that ultimately

USAGE SUMMARY

'that ultimately' is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize the end result or outcome of something. For example, "We wanted to find a way to reduce our carbon footprint, and that ultimately led us to switch to renewable energy sources."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

search that ultimately picked James.

The New York Times

And that, ultimately, is the point.

The New Yorker

And that, ultimately, is all that matters.

The Economist

I think that ultimately speaks for itself".

Independent

And that, ultimately, may be Thomas's objective.

The New Yorker

It's a screensaver that ultimately saves Carrie.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"But it suggests that ultimately this isn't for us".

The New Yorker

Last year, Ellsbury battled injuries that ultimately ruined his season.

The New York Times - Sports

But it is Mr. Bernanke's opinion that ultimately matters.

The New York Times

"I think that ultimately the courts will overturn it".

The New York Times

That is the material that ultimately formed the moon.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Place this phrase immediately after the noun it modifies to maintain a clear connection between the cause and the final effect.

Common error

Avoid using "that ultimately" if the result described is immediate or trivial. The adverb "ultimately" implies a journey or a sequence of events. Furthermore, ensure it is not confused with "eventually", which suggests time passing but not necessarily a final, conclusive end state.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that ultimately" functions as a relative pronoun followed by an adverb of time and finality. According to Ludwig, it serves to connect a specific subject to its final or most significant consequence. It is often used to emphasize that while there may have been many intermediate steps, the result mentioned is the definitive one.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Social Media

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "that ultimately" is a powerful tool for writers looking to connect actions to their long-term results. Ludwig AI confirm its widespread use in high-authority media and academic research, highlighting its utility in defining the definitive outcome of a process. Whether you are describing a scientific reaction "that ultimately" propagates a chain or a political strategy "that ultimately" fails, the phrase provides a sophisticated way to signal finality. When using it, ensure the outcome is significant enough to warrant the weight of the word "ultimately". If the result is merely a next step, consider lighter alternatives like "that then" or "that later".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

which ultimately

Interchangeable in non-restrictive clauses to add variety to sentence structure.

which eventually

Uses a different relative pronoun and suggests a slower passage of time.

that in the end

Provides a more idiomatic and slightly less formal way to indicate a conclusion.

that finally

Focuses more on the completion of a sequence than on the conclusive nature of the result.

that resulted in

Explicitly emphasizes the causal link rather than the chronological sequence.

that effectively

Shifts the focus to the practical outcome or the actual effect achieved.

that fundamentally

Emphasizes a core or essential change rather than just a final one.

that subsequently

Focuses strictly on the chronological order without necessarily implying a final result.

which in turn

Highlights a chain reaction or a secondary consequence within a process.

that at last

Adds a sense of relief or long-awaited completion to the final result.

FAQs

How do I use "that ultimately" in a sentence?

You can use "that ultimately" to introduce a clause that describes the final result of something, for example: "It was a decision "that ultimately" changed the course of history."

What can I say instead of "that ultimately"?

You can use alternatives like "which eventually", "that finally", or "that in the end" depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

Is "that ultimately" formal enough for academic writing?

Yes, it is perfectly appropriate for academic and professional contexts. It is frequently found in scientific journals and high-level journalism to describe complex causal chains.

What is the difference between "that ultimately" and "which ultimately"?

The difference is primarily grammatical: ""that ultimately"" is typically used in restrictive clauses to define the noun, while "which ultimately" is used in non-restrictive clauses to provide extra information, often following a comma.