You’ve probably heard the phrase “at the end of the day” used both literally and figuratively. But is this phrase worn out? Are there any similar phrases you can use instead?
In this article, we’ve answered all of these highly important questions. What’s more, we’ve compiled a great list of synonyms for “at the end of the day” to keep things exciting!
Other Ways to Say “At the End of the Day”
- All things considered
- In the long run
- When push comes to shove
- In the end
- Eventually
- Ultimately
- In time
- Sooner or later
- When all is said and done
- After all
- In the final analysis
- All in all
- On the whole
- Altogether
- Taking everything into account
- Generally speaking
- As a general rule
- As a whole
- By and large
- In the general run of things
- In general terms
- In summation
- For all intents and purposes
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The phrase “at the end of the day” is grammatically correct and can be used in formal and informal settings, although it is considered cliché.
- In especially formal settings, you can use the phrase “all things considered” instead.
- You can use “in the long run” as an alternative in informal settings.
Keep reading to see how we use our choice of formal and informal synonyms for “at the end of the day” in a few examples.
After that, we’ll discuss the correctness of the original phrase in more detail. Is it overused?
All Things Considered (Formal)
If you’re looking for a more professional way to say “at the end of the day,” why not try “all things considered”?
Firstly, the meaning behind this phrase is far clearer. Obviously, it means that you’re making your statement after considering all the relevant factors.
This makes it a better phrase to use in formal settings than “at the end of the day,” which is somewhat vague since it has both a literal and figurative meaning.
Secondly, this phrase is better suited for formal circumstances, such as business or work correspondence. You can use it in emails to colleagues or clients.
Finally, let’s see an email example and a sentence example making use of this phrase:
Dear Daniel,
I attended the conference yesterday and, all things considered, it was a great success.
You should be very proud of your team.
Warm regards,
Clayton
All things considered; a small financial loss won’t do us any long-term harm.
In the Long Run (Informal)
Another way to say “at the end of the day” is “in the long run.” This phrase is suitable to use in informal and casual settings.
Like the original phrase, this saying is an idiomatic expression that essentially means “ultimately.” Moreover, this phrase also has a literal meaning and means “in the future” or “after a long period of time.”
Additionally, you can use this phrase in the workplace when speaking casually to your colleagues or clients. However, there may be better alternatives to use in particularly formal correspondence.
“In the long run” is not a better phrase than “at the end of the day” per se. However, you can use it to change your phrasing here and there.
Lastly, let’s see an email sample making use of this phrase:
Dear Josephine,
I have considered our options, and I think we should invest in the company.
Although this investment would be risky, I believe it will be more rewarding in the long run.
All the best,
Kent
Is It Correct to Say “At the End of the Day”?
The phrase “at the end of the day” is perfectly grammatically correct. This phrase is neither particularly formal nor informal. Therefore, you can use it in all kinds of settings.
However, this phrase is considered somewhat overused and cliché at this stage. Moreover, writers find it a problematic phrase to use on account of how ambiguous it is.
After all, it is difficult to tell whether you are using the literal or figurative meaning of this phrase, especially in text. You could mean the figurative meaning of “ultimately,” or you could literally mean “at the end of the day.”
Therefore, it may benefit you to use one of our synonyms to avoid confusion!
If you’re here because you want to know whether the phrase is “at the end of the day” or “in the end of the day,” we’ll discuss that next!
In short “at the end of the day” is the only correct version of this phrase.
Therefore, “in the end of the day” would be incorrect.
This is because the preposition “at” refers to a point in time or space, while the preposition “in” refers to something physically inside or surrounded by something else.
In conclusion, “at the end of the day” is grammatically correct. However, it is considered a vague cliché that should probably be avoided in most circumstances.
Therefore, if you’d like to make use of our list of synonyms, feel free to bookmark this page and return whenever you please!