Science, Technology and Engineering

Academic Language and Learning

Useful verbs for presenting other writers' ideas

Show

demonstrate, establish

Persuade

assure, convince, satisfy

Argue

reason, discuss, debate, consider

Propose

advance, propound, suggest (the view that…)

Advise

suggest, recommend, advocate, exhort, encourage, urge

Believe

hold, profess (the view that…)

Emphasise

accentuate, stress, underscore

Support

uphold, advocate

State

express, comment, remark, declare, articulate, describe, instruct, inform, report

Examine

discuss, explore, investigate, scrutinise

Evaluate

appraise, assess

Hypothesise

speculate, postulate

Claim

allege, assert, affirm, contend, maintain

Disagree

dispute, refute, contradict, differ, object, dissent

Reject

refute, repudiate, remonstrate (against), discard, dismiss, disclaim

 

Source: 'Reporting Words', Learning Skills Unit, University of Melbourne <http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/llsu/resources/flyers/acadwords.pdf> (Accessed 04/03/2002)