Module 2: Evidence > Unit 4: Reporting evidence > Strategy 1: Using evaluative verbs

English has a large range of verbs that are used to report what other people say, write and think. There are neutral verbs and evaluative verbs.

Neutral verbs

Some verbs are called neutral because they do not convey a particular attitude to what is being reported; they imply neither endorsement of nor distance from the evidence or views being reported.

Some common neutral verbs:

say, state, report, inform, refer to, comment on, mention, conclude

Evaluative verbs

Some verbs are not neutral. They carry a particular meaning which conveys the writer's attitude to the evidence reported. This attitude is communicated to the reader, which helps the reader to understand what weight, authority, accuracy or relevance the writer attaches to the source material being reported - i.e. if, or how strongly, the writer endorses it.

Some common evaluative verbs:

suggest, imply, indicate, support, point out, establish, show, prove, confirm, validate

Read the sentences below and and decide if the highlighted reporting verbs are neutral:

Levels of endorsement

The impact of the verbs you choose will vary, depending upon their context and upon other language strategies utilised. However, it is still possible to grade verbs approximately and situate them on a spectrum from stronger to weaker endorsement.

The below activity shows you how your choice of verb will indicate a stronger or weaker alignment with the proposition contained in the text.

Click on the hotspots to read the extracts from Jackson and note the highlighted evaluative verb with its associated comment in each example.