reportingverbs

Reporting verbs, also known as "reporting speech verbs" or "verbs of attribution," are essential in academic writing for citing the work of others and integrating their ideas into your own arguments. They serve as a bridge between the original source and your writing, allowing you to convey the thoughts, findings, or opinions of researchers and scholars in a way that supports your own points. Here's a detailed overview of reporting verbs:

Functions of Reporting Verbs

Reporting verbs have several functions in academic writing:

• Introducing Ideas: They introduce the ideas or words of others as either a paraphrase or a direct quotation from scholarly literature.5
• Demonstrating Attitude: They can show your attitude towards the cited work, whether it's positive, negative, or neutral.36
• Grammar and Tense: They are crucial for the correct use of grammar and tense when integrating quotes or paraphrases into your text.3

Common Reporting Verbs

Some common reporting verbs include:

• Say: Used for direct quotes or to indicate that the speaker expressed something clearly.
• Tell: Often used to report what someone has communicated to another person.
• Ask: Used to introduce a question posed by someone else.
• Argue: Indicates that the author of the source is presenting an argument or a point of view.
• Claim: Suggests that the author is making a statement that may or may not be widely accepted.
• Suggest: Implies that the author is proposing an idea or hypothesis.

Categories of Reporting Verbs

Reporting verbs can be categorized based on the attitude they convey:

• Positive Attitude: Verbs like "support," "agree," and "endorse" indicate that the author of the source is in favor of a particular view or finding.
• Negative Attitude: Verbs such as "criticize," "dispute," and "challenge" show that the author disagrees or questions the ideas presented.
• Neutral Attitude: Verbs like "note," "mention," and "state" are used when the author's attitude is not explicitly positive or negative.

Using Reporting Verbs in Direct and Indirect Speech

Reporting verbs are used to transition from direct speech to indirect (reported) speech. For example, if someone says, "I believe that the study is flawed," you might report this as "Smith argues that the study is flawed."78

Incorporating Reporting Verbs in Academic Writing

When incorporating reporting verbs into your academic writing, it's important to:

• Match the Verb with the Source's Tone: Choose a verb that accurately reflects the tone and intention of the original author.
• Use the Correct Tense: The tense of the reporting verb should be consistent with the tense of the main verb in your sentence.
• Include a Reference: Always accompany a reporting verb with a reference to the original source, whether it's a citation or a footnote.

Examples and Exercises

To improve your understanding of reporting verbs, it can be helpful to look at examples and practice exercises. This will help you become more comfortable with using them in different contexts and with various clause types.9

In summary, reporting verbs play a vital role in academic writing, allowing you to effectively cite and discuss the work of others while maintaining your own voice and perspective. By mastering the use of reporting verbs, you can enhance the credibility and sophistication of your writing.