Sunday, May 17, 2020

(Advanced) Reporting verbs

Strength of reporting verbs

Reporting verbs vary in terms of strength. Consider the following examples.
  • Smith (2016) assumes that reporting verbs have different strengths.
  • Smith (2016) insists that reporting verbs have different strengths.

Although both verbs have the same general meaning, namely believe, the verb assume is quite weak, while the verb insist is much stronger. The second verb most closely matches the information above on this page, i.e. as a fact, and is therefore more accurate than the first one.

Grammar of reporting verbs

Reporting verbs are often followed by a that clause. However, not all verbs follow this pattern. It is important, when using reporting verbs, to check the grammar usage to make sure that your writing is accurate. Consider the following examples.
  • Smith (2016) insists that reporting verbs have different strengths. [insist + that]
  • Smith (2016) agrees with Sharpling (2012) that reporting verbs have subtle differences in meaning. [agree with sb]
  • Smith (2016) challenges writers to use reporting verbs accurately. [challenge sb to do sth]

Note that it is usually acceptable to use reporting verbs in either the past or present tense. The present tense is more common as this brings the past research into the present and therefore makes it more current and important. There may, however, be special requirements for your course, so it is always useful to check the style guide for assignments.

Examples of usage for the most common reporting verbs are given in the table in the following section.


General meaningReporting verbUsageStrength
accuseaccusesb of sthstrong
allegethatstrong
blame, criticisesb for sthstrong
adddevelopweak
contributeto sthstrong
agreeadmit, concedethatweak
echosthneutral
accept, acknowledge, confirm, recognisethatneutral
endorse, supportsthstrong
agreethatstrong
concurwith sbstrong
believeassumethatweak
subscribe tosthneutral
feel, hold, professthatneutral
argue, believe, claim, insist, maintainthatstrong
concludediscover, find, infer, discernthatneutral
concludethatstrong
disagreequestion, querysthweak
doubtsthneutral
disapproveof sthstrong
challengesb to do sthstrong
cast doubt on, contradict, discount, dismiss, disprove, dispute, oppose, refute, reject, object tosthstrong
denythatstrong
disagreewith sbstrong
counter, rebuffstrong
discussdiscusssthneutral
emphasisehighlight, underscoresthstrong
emphasise, stressthatstrong
examineinquireweak
analyse, assess, evaluate, examine, investigate, studysthneutral
comparesth to sthneutral
contraststh with sthneutral
scrutinisesthstrong
explainidentify, illustratesthneutral
definesth as sthneutral
articulate, clarify, explainthatneutral
guessspeculate, suppose, suspectthatweak
includetake into considerationweak
persuadepersuadethatstrong
convincestrong
requirestipulatethatstrong
seeviewsth as sthweak
noticethatweak
seeweak
observethatneutral
showcalculatethatweak
establishthatneutral
demonstratethat/howneutral
prove, revealthatstrong
showthat/howstrong
determinestrong
statecomment, note, remarkthatweak
describe, express, outline, presentsthneutral
add, declare, inform, mention, point out, remind, report, statethatneutral
assertthatstrong
suggestput forwardsthweak
imply, intimate, suggestthatweak
hypothesise, posit, postulate, propose, theorisethatneutral
warnsb of sth/thatstrong
exhortsb to do sthstrong
advise, advocate, affirm, recommend, urgethatstrong
thinkconsidersthneutral
reflectthatneutral
contend, reasonthatstrong

Practice exercises

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