In other words means “to put it another way” or “that is”. After it, the same idea is repeated more simply, more briefly or more directly. It is used in essays and in conversation, usually at the start of a new sentence followed by a comma.
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Sentence. In other words, + the same idea put more simply; clause; in other words, + clause
- My boss said the project was not a priority right now. In other words, it was cancelled.
- The doctor told me to reduce my screen time. In other words, no more phones in bed.
- Prices rose by ten per cent while wages stayed the same; in other words, people became poorer.
What changed
First versionThe manager said the company needed to cut costs. With other words, some of us would lose our jobs.
RevisionThe manager said the company needed to cut costs. In other words, some of us would lose our jobs.
With or by can seem to fit, since the idea is “using other words”. But the expression has only one form, with the preposition in: in other words. With was replaced with In.
In other words repeats the same idea differently and doesn't add new facts. For example does something different and names a specific case: Some jobs, for example nursing, are hard to do from home. And if you correct yourself while speaking, I mean is more natural: The meeting is on Tuesday, I mean Wednesday.
Your turn
The hotel is fully booked from Friday to Sunday. ___, there are no free rooms this weekend.
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In other words — The second sentence doesn't give an example; it repeats the first one more simply: if everything is booked, there are no free rooms. A rephrasing like this is introduced by In other words. For example is needed when you name a specific case from a general idea, and there is none here.
Take a complicated rule from work or your studies. First give its official wording, then use In other words to say it in simple language.
Our office asks staff to minimise non-essential printing. In other words, we should print only what we really need.
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