8/16/2019 Reporting Verbs - Version 2011

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/reporting-verbs-version-2011 1/2

Reporting Verbs : talking about the research process

Reporting verbs serve a number of functions in academic writing and

play a very important role in your academic writing as they indicate to your

reader that you have read widely, understood, acknowledged, analyzed andsynthesized the reading in a creative and original manner.

It is very important that you select the correct verb to express your

position and reflections on the reading you have done. In academic writing

you will often need to describe what a researcher has done in their research.

These verbs may be useful to help you do that, they are objective and

non‐judgmental as they are merely referring to the process.

 Analyses Isolates Sets up

 Applies Labels Synthesizes

Carries out Lists Traces

Conducts Measures

Develops Modifies

Estimates Observes

Examines Obtains

Hypothesizes Performs

Identifies PredictsInvestigates Researches

Some reporting verbs make it clear that the research has built on/taken

forward previous studies. This is important information for the reader as they

are able to appreciate the context and value of the research.

 Affirms Builds on Concurs with

Develops Draws on Re‐interpretsSynthesizes Underlines Underscores

Re‐evaluates

You can show that you acknowledge the fact that the research is

tentative at this stage by choosing reporting verbs such as:

Conjectures Postulates Suggests

 Moots Proffers Indicates

Proposes Puts forward

8/16/2019 Reporting Verbs - Version 2011

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/reporting-verbs-version-2011 2/2

Posits Speculates

You may wish to show that you agree with the writer/researcher:

Discovers Innovates IllustratesDemonstrates Makes clear Proves

Enlighten Finds/found Shows

You might need to show that you doubt/ disagree with the writer and

take a critical position of their findings/writing.

 Alleges Claims/ argues Overlooks/estimates/simplifies

 Assumes Insists Misinterpret

 Attempts Maintains Mistakes/ neglects to…

The most common type of reporting verbs are neutral and simply

report the research that has been conducted.

Writes Describes Points out/to

Notes Discusses Traces

Comments Mentions

 Retrieved from http://www.york.ac.uk/k  

roy/pdfs/Reporting%20Verbs%20functions.pdf.