(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 meaning	Reporting verb	Usage	Strength
accuse	accuse	sb of sth	strong
	allege	that	strong
	blame, criticise	sb for sth	strong
add	develop		weak
	contribute	to sth	strong
agree	admit, concede	that	weak
	echo	sth	neutral
	accept, acknowledge, confirm, recognise	that	neutral
	endorse, support	sth	strong
	agree	that	strong
	concur	with sb	strong
believe	assume	that	weak
	subscribe to	sth	neutral
	feel, hold, profess	that	neutral
	argue, believe, claim, insist, maintain	that	strong
conclude	discover, find, infer, discern	that	neutral
	conclude	that	strong
disagree	question, query	sth	weak
	doubt	sth	neutral
	disapprove	of sth	strong
	challenge	sb to do sth	strong
	cast doubt on, contradict, discount, dismiss, disprove, dispute, oppose, refute, reject, object to	sth	strong
	deny	that	strong
	disagree	with sb	strong
	counter, rebuff		strong
discuss	discuss	sth	neutral
emphasise	highlight, underscore	sth	strong
	emphasise, stress	that	strong
examine	inquire		weak
	analyse, assess, evaluate, examine, investigate, study	sth	neutral
	compare	sth to sth	neutral
	contrast	sth with sth	neutral
	scrutinise	sth	strong
explain	identify, illustrate	sth	neutral
	define	sth as sth	neutral
	articulate, clarify, explain	that	neutral
guess	speculate, suppose, suspect	that	weak
include	take into consideration		weak
persuade	persuade	that	strong
	convince		strong
require	stipulate	that	strong
see	view	sth as sth	weak
	notice	that	weak
	see		weak
	observe	that	neutral
show	calculate	that	weak
	establish	that	neutral
	demonstrate	that/how	neutral
	prove, reveal	that	strong
	show	that/how	strong
	determine		strong
state	comment, note, remark	that	weak
	describe, express, outline, present	sth	neutral
	add, declare, inform, mention, point out, remind, report, state	that	neutral
	assert	that	strong
suggest	put forward	sth	weak
	imply, intimate, suggest	that	weak
	hypothesise, posit, postulate, propose, theorise	that	neutral
	warn	sb of sth/that	strong
	exhort	sb to do sth	strong
	advise, advocate, affirm, recommend, urge	that	strong
think	consider	sth	neutral
	reflect	that	neutral
	contend, reason	that	strong

Practice exercises