Stronger Reporting Verbs

Verb

Reports results?

Use in direct
quotation?

Can be followed by
that?

affirm

No

No

Yes

allege

No

No

Yes

argue

No

No

Yes

assert

No

Yes

Yes

claim

No

Yes

Yes

contend

No

No

Yes

demonstrate

Yes

No

Yes

maintain

No

No

Yes

predict

No

Yes

Yes

predict

No

Yes

Yes

recommend

No

Yes

Yes

show

No

No

Yes

Weaker Reporting Verbs

Verb

Reports results?

Use in direct
quotation?

Can be followed by
that?

describe

No

No

No

discuss

No

No

No

explain

No

No

Yes

hypothesize

No

Yes

Yes

imply

No

No

Yes

indicate

No

No

Yes

note

No

Yes

Yes

propose

No

Yes

Yes

report

Yes

Yes

Yes

state

No

Yes

Yes

suggest

No

Yes

Yes

Adapted from tables by Greg Jewel, English Language Center, Drexel University
http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~jewellgp/reportverbs.html

Adapted from tables by Greg Jewel, English Language Center, Drexel University
http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~jewellgp/reportverbs.html