100+ Essay Phrases: Argument, Conclusion, Opinion (with Examples)

When I started teaching advanced ESL students, I noticed something odd: they had memorized phrases like “The arguments we have presented suggest that…” but couldn’t actually use them in a real paragraph. The words were floating in their heads, disconnected from the surrounding ideas. That’s when I realized that knowing a phrase and knowing when and why to use it are completely different skills.

This article organizes 100+ essay phrases into functional groups based on what you’re trying to do: develop an argument, present the other side, draw a conclusion, give your personal opinion, or introduce evidence. For each category, you’ll see real examples showing how the phrases work in context, which is far more useful than a naked list.

Phrases for Developing Your Main Argument

These phrases help you introduce and advance your central claims. They signal to the reader that you’re making a key point or moving your argument forward.

Phrase	Function	Example Context
The first aspect to point out is that…	Introduce first main claim	Literary analysis, persuasive essays
Let us start by considering the facts.	Begin analysis methodically	Evidence-based arguments
The novel portrays / deals with / revolves around…	Identify core theme	Literary essays
Central to the novel is…	Highlight main focus	Critical analysis
The character of X embodies / epitomizes…	Interpret character’s role	Character analysis
A significant observation is that…	Present noteworthy insight	Research-based writing

Example 1: “Shakespeare’s Hamlet is often studied as a tragedy. However, the first aspect to point out is that the play also functions as a political thriller about court corruption.”

Example 2: “Climate change poses multiple challenges to global economics. Central to the issue is the disparity between short-term costs and long-term survival.”

Phrases for Presenting the Other Side (Counterargument)

Strong essays don’t ignore opposing views — they acknowledge them and then explain why your position is stronger. These phrases introduce the counterargument gracefully.

Phrase	Tone	Best Used When
It would also be interesting to see…	Exploratory	Opening discussion of alternative view
One should nevertheless consider the problem from another angle.	Formal, balanced	Academic essays with multiple perspectives
Equally relevant to the issue are the questions of…	Formal	Acknowledging valid competing concerns
The other side of the coin is, however, that…	Direct	Setting up your refutation
On the other hand, we can observe that…	Neutral	Balanced argument structures
Another way of looking at this question is to…	Open-minded	Exploring alternative interpretations

Example 3: “Remote work increases productivity for many. One should nevertheless consider the challenges it poses to team cohesion and company culture.”

Example 4: “Artificial intelligence offers tremendous benefits. The other side of the coin is, however, that it raises serious questions about job displacement and algorithmic bias.”

Phrases for Drawing Conclusions

Your conclusion is where you pull all the threads together. These phrases signal that you’re wrapping up your logic and revealing what it all means.

Phrase	Strength	Essay Type
The arguments we have presented suggest that…	Moderate (suggests, not proves)	Analytical, persuasive
From these arguments one must conclude that…	Strong (logical necessity)	Evidence-based, academic
All of this points to the conclusion that…	Strong	Synthesis of multiple points
What conclusions can be drawn from all this?	Rhetorical (invites reader reflection)	Thought-provoking essays
To sum up… we are convinced that…	Personal conviction	Opinion-based essays
To conclude…	Direct	Any essay type (simple, clear)
The most satisfactory conclusion that we can come to is…	Formal, balanced	Academic essays acknowledging complexity

Example 5: “The company’s market share declined due to slow innovation, poor marketing, and outdated technology. From these arguments one must conclude that survival in this industry requires radical internal transformation.”

Example 6: “Social media affects mental health, educational outcomes, and sleep patterns. All of this points to the conclusion that regulation of social media platforms is not a question of censorship but of public health.”

Phrases for Ordering and Structuring Your Essay

These phrases keep your reader oriented. They show the logical flow of your ideas, whether you’re presenting points in order, comparing alternatives, or moving between ideas.

Phrase	Position in Essay	Function
Firstly, …/ Secondly, …/ Finally, …	Throughout	Number your main points clearly
As a final point…	End of body	Emphasize your last argument before conclusion
On the one hand, …. on the other hand…	Middle sections	Present balanced perspectives
If on the one hand it can be said that… the same is not true for…	Comparative sections	Show difference between two positions
The first argument suggests that… whilst the second suggests that…	Comparative sections	Synthesize competing ideas
There are at least X points to highlight.	Early in argument	Signal how many main claims will follow

Example 7: “Firstly, digital technology has democratized access to information. Secondly, it has created new forms of community. Finally, it has transformed how we work and communicate.”

Example 8: “Traditional education offers structured curriculum and teacher guidance. On the other hand, self-directed learning fosters independence and critical thinking.”

Phrases for Adding Information and Examples

When you want to expand a point, provide evidence, or strengthen your argument with details, these phrases help you introduce that supporting material smoothly.

Phrase	Effect	Common In
Furthermore, one should not forget that…	Adds weight to previous statement	Persuasive essays
In addition to…	Expands scope of previous point	Any essay type
Moreover…	Strengthens with new evidence	Academic, analytical
It is important to add that…	Signals a critical detail	Argument-based essays
For example…	Introduces concrete illustration	All types
To illustrate this point…	Makes abstract idea concrete	Explanation-based essays

Example 9: “Education improves earning potential. Moreover, studies show it correlates with better health outcomes and longer lifespans.”

Example 10: “Urban planning affects quality of life. To illustrate this point, cities with extensive public parks report lower stress levels and higher community engagement.”

Phrases for Presenting Personal Opinion

Use these when the essay specifically asks for your perspective, analysis, or judgment. Note: these are not for formal literary analysis or objective research papers, where personal opinion can weaken your credibility.

Phrase	Formality	Best Used In
We/I personally believe that…	Semi-formal	Opinion essays, reflective writing
Our/My own point of view is that…	Semi-formal	Personal essays, opinion pieces
It is my contention that…	Formal	Academic argument with personal stance
I am convinced that…	Moderate	Essays requesting judgment or evaluation
My own opinion is…	Direct, less formal	Informal reflections, blogs

Example 11: “While economists debate stimulus packages, I am convinced that long-term investment in education yields greater returns than short-term relief programs.”

Example 12: “Several critics interpret the ending as tragic. My own point of view is that it represents hope — a deliberate refusal to surrender to despair.”

Phrases for Presenting Others’ Opinions

When you cite scholars, critics, or expert sources, these phrases introduce their viewpoints while maintaining your own analytical distance and credibility.

Phrase Starter	Verb Options	Example
According to some critics…	believe that…	According to some critics, the protagonist is a victim.
	say that… / suggest that…	According to some critics, the ending is deliberately ambiguous.
	are convinced that…	According to some critics, this interpretation is flawed.
	argue for… / contend that…	According to some critics, the author intentionally subverts genre conventions.

Example 13: “According to some critics, the character’s actions are justified by circumstance. However, others point out that her choices demonstrate deliberate agency.”

Example 14: “Scholars have argued that globalization uniformly benefits developing nations. What they sometimes overlook is the cultural cost of standardization.”

Phrases for Certainty, Doubt, and Speculation

Academic writing requires nuance. You must signal when something is certain fact, reasonable inference, or open question. These phrases help you calibrate your certainty level.

Certainty Level	Phrases	When to Use
Very High	One cannot deny that… / It is clear that… / Doubtless,…	Widely accepted facts, obvious conclusions
Moderate-High	It is very likely that… / This strongly suggests…	Evidence-based inference
Moderate	It is possible that… / In view of the facts, it seems likely…	Reasonable speculation
Low	All the same, it is possible that… / It is difficult to believe…	Acknowledging uncertainty or doubt

Example 15: “The data shows correlation between social media use and anxiety. From this, it is very likely that there is a causal relationship, though further research is needed.”

Example 16: “The author never explicitly states her intention. All the same, it is possible that the ambiguity is deliberate and serves a thematic purpose.”

Phrases for Consequences and Implications

These phrases show cause-and-effect relationships and help you explore the consequences or implications of the arguments you’ve presented.

Phrase	Type of Relationship	Example
From these facts, one may conclude that…	Logical consequence	From these facts, one may conclude that regulation is necessary.
That is why, in our opinion, …	Cause → opinion-based consequence	That is why, in our opinion, the law needs reform.
Which seems to confirm the idea that…	Supporting evidence	Which seems to confirm the idea that language shapes thought.
Thus, / Therefore, / Consequently,…	Direct causation	Thus, we must reconsider our approach.

Example 17: “The company ignored customer feedback, delayed product updates, and failed to adapt to market trends. Consequently, its market share fell by 30% in two years.”

Example 18: “Environmental regulations increase production costs. That is why, in our opinion, governments must offset this burden through tax incentives for green technology.”

Phrases for Comparison

When you need to show how two ideas, theories, or positions relate to each other, these phrases set up effective comparisons.

Phrase	Comparison Type	Example
Some critics suggest X, whereas others…	Contrasting viewpoints	Some critics suggest the ending is tragic, whereas others see it as hopeful.
Compared to…	Direct measurement	Compared to traditional advertising, social media reaches younger audiences more effectively.
On the one hand… On the other hand…	Balanced comparison	On the one hand, AI increases efficiency. On the other, it raises ethical concerns.

Example 19: “Compared to brick-and-mortar retail, e-commerce offers convenience but sacrifices the sensory experience of shopping.”

Common Mistakes Learners Make

✗ Incorrect: “The evidence is strong. Furthermore, the evidence is compelling. Moreover, the evidence is persuasive.”

✓ Correct: “The evidence is strong. Furthermore, it challenges the prevailing theory. Moreover, it opens new research directions.”

Why: Repeating the same idea with different phrases looks like padding, not analysis.

✗ Incorrect: “In my opinion, I personally believe that I think this is a great essay.”

✓ Correct: “I believe this essay successfully challenges the conventional interpretation.”

Why: Don’t stack opinion-markers. One is enough, and be specific about what you’re judging.

✗ Incorrect: “One cannot deny that facts are clear. One must accept that data is evident. It is obvious that conclusions follow logically.”

✓ Correct: “The data clearly supports our conclusion. However, alternative explanations deserve consideration.”

Why: Overusing certainty language sounds defensive, not confident. Mix in acknowledgment of complexity.

✗ Incorrect: “The character embodies the theme. This epitomizes the novel’s message. The author conveys this symbolically.”

✓ Correct: “The character embodies the novel’s central theme: the cost of ambition. The climactic scene illustrates this symbolically.”

Why: Vary your sentence structure and verb choices. Repetitive patterns make writing feel mechanical.

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