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Grammar fix

when all is said and done

summarising / ultimately

Used to introduce a final summary or main point after considering all the details or arguments.

expressionC1occasional

Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

  • When all is said and done, family is what matters most to me.daily life
  • There are many factors to consider when choosing a career, such as salary, job satisfaction, and work-life balance. But when all is said and done, I think personal fulfillment is the most important thing.IELTS speaking

Fix the pattern

Pattern: when all is said and done, [main point]

WrongWhen all said and done, we tried our best.

RightWhen all is said and done, we tried our best.

Don't drop 'is' — it's 'when all IS said and done'.

Patternwhen all is said and done, [main point]

Use it right

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff Upon final consideration of every relevant aspect, the outcome remains unchanged.

Natural When all is said and done, nothing's really changed.

The idiom is the natural emphatic summariser; the paraphrase is laboured.

Build natural chunks

Words that usually travel with it.

  • when all is said and done,
    it'swewhat countsnothing

Don't confuse it

Similar to 'at the end of the day', but 'when all is said and done' is slightly more formal and less casual.

Try it in Daily Speak →