Verbs for Referring to Sources
You can indicate your attitude to the sources you cite by choosing specific verbs to refer to them.
Don't just keep repeating “Smith says.” There is a wide choice of such verbs in English. Use a
dictionary to check that you have chosen a verb with the nuance you intend.
Here are some grammatical patterns to follow in using these verbs:
Pattern 1: reporting verb + that + subject + verb
acknowledge admit agree allege argue
assert assume believe claim conclude
consider decide demonstrate deny determine
discover doubt emphasize explain find
hypothesize imply indicate infer note
object observe point out prove reveal
say show state suggest think
(a) Da Souza argues that previous researchers have misinterpreted the data.
(b) Researchers have demonstrated that the procedure is harmful.
(c) Positivists find that social disorders are exacerbated by class factors.
(d) Singh infers that both states are essential.
Note that these verbs all differ in meaning—they cannot be used interchangeably. For example,
the verb argue in sample sentence (a) indicates your judgement that the author’s conclusion is
based on evidence and reasoning, but that other conclusions might be possible. The verb
demonstrate in sentence (b) indicates your judgement that the researchers’ evidence and
reasoning are so convincing that no other conclusion is possible.
Beware of using the verbs discuss or express followed by that. For example, it is incorrect to
write, “The reviewer expressed that the movie is not worth seeing.” You can, however, write the
following: “The reviewer expressed the view that the movie is not worth seeing.”
N.B.: Verbs in this category may also appear in a subordinate clause beginning with As:
(e) As Da Souza argues, misinterpretations by previous researchers need to be corrected.
(f) As researchers have demonstrated, the procedure is harmful.
Pattern 2: reporting verb + somebody/something + for + noun/gerund
applaud blame censure criticize disparage
fault praise ridicule single out thank
(a) Smith criticized Jones for his use of incomplete data (OR for using incomplete data).
(b) Both Smith and Jones condemn previous researchers for distorting the data.
(c) Banting thanked Best for his contribution to the discovery of insulin.
Pattern 3: reporting verb + somebody/something + as + noun/gerund/adjective
appraise assess characterize class classify
define depict describe evaluate identify
interpret portray present refer view
(a) Jones describes the findings as resting on irrefutable evidence.
(b) Smith identifies the open window as a source of contamination.
(c) Smith and Jones both present their data as conclusive.
Prepared for use at the University of Toronto
by Martine Johnson, International Student Centre,
and revised in 2004 by Rebecca Smollett, Margaret Procter, and Jerry Plotnick.
Over 50 other files giving advice on university writing are available at www.writing.utoronto.ca