Signal words and phrases

When writing up your research, it is important to be precise and clear about whose work you are referring to. Is it your study or part of another study done by someone else? To help readers follow your train of thought and for them to clearly see the relationship between your study and that of someone else, it is wise to use signalling words or phrases.

For example:

1. In a similar vein, Smith and Jones (2022) found that . . .

2. In the words of Churchill (2004), “ . . . “

3. According to James (1999), several . . .

When supplying background information, explaining a concept, supporting a claim, or

lending authority, choose an appropriate verb. In APA style guide, the past tense (in example

5) or present perfect tense (in examples 4) and 6) are used to introduce quotations or other

material:

4. Researchers Quirk et al. (1985) have offered a comprehensive analysis of . . .

5. In his introductory chapter to The Handbook of . . . (2023), Marshall discussed . . .

6. As Quirk et al. (1985) have noted “ . . .

Typical verbs to use:

according to, account for, acknowledge, admit, agree, analyse, apply, argue, assert, assume
believe
categorise, choose, claim, classify, combine, comment on, compare, conclude, confirm, consider, contend, contribute to, create
declare, define, demonstrate, deny, describe, determine, develop, devise, discover, discuss, document
emphasize, evaluate, examine, exemplify, explain, explore, express,
focus on, formulate, find
generalise
identify, illustrate, imply, interpret, interest in, introduce, insist, investigate
maintain, measure, modify, motivate
negate, note
object to, observe, offer, oppose
point out, postulate, present, problematise, propose, prove
question, quote
reason, reflect on, refer to, refute, reject, relate to, remark on, report, respond, reveal, review
show, speculate, state, suggest, summarise, support, study, survey
think, turn to
use, utilize,
view, visualise,
warn, write