Reporting Verbs and Their Implications

What verb would you use to indicate that someone is stating something directly?

• Asserts

• Suggests

• Observes

Which verb implies a tentative or indirect suggestion?

• Claims

• Implies

• Proves

If you want to emphasize the importance of a concept, which verb would you choose?

• Highlights

• Questions

• Mentions

What verb would be appropriate for indicating doubt about previous research?

• Casts doubt on

• States

• Demonstrates

Which verb means to provide evidence for a claim?

• Argues

• Proves

• Observes

In her latest article, Anderson ______ how information technology is transforming social interactions.

• explains

• suggests

• implies

Roberts ______ the gradual changes in language usage over the last century.

• states

• describes

• questions

Nguyen ______ that the challenges faced by the community began earlier than previously documented.

• observes

• argues

• asserts

Thompson ______ that the factors leading to the revolution can be traced back to the 1800s.

• claims

• highlights

• demonstrates

Martinez ______ that Day's interpretation of the poem contains several contradictions.

• notes

• proposes

• proves