sum up the argument

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sum up the argument" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to provide a concise summary or conclusion of a discussion or debate. Example: "In conclusion, let me sum up the argument: the evidence clearly supports our initial hypothesis."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

However, managers of the top companies ultimately earn three times as much as managers of the laggards.To sum up the argument so far: executive pay reached an inflection point in the 1980s, when attacks from raiders prompted companies to use options to motivate the chief executive to make profits, punish failure with dismissal and value general management skills more highly.

The Economist

To sum up the argument we have two groups of Russians we aim to compare in terms of acculturation.

Comparative Migration Studies

A skeptic might sum up the argument this way: a good education based in the liberation of a child's capacity for action and an innate aversion to seeing others suffer just happens to produce people who resemble contemporary American liberals, people much like Martha Nussbaum herself.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Normally, at the end of debates on important bills, the party leaders give stirring speeches summing up the arguments.

The New York Times

"We cannot have the country run by a thief like him," Mr. Arroyo said, summing up the arguments of prosecutors from the House of Representatives.

The New York Times

The Washington Post, summing up the arguments, said, "It comes down to changing the culture, and top brass say they need more time".

The New Yorker

Both argued well, summing up the arguments for what has become a community of colleagues arguing with and against one another.

The Guardian - Opinion

In what both Democrats and Republicans seemed to regard as an odd moment, Mr. Feingold cast his vote in favor of the nomination after delivering remarks in which he castigated Mr. Ashcroft's behavior, expressed deep doubts about his character and summed up the arguments against him as harshly as did any Democrat on the committee.

The New York Times

A week or so ago I wrote a blog post summing up the arguments surrounding the possible creation of an arts czar/culture minister.

Huffington Post

Summing up the statistical argument Sanders makes in support of a single-payer universal health care plan, John Nichols writes in the Nation: "The 1,300 profit-making private insurance companies administer thousands of separate plans and waste about $400 billion a year on administrative costs, profiteering, high CEO compensation packages, and advertising.

Huffington Post

And, summing up the argument of his play in three words, he concluded: "It feels unfair".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sum up the argument", ensure your summary accurately reflects all key points without introducing new information or bias.

Common error

Avoid making the summary too simplistic, which can lead to misrepresentation or omission of crucial details. Ensure that the summary covers all key aspects of the argument comprehensively.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sum up the argument" functions as a discourse marker, specifically used to signal an impending summary or conclusion to a discussion or line of reasoning. Ludwig examples indicate that the phrase is used to provide a concise recap of previously stated points.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

10%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sum up the argument" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase for providing a concise conclusion or summary. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's commonly found in news and media, and less so in formal academic writing, where alternatives like "summarize" or "recapitulate" are preferred. When using this phrase, remember to ensure your summary accurately reflects the key points of the argument without oversimplifying or introducing bias. Related phrases include "summarize the argument" and "outline the argument".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

summarize the argument

Uses a different verb with similar meaning but is slightly more formal.

recapitulate the argument

Implies a more structured and thorough review of the main points.

outline the argument

Focuses on presenting the main points in a structured, brief manner.

restate the argument

Focuses on presenting the core ideas in slightly different wording.

give a summary of the argument

Adds a bit more length and explicitness to the phrase.

present the argument in brief

Emphasizes conciseness in the argument's presentation.

encapsulate the argument

Highlights the capturing of the argument's essence.

condense the argument

Focuses on reducing the argument to its most essential parts.

boil down the argument

Suggests reducing the argument to its simplest, most fundamental elements.

synthesize the argument

Involves combining different elements of the argument into a coherent whole.

FAQs

How can I use "sum up the argument" in a sentence?

You can use "sum up the argument" to introduce a concise overview of the main points discussed. For example, "To "sum up the argument", we've seen that the evidence strongly supports our hypothesis".

What is a more formal way to say "sum up the argument"?

A more formal alternative to "sum up the argument" is to "summarize the argument" or "recapitulate the argument". These options are suitable for academic or professional contexts.

How does "sum up the argument" differ from "analyze the argument"?

"Sum up the argument" means to provide a brief overview of the main points. "Analyze the argument", on the other hand, means to examine it in detail, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and underlying assumptions.

Can I use "sum up the argument" in everyday conversation?

Yes, "sum up the argument" is perfectly acceptable in everyday conversation when you want to quickly recap a discussion or debate. It's a clear and concise way to signal that you're about to provide a summary.