List of Introductory Verbs
Today, we discussed Introductory Verbs and Transitional Phrases. Here’s the list I talked about in class.
Introductory Verbs
Introductory verbs are words you can use to introduce a quotation or paraphrased statement to give an indication of your evaluation of the source. Saying
The writer believes that…
is different from saying
The writer observes that…
Each of these words has a different flavor and strength. This list isn’t complete, and while I think you probably know all of these words, if you’re going to use one of these, make sure that it means what you think it does.
- believes
- shows
- argues
- claims
- proves
- supposes
- thinks
- suggests
- indicates
- asserts
- denies
- implies
- acknowledges
- explains
- notes
- insists
- dis/agrees
- observe
Transitional Statements
These are the words and phrases we can use to connect different ideas, and to show a relationship between them. This list is taken from They Say/I Say, an excellent book by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. It has a lot of great stuff about working with sources, and I highly recommend it.
Cause and Effect
- accordingly
- consequently
- as a result
- hence
- it follows, then
- since
- so
- then
- therefore
- thus
Conclusion
- as a result
- consequently
- hence
- in short
- in sum, then
- it follows, then
- so
- the upshot of all this is that
- therefore
- thus
- to sum up
- to summarize
Comparison
- along the same lines
- in the same way
- likewise
- similarly
Contrast
- although
- but
- by contrast
- conversely
- despite the fact that
- even though
- however
- in contrast
- nevertheless
- nonetheless
- on the contrary
- on the other hand
- regardless
- whereas
- while
- yet
Addition
- also
- and
- besides
- furthermore
- in addition
- in fact
- indeed
- moreover
- so too
Concession
- admittedly
- although it is true that
- granted
- I concede that
- of course
- naturally
- to be sure
Example
- after all
- as an illustration
- consider
- for example
- for instance
- specifically
- to take a case in point
Elaboration
- actually
- by extension
- in short
- that is
- in other words
- to put it another way
- to put it bluntly
- to put it succinctly