in other words
4 synonyms for in other words, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Phrase — Used to introduce a restatement of something in simpler or blunter language, making the meaning clearer.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use in other words
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
in other words, no
or, in other words
Neutral; frequently used to deliver a blunt translation of polite language.
Etymology
Compare similar calques such as Spanish en otras palabras, Portuguese em outras palavras, French en d'autres termes and Italian in altre parole.
Full origin of in other words →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between in other words and that is?
Both restate what came before, but in other words usually rewrites the idea in plainer or more honest language, while that is (or i.e.) tends to add a precise clarification or definition.
Do you put a comma after in other words?
Yes when it opens a clause: In other words, we are out of time. It is often preceded by a semicolon or full stop when it links two independent statements.
Is in other words the same as i.e.?
They serve the same function, but i.e. belongs to written and often formal or technical prose, while in other words is spoken as well as written and carries a slightly more interpretive tone.
