but lastly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but lastly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to introduce the final point or item in a list or argument. Example: "We have discussed the budget, the timeline, and but lastly, the team roles for the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

But lastly, if Israelis and Palestinians can ever, one day, reach a peace accord, they will very likely need a credible multinational force to police it, and the only one I can think of is a U.S.-led NATO force.

The New York Times

But lastly, Dr. Eddy found confirmation of his findings in measurements of the concentration of the radioactive isotope carbon-14 found in tree rings, which is known to correlate with solar activity.

The New York Times

But lastly, and probably most importantly, I started taking the end of my high school career as an opportunity to look back and really appreciate everything I've been given.

The New York Times

But lastly, shouldn't we think again about whether we really want outsourcing at all? Gillian Dalley London It is really encouraging that the Guardian is continuing to highlight the risks to the criminal justice system that the government's close links to private contractors are creating.

The Guardian

But lastly, we just really kind of hit it off as human beings.

Vice

But lastly it is the way the Israeli's have manipulated the world stage and continue to do in many aspects.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Thirdly but not lastly, different biological processes have distinct preference with different aspects of EMT/MET.

Protein & Cell

Lastly, but most important – I became baptized!

Cornell University

Lastly, but perhaps most important, is ensuring the independent scrutiny of education budgets.

The Guardian

Lastly, but most importantly, these Sb-doped ZnO nanorods were proved possessing p-type conductivity.

Electrochimica Acta

Lastly, but quite importantly, the modern-day framing device – Tonto is relating these events from middle age – never fully earns its keep.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "but lastly" to clearly signal the final point in a series of arguments or items, ensuring the reader understands the structure and progression of your reasoning.

Common error

Avoid starting too many sentences with conjunctions like "but". While "but lastly" is acceptable for listing a final point, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your sentence structure to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but lastly" functions as a conjunctive adverbial phrase. It serves to connect a preceding statement with a final point or consideration, indicating that the current statement is the last in a series. Ludwig AI shows it appearing frequently in introducing a final point.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "but lastly" is a grammatically sound phrase used to introduce the final point in a series. Ludwig AI identifies it as a conjunctive adverbial phrase suitable for various writing contexts, particularly in news, media and scientific domains. While perfectly acceptable, consider simpler alternatives like "finally" or "lastly" for greater conciseness, or more formal options such as "in conclusion" depending on the context. Avoid overuse to maintain stylistic variation in your writing. Ludwig’s analysis of numerous sources confirms the phrase's appropriate, albeit not exceptionally common, usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

finally

Replaces the conjunction and introductory element with a single word for concluding a series.

lastly

Omits the conjunction, offering a more direct way to introduce the final point.

in conclusion

Provides a more formal transition to the final summary or point.

to conclude

Similar to "in conclusion" but with a slightly different syntactic structure.

on a final note

Emphasizes the concluding nature of the statement more explicitly.

as a final point

Highlights that the statement is the last in a series of considerations.

last but not least

Adds emphasis to the final point, suggesting it is as important as previous ones.

finally and importantly

Combines the sense of conclusion with a note of significance.

in closing

A succinct way to indicate the end of a discussion or presentation.

to summarize

Signals a brief recap of the key points before ending.

FAQs

How can I use "but lastly" in a sentence?

"But lastly" is used to introduce the final item in a list or the final point in an argument. For example, "We considered the cost, the timeline, and, "but lastly", the team's capacity."

What's a more formal alternative to "but lastly"?

More formal alternatives include "in conclusion" or "to summarize". These are better suited for academic or professional writing.

Is it redundant to use "but lastly"?

While some may consider it slightly redundant because "lastly" already implies a final point, the "but" can serve to smoothly transition from previous points, especially if there's a contrast or qualification involved. Consider if simpler alternatives like "lastly" or "finally" would be more concise.

Is "but lastly" always the best way to introduce the final point?

Not always. If the final point is a simple summary, alternatives like "in summary" or "to conclude" might be more appropriate. "But lastly" works best when there's a contrasting or qualifying element to the final point.