100 Reporting Verbs for Academic Writing
Reporting verbs play a crucial role in academic writing as they allow writers to attribute information, ideas, and research findings to their original sources. This lesson will explore the significance of reporting verbs in academic writing, discuss different types of reporting verbs, and provide examples of their usage.
Understanding Reporting Verbs:
Reporting verbs are verbs used to attribute information, ideas, or opinions to their original sources in academic writing. By using reporting verbs, writers acknowledge the authority and credibility of the sources they reference. Properly attributing sources helps avoid plagiarism and demonstrates ethical writing practices.
Types of Reporting Verbs:
A. Reporting Verbs for General Reporting:
State: Expressing facts or information.
Example: The study states that…
Argue: Presenting an argument or viewpoint.
Example: The author argues that…
Suggest: Proposing an idea or hypothesis.
Example: The findings suggest that…
Claim: Making a statement or assertion.
Example: The research claims that…
B. Reporting Verbs for Citing and Quoting:
Acknowledge: Recognizing the work of other authors.
Example: The author acknowledges the contribution of…
Point out: Indicating or highlighting a specific aspect.
Example: Smith (2019) points out that…
Note: Drawing attention to a particular detail.
Example: It is important to note that…
C. Reporting Verbs for Reporting Research Findings:
Find: Describing research outcomes.
Example: The study found that…
Demonstrate: Showing evidence or supporting data.
Example: The experiment demonstrates that…
Reveal: Unveiling significant information or results.
Example: The results reveal that…
| Reporting Verb | Type | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Argue | General Reporting | Smith (2018) argues that climate change is a pressing global issue. |
| Suggest | General Reporting | The study suggests that regular exercise is beneficial for overall well-being. |
| Claim | General Reporting | Johnson (2020) claims that the proposed theory provides a comprehensive framework. |
| Acknowledge | Citing and Quoting | The author acknowledges the contributions of previous researchers in the field. |
| Point out | Citing and Quoting | The study points out the limitations of the current research methodology. |
| Note | Citing and Quoting | The article notes the impact of socioeconomic factors on educational outcomes. |
| Find | Reporting Findings | The research findings indicate a significant correlation between variables. |
| Demonstrate | Reporting Findings | The experiment demonstrates the effectiveness of the new treatment approach. |
| Reveal | Reporting Findings | The study reveals a strong association between smoking and lung cancer. |
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The Importance of Using Reporting Verbs Effectively:
Enhancing Credibility:
By using reporting verbs, writers attribute information to credible sources, reinforcing the reliability of their own work. This enhances the persuasive power of the arguments presented and lends authority to their claims.
Avoiding Plagiarism:
Properly utilizing reporting verbs ensures that writers give credit to the original authors and sources of information. This demonstrates academic integrity and prevents plagiarism, which is a serious offense in scholarly writing.
Engaging in Critical Analysis:
Reporting verbs allow writers to critically engage with existing literature and express their opinions on the ideas presented by others. By choosing appropriate reporting verbs, writers can effectively express agreement, disagreement, or a nuanced interpretation of the reported information.
Establishing a Scholarly Voice:
Through the use of reporting verbs, writers establish their own scholarly voice by integrating their ideas with those of other researchers. This demonstrates an understanding of the field and fosters academic dialogue.
Reporting verbs are essential tools in academic writing, providing attribution, credibility, and engagement with existing research. By using appropriate reporting verbs, varying sentence structures, and integrating analysis, writers can effectively convey information and contribute to scholarly discourse.
