Below are some tips based on a guide from the Harvard College Writing Center<\/a> that can help you finish your paper on a strong note. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What you write in your conclusion depends on the norms and expectations<\/strong> of your field. For example, in a science paper, your conclusion might include suggestions for future research, while in a literature paper, you might highlight a key quote from your text that takes on new meaning after your discussion. It is important that you check what is expected in your discipline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In your conclusion, you first remind your readers of your main idea or thesis<\/strong>. This brings them back to the core focus of your work and reinforces what you wanted to investigate or prove. It serves as a reminder of where you started and guides them through the journey you’ve taken in your argument or analysis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This study examined the relationship between increasing atmospheric CO\u2082 levels and ocean acidification. Our findings indicate that the rise in carbon emissions has led to a significant decline in seawater pH, which in turn affects marine ecosystems, particularly those that rely on calcium carbonate, such as coral reefs and shellfish.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n At the beginning of your paper, you explain to your readers why your argument is important\u2014what’s at stake<\/strong> or why they should care about your findings. In your conclusion, you can revisit these points by reminding readers of the significance of your argument. You can also add a few sentences that expand on its relevance in a new or broader context. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The ongoing acidification of the oceans threatens marine biodiversity and the livelihoods of millions who depend on coastal ecosystems for food and income. If left unchecked, this phenomenon could lead to the collapse of vital marine industries, such as fishing and tourism, while exacerbating the global food security crisis. Our findings highlight the urgency of addressing CO\u2082 emissions and mitigating their effects on marine life.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n See also: Tips for writing an effective introduction in scientific papers<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n After you have addressed the “what” and the “so what,” you should offer your readers some final thoughts<\/strong>. If your introduction is effective, they have already understood what your argument is about and why it’s important. If you’ve made a convincing case for your thesis, your readers should be able to see things differently, ask new questions, or be prepared for ideas they hadn’t thought of before reading your paper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To identify the \u201cNow what?\u201d for your paper\u2019s conclusion, ask yourself these questions:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2705 What new insights, perspectives, or challenges can my readers now discover that they would not have grasped in the same way before reading my article? Have we come closer to understanding a larger issue or have we realised the significance of what was at stake?<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2705 What new questions can I raise that would not have made sense before reading the article? Are there areas for further research or alternative approaches to this topic?<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2705 Can my research be applied in other ways? Could my questions be asked with different data in a different context? Could my methods be used for a different research question?<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2705 What action should be taken based on this argument? What actions are likely to be taken or could lead to a solution? <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2705 How might my argument fit into a broader context?<\/p>\n\n\n Example: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Future research should focus on exploring adaptive strategies for marine species that are particularly vulnerable to acidification. Additionally, understanding the long-term economic impacts of ocean acidification on global fisheries will be crucial. Policymakers must prioritise global agreements to reduce carbon emissions and invest in sustainable practices to protect marine ecosystems. Addressing this issue is not just a matter of environmental health\u2014it is essential for safeguarding the global economy and food security for future generations.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n When you write your conclusion, you should avoid a few things. First, you shouldn’t simply repeat <\/strong>everything you’ve already said in your paper\u2014your conclusion should provide closure and insight rather than repetition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, avoid making a major counterargument <\/strong>that you don’t have space to address, as counterarguments should be inserted earlier in your paper. You should also resist the urge to apologise<\/strong> for what you haven’t covered; if you need to clarify the scope of your research, do so earlier without framing it as an apology. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, stay away from empty transitions <\/strong>like \u201cIn conclusion\u201d if they don’t lead to meaningful final thoughts. A weak transition followed by a general statement like \u201cIn conclusion, I have now demonstrated that my thesis is correct\u201d does not enhance your closing remarks. Instead, focus on formulating a conclusion that leaves a lasting impression on your readers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Writing a paper and looking for an advanced editing assistant<\/strong> to improve readability, clarity, style, grammar, and more without compromising your authorship <\/strong>and originality<\/strong>? We believe that InstaText will be of great benefit to you.<\/p>\n\n\n If you are not using InstaText yet, you can start with the Free plan<\/a> (no credit card required) and see how interactive, high-precision, multilingual editing, with features such as the Personal Dictionary<\/a> and language settings<\/a>, can improve the clarity, readability, word choice, and language accuracy of your academic writing.If you already use InstaText, check out our blog<\/a> for more tips and insights on improving your research writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI find InstaText very helpful. It makes me much faster in writing papers. I\u2019m a perfectionist and usually spend (way too) much time finding the right words and making sure that sentences are easily readable even if the concepts are arbitrarily complicated. InstaText makes my life easier. I recommend it to any PhD student or researcher, whether a native English speaker or not.\u201d \u201cInstaText makes your text engaging to read, coherent, and professional-looking. Further, I feel that paragraphs corrected by InstaText look akin to what I see in top marketing and social psychology journals. It is a huge help for an academic writer because rather than focusing on making the text appealing, you can simply focus on what you want to say and build a logically unfolding narration.\u201d \u201cInstaText is a great tool! I use it to improve English texts such as articles, projects and abstracts for conferences. The tool provides very useful suggestions that help me to translate the text to a professional level so that no additional review by \u201cnative speakers\u201d is required. The time and money savings are obvious. I highly recommend it!\u201d Learn simple strategies to write concise, effective conclusions for your research papers that leave a lasting impression on your readers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1761550,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[118,143,45,155,156,144,116,41,148,28,154],"class_list":["post-1761702","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-academic-writing","tag-editing-assistant","tag-editing-tool","tag-grammar-checker","tag-language-improvement","tag-proofreading-tool","tag-text-improvement","tag-writing-assistant","tag-writing-clarity","tag-writing-enhancement","tag-writing-productivity"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/instatext.io\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1761702","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/instatext.io\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/instatext.io\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/instatext.io\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/instatext.io\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1761702"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/instatext.io\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1761702\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1762905,"href":"https:\/\/instatext.io\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1761702\/revisions\/1762905"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/instatext.io\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/1761550"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/instatext.io\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1761702"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/instatext.io\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1761702"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/instatext.io\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1761702"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
What to include in your conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Start with the “what” <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Focus on the “so what” <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.instatext.io\/prod\/uploads\/2025\/03\/04094556\/Contemplative-student-studying-at-a-library-desk-filled-with-books-and-a-laptop-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nLeave your readers asking, “Now what?”<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Phases](\"https:\/\/static.instatext.io\/prod\/uploads\/2024\/10\/15161814\/instatext_writing_process_phases.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThings to avoid in your conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
InstaText: An editing assistant for academics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.instatext.io\/prod\/uploads\/2024\/08\/27155347\/instatext-editor-desktop-featured-1024x707.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\u2014 Giulia Guidi<\/strong>, PhD Student, University of California, Berkeley<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Dr. Micha\u0142 Folwarczny<\/strong>, Postdoctoral Researcher<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Dr. Janez Konc<\/strong>, Senior Researcher<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"