ultimately speaking

USAGE SUMMARY

"ultimately speaking" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to indicate that the most important point you are making is what comes after it. For example, "Ultimately speaking, our success depends upon hard work and determination."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

But, ultimately speaking, there is change, very positive change".

The Guardian

Thus, with training, the autistic child might progress from learning a simple task like sitting quietly in a chair to more difficult ones like making eye contact and, ultimately, speaking freely and intelligibly.

The New York Times - Health

If we expand this principle to cover non-human well-being, it might be read as claiming that, ultimately speaking, the justificatory force of any moral reason rests on well-being.

SEP

Those who speak on the state's behalf are ultimately speaking for its citizens, and those citizens ought to be able to take some action if the state decides to take an official position that the citizens disagree with or find offensive.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

They don't really care, do they, ultimately?" Speaking before a debate on the issue was blocked at Labour's conference in Brighton, Mr Murray said he believed that poverty, education and the state of the country's public services were "much, much, much bigger issues than Trident", which was likely to be renewed even it was opposed by Labour.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

I think that ultimately speaks for itself".

Independent

Those who argue for liberal intervention, to impose "rights, freedom and democracy", ultimately speak only of their own interests.

The Guardian - Opinion

McQueary said he never went to the police directly, but ultimately spoke with Gary Schultz, a university vice president in charge of the campus police whom Paterno had contacted.

The New York Times - Sports

They spoke on condition of anonymity because their conversation with Ms. Paulus about the phone message was private; they said they did not know if the two ultimately spoke.

The New York Times

One benefit of adopting Haven is that EverFi is already the vendor for our undergraduate and graduate student training programs, which means that everyone at MIT – faculty, staff, and students – will ultimately "speak the same language" about sexual misconduct.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

And if Mr. Morris's most profound observation about Roosevelt's presidential character is only that he liked to seek balance with the "by now compulsive habit of following every statement with a counterstatement," Roosevelt ultimately speaks best for himself.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "ultimately speaking" with strong verbs and clear statements to make your final point impactful.

Common error

Avoid using "ultimately speaking" in very casual conversations; it can sound overly formal or pretentious. Opt for simpler alternatives like "in the end" or "basically".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ultimately speaking" primarily functions as a discourse marker. It serves to introduce a concluding statement or the most important consideration after a period of analysis or deliberation. Ludwig confirms that this is a grammatically correct phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

20%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

20%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "ultimately speaking" is a grammatically sound expression used to introduce a final conclusion or key consideration, as confirmed by Ludwig. It is most commonly found in news and media, science, and academic contexts. While correct, it is not a very frequent phrase and should be used judiciously, particularly avoiding overuse in informal settings. Alternatives like "in the final analysis" or "at the end of the day" might be suitable depending on the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in the final analysis

Replaces "ultimately" with "in the final analysis", emphasizing a conclusive assessment.

at the end of the day

An idiomatic alternative conveying a similar sense of finality but is less formal.

when all is said and done

An idiomatic expression highlighting the end result after considering everything.

in the long run

Focuses on the outcome over a significant period.

to conclude

A direct way to signal the ending of a discussion or argument.

in conclusion

Similar to "to conclude" but slightly more formal.

primarily speaking

Changes the focus from ultimate result to primary aspect.

basically speaking

Indicates the fundamental aspect of the matter.

essentially speaking

Highlights the essential nature of the topic being discussed.

fundamentally speaking

Emphasizes the basic or foundational aspect.

FAQs

How can I use "ultimately speaking" in a sentence?

You can use "ultimately speaking" to introduce a final or most important point after considering all factors. For example, "Ultimately speaking, the success of the project depends on teamwork."

What can I say instead of "ultimately speaking"?

You can use alternatives like "in the final analysis", "at the end of the day", or "in conclusion" depending on the context.

Is "ultimately speaking" formal or informal?

"Ultimately speaking" is generally considered more formal. In informal contexts, simpler phrases like "in the end" or "basically" might be more appropriate.

What is the difference between "ultimately speaking" and "basically speaking"?

"Ultimately speaking" introduces a final conclusion after considering all factors, while "basically speaking" introduces a fundamental or essential point. The first one implies the final result of a process, while the second one is more connected with the fundaments of something.