,' you aren't being logical; you're just being superstitious. Lastly, don't use it if you are the only one who can see the information. If you're looking at a private diary and say this shows us that, the other person will ask, 'Who is us? I can't see the diary!' It requires a shared context to work properly.

The biggest trap is the 's' at the end of shows. Many people say this show us that, but this is singular, so it needs that 's'. It’s a tiny letter but it makes a big difference in how fluent you sound. Another mistake is using the progressive tense: this is showing us that. While not strictly 'illegal,' it sounds a bit clunky and weak. This shows us is much more confident.

• ✗ This show us that → ✓ This shows us that
• ✗ These shows us that → ✓ This shows us that (or These show us that)
• ✗ This is showing us that → ✓ This shows us that
• ✗ This shows us → ✓ This shows us that (you usually need the that to start your next clause!)

Don't forget that us refers to you and the listener. If you are talking to yourself, it might sound like you have an imaginary friend!

If you find yourself saying this shows us that five times in one presentation, you’re going to sound like a broken record. Mix it up! For a more scientific vibe, use this indicates that. If you want to sound more casual, try what this means is. If you're talking about a future prediction, use this suggests that. In a legal or high-stakes environment, this demonstrates that carries more weight. My personal favorite for a quick explanation is this points to the fact that. It’s like a slightly fancier version of the same idea. If you want to be very direct, you can just say which means.... 'Sales are up, which means we're rich!' (Okay, maybe don't say that to your boss, but you get the idea).

Can I say this shows me that? Yes! Use me if you are the only one who has seen the evidence or if you are talking about a personal realization. For example, 'The silence in the room showed me that I had said something wrong.'

What tense should I use? Usually, it's in the present tense because the evidence is 'showing' you the truth right now. You can use the past tense this showed us that if you are talking about a discovery you made yesterday.

Is it okay for academic writing? It’s acceptable, but this indicates that or this demonstrates that is often preferred by grumpy professors who think us is too informal.

Does it always need a that? Almost always. The that is the gatekeeper for the new sentence you’re about to start. 'This shows us (Gatekeeper) the project is over.' Without it, the sentence feels like it’s missing a limb.