Alternative for the phrase "in a word"

Question

I have the following sentence:

So, in a word, my goal is to eat Kentucky Fried Chicken.

I have read elsewhere that using the phrase "in a word" here is not best practice - because I have an entire clause after it.

What would be an alternative way to say what I'm trying to get across? I am trying to say that if I had to write it down or describe it, then this is my goal.

Thanks in advance!

user 66974 · Accepted Answer

If you want an idiomatic expression you may use:
In a nutshell:

You can use in a nutshell to indicate that you are saying something in a very brief way, using few words.

In a nutshell, the owners thought they knew best.
This, in a nutshell, is what Richard Chaplin appears to have done.

(Collins Dictionary)

Armen Ծիրունյան · Answer

You could use "in short"

So, in short, my goal is to eat Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Do not, however, take the meaning of "in a word" literally. Your example is fine as it is.

S Conroy · Answer

So, basically, my goal is to eat Kentucky Fried Chicken

From Dictionary.com basically

(sentence modifier) in essence; in summary; put simply basically we had underestimated mother nature

There are also a couple of words in the thesauraus entry from dictionary.com that would fit.

So essentially my goal is to eat Kentucky Fried Chicken
  
  So in essence my goal ist to eat Kentucky Fried Chicken

Chromane · Answer

Succinctly - meaning briefly or in short.

To put it succinctly; my goal is to eat Kentucky Fried Chicken

Alternatives:

In brief
The long and short of it
To cut a long story short
In summary

Bonus: TL:DR - pronounced "Tee-el-Dee-are", acronym for "Too long - didn't read". It's internet slang, but depending on your audience and purpose of writing would be perfectly acceptable.

George Franklin · Answer

Suffice it to say,
my goal is to eat Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Alternative for the phrase "in a word"

5 Answers

Add your own answers!

Ask a Question