Whether you are using paraphrase or direct quotation, it’s important to let your reader know in advance that a quote or paraphrase is coming. This is done by signaling, and typically involves two components: an attribution (the author’s name and/or title of the text) and a reporting (signal) verb.
Reporting verbs are important not only tell the reader that you are presenting someone else’s idea, but also what you think of that idea. Reporting verbs can express agreement, disagreement, recommendations, or even neutrality.
Below are common reporting verbs categorized by what they express:
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Making a claim |
Expressing agreement |
Expressing disagreement |
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argues asserts believes claims emphasizes holds maintains notes observes reminds us reports |
accepts acknowledges agrees concurs confirms corroborates does not deny maintains recognizes supports verifies |
challenges complains complicates contends contradicts denies qualifies questions rejects refutes renounces |
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Emphasizing |
Examining |
Making recommendations |
|
emphasizes highlights stresses underscores |
analyzes assesses compares contrasts evaluates examines investigates scrutinizes studies |
advises advocates calls for demands encourages exhorts implores insists recommends suggests urges warns |
|
Expressing a proposition |
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hypothesizes intimates suggests speculates |
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Expressing belief |
Presenting a conclusion |
Providing explanation |
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believes expresses feels imagines hopes professes upholds |
concludes discerns discovers finds summarizes |
articulates clarifies defines explains identifies illustrates |