reporting verbs essay

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Explore different ways of referring to literature and foregrounding your voice.

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Reporting verbs help you introduce the ideas or words of others as paraphrase or quotation from scholarly literature. Always accompanied by a reference, they indicate where you’re drawing on other people’s work to build your own argument. They also indicate  your stance  (agree, disagree, etc) on the scholarship you’re describing, highlighting your critical contribution. There are lots of reporting verbs to choose from and, depending on the context, they might be used to convey more than one stance, so you’ll notice that some appear in more than one category. 

The following reporting verbs has been organised according to the critical stances they signal.

Neutral description of what the text says

Reporting verbs.

• Observes 
• Describes 
• Discusses 
• Reports 
• Outlines 
• Remarks 
• States 
• Goes on to say that 
• Quotes that 
• Mentions 
• Articulates 
• Writes  
• Relates  
• Conveys 

Abrams mentions that culture shock has “long been misunderstood as a primarily psychological phenomenon” (34)  

Chakrabarty outlines the four stages of mitosis (72-3)

Acceptance as uncontested fact, having critiqued it

• Recognises 
• Clarifies 
• Acknowledges 
• Concedes 
• Accepts 
• Refutes 
• Uncovers 
• Admits 
• Demonstrates 
• Highlights 
• Illuminates 
• Supports  
• Concludes 
• Elucidates 
• Reveals 
• Verifies  

Abrams refutes the idea that culture shock is a “primarily psychological phenomenon” (34)

Chakrabarty demonstrates that mitosis actually occurs over five stages (73)

Recognition that this is one perspective on or interpretation of an issue or conclusion, and others might be possible

• Argues 
• Reasons 
• Maintains 
• Contends 
• Hypothesises 
• Proposes 
• Theorises  
• Feels 
• Considers 
• Asserts 
• Disputes 
• Advocates 
• Opines  
• Thinks  
• Implies  
• Posits 

Abrams contends that culture shock is socially produced (38)

Chakrabarty hypothesises that metaphase is a more complex process than previously thought (77)

Agreement with that perspective, interpretation or conclusion

• Shows 
• Illustrates  
• Points out 
• Proves 
• Finds 
• Explains 
• Agrees 
• Confirms 
• Identifies 
• Evidences  
• Attests  

Abrams points out that culture shock is a “stress response mechanism” (34)

Chakrabarty proves that mitosis is irreversible, once triggered (80)

Disagreement with that perspective, interpretation or conclusion

• Believes 
• Claims 
• Justifies 
• Insists  
• Assumes  
• Alleges 
• Denies 
• Speculates  
• Disregards 
• Supposes  
• Conjectures  
• Surmises 

Abrams’ analysis disregards the neurochemical factors that contribute to culture shock (36)

Chakrabarty speculates that “metaphase is the most important stage of mitosis” (78)

Slight reservations held - probably true but being cautious

Reporting verb.

• Notes 
• Suggests 
• Challenges 
• Critiques  
• Emphasises 
• Declares 
• Indicates 
• Comments 
• Upholds  

Abrams asserts that theories of culture shock have moved away from psychological explanations.

Chakrabarty emphasises the role of metaphase within mitosis (78)

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Reporting Verbs in English: List with Examples & Exercises

Reporting verbs are used when you want to tell someone about another conversation. We also call this reported speech or indirect speech. Two examples of reporting verbs are say and tell. There are many others and these have different meanings and grammar structures. In this study guide, we’ll look at examples of these verbs and show you how to use them correctly. We’ll also look at reporting verbs to improve your academic writing. Let’s go!

What are reporting verbs?

Reporting verbs list.

• How do I use them?

Reporting verbs in academic writing

• Test your knowledge: exercises

What you will learn: 

Reporting verbs (or referring verbs) are words used to report about (or refer to) what another person has said, written or done. These verbs are used in reported speech, which can be direct or indirect.

The first reporting verbs that English students learn are usually say and tell . For example compare i) and ii) below:

• “It’s my birthday next weekend. Please, make a birthday cake for me!” Charlotte said to her mum ( direct speech)

Charlotte told her mum to make a birthday cake for her. ( indirect speech)

There are many other reporting verbs in English. These can be particularly useful in formal and academic writing.

General reporting verbs

In this table, we have listed out some common reporting verbs that are used in everyday English. To help you understand how to correctly place them in a sentence, we have put them into approximate categories based on their most common usage. However, you should remember that some of these reporting verbs can be used in difference contexts and sometimes with different grammar structures.

Academic reporting verbs

In the table below, we’ve listed out the reporting verbs in groups based on their general meanings. We have also indicated the relative “strength” of each verb. For example, if I imply (suggest/hint, weak) that you are wrong, this is very different from if I assert (state/say, strong) that you are wrong. Remember that English is seldom “black vs. white” – there are often several degrees of meaning.

How do I use reporting verbs?

Understanding what the verbs mean is generally the easiest step. You see a new word, you learn what the word means in your own language and you learn how to pronounce it in English. In actual fact, you can only really say you’ve learnt a word when you also know how to accurately use it in a sentence.

Let’s return to our example with Charlotte’s birthday cake:

 “It’s my birthday next weekend. Make a birthday cake for me,” Charlotte said to her mum ( direct speech)

Easy, right? Now let’s consider that there are many other ways that Charlotte could say this in English. Depending on what she said and how she said it, you might need to use a different reporting verb, not just say or tell . For example:

• If you want to express the idea of “ Don’t forget ” “ Don’t forget to make a birthday cake for me.” Charlotte reminded her mum to make a cake.
• If you want to express the idea of “ No, I don’t want to do something ” (i) “ I’m not going to make my own birthday cake!” Charlotte said that she wouldn’t make her own cake.(ii) “ I’m not going to make my birthday cake. You can do it!” Charlotte refused to make a cake. (iii) “I’ve got lots of work to do this weekend and I might be too busy for other things”Charlotte hinted that she wouldn’t make the cake.  

In these sentences, there are three different verbs (say, hint, refuse). They all mean “no” but say is a neutral verb, hint is a weak verb, and refuse is much stronger .

• If you want to express the idea of “Please do this!” “ Can you make a birthday cake for me, please ?” Charlotte asked her mum to make a cake. “ Please, please, please, can you make a cake for my birthday?” Charlotte begged her mum to make a cake (or) Charlotte pleaded with her mum to make a birthday cake. Ask, plead and beg all have a similar meaning, but plead and beg are much stronger than ask.

Learning words in English is like collecting bricks to build a house. It’s not enough just to get the bricks. You also need to learn how to arrange them correctly so that your house is solid! You can’t build a good house from just a couple of bricks (e.g. say and tell). That’s why you need to learn more vocabulary – like reporting verbs. We don’t want the Big Bad Wolf to blow your house down!

Let’s take a look at HOW to use reporting verbs in real sentences. Below, we have divided the verbs into their different grammar structures so they are easier for you to learn.

1. Reporting verb + infinitive

Verbs: Refuse, decide, promise, demand, agree, threaten, plead with Examples:

• Charlotte refused to make a cake. ( NOT : Charlotte refused making a cake)
• My boss decided to give me a promotion.
• The teacher demanded to know who was responsible for the mess.
• We agreed to keep quiet and not tell anyone the news. (or) We agreed that we would keep quiet.
• We threatened to go to the police.
• They pleaded with the man to release the hostage.

2. Reporting verb + somebody + (not) infinitive

Verbs : remind, ask, beg, warn , order, encourage, persuade, advise, urge, agree Examples :

• Charlotte reminded her mum to make a cake.
• They asked me to cook
• He begged his friend not to tell
• They warned me not to go there by myself.
• The government has ordered everybody to stay at home.
• Her parents always encourage her to work
• They persuaded me to stay for another drink.
• The doctor advised me to stop
• Our new neighbours have invited us to have dinner with them tomorrow.

3. Reporting verb + verb +ing

Verbs: Deny, suggest, recommend, report, propose, admit

These verbs can be used with +ing or with that , but it’s generally better to be concise and use the +ing verb. Short and sweet! Examples :

• They denied taking the last biscuit. (short) (or) They denied that they had taken the last biscuit. (long)
• She admitted stealing the money. (or) She admitted that she had stolen the money. / She admitted to me that she had stolen the money.
• She suggested taking a taxi because it would be quicker. (or) She suggested that we took a taxi.
• I recommend going in the morning when the weather isn’t so hot. (or) I recommend ( that) we go in the morning.
• I propose cancelling the next meeting until we have made a decision. (or) I propose that we cancel the next meeting.

4. Reporting verb + preposition + verb + ing

Verbs: Blame smbd for, accuse smbd of, insist on, apologise for, complain about, confess to, forbid smbd from, agree to, think about Examples :

• They blamed me for missing the train.
• She accused her friend of
• He apologised for breaking the window.
• She is thinking about moving to France.
• He insisted on paying for everybody. / He insisted that he paid for everybody.
• They complained about not having a small hotel room. / They complained that they didn’t have a bigger room.

The reporting verbs we use in academic writing also follow specific grammatical patterns. Again, it is important to know whether the verb needs +ing, the infinitive , or that after it.

5. Academic reporting verb + that

Verbs: Point out, find, observe , state, agree, believe, assert, claim, contend, explain, guess, assert, imply, reason, prove, note, report, reveal.

• Bosley (2017) found that elderly patients experience fewer symptoms of pain when they have regular access to some form of nature. (or) Bosley (2017) found a link between symptoms and access to nature. ( find smth )
• Martinez (2008) and Zhang (2009) agree that … (or) Martinez (2008) and Zhang (2009) agree with this theory . ( agree with + smth/smbd )
• Persson (2003) claims that a community is impossible without a shared aim.
• Research conducted by Bradwell in 2017 revealed that there was a considerable difference in the amount of time UK and US teenagers spent with their families. (or) Research conducted by Bradwell in 2017 revealed a considerable difference in the amount of time UK and US teenagers spent with their families.

6. Academic reporting verb + smth

Verbs: Develop, study, focus on, acknowledge, doubt, contribute to, echo, subscribe to, question, disapprove of, dispute, reject, discuss, investigate, illustrate, present, outline, put forward, consider, support, emphasise, challenge, analyse, discard, identify, explore, propose, highlight, stress. Examples:

• Wang (2016) supports the idea that there is a significant link between play and child development. NOT : Wang (2016) supports that there is a significant link between play and child development.  
• Roberts (2018) identifies three possible factors in early diagnosis.
• Solara (2015) questions the importance of this approach. (or) Solara (2015)  questions whether this approach is important.
• Barboza (2018) rejects the three factors presented by Solara.
• Miller (2016) discusses this theory in detail. NOT : Miller (2016) discusses about this theory in detail

In academic writing, reporting verbs are used when you want to refer to what another person has said. You do this to strengthen your own argument and to show that other academics think the same as you.

It would be easy to just learn the verb “to state”, and use this all the time. However, using a range of other verbs can allow you to express your opinion about the author’s idea more precisely. For example, “to state” is quite neutral , but “to claim” implies that there is no proof behind what the author is saying.

Past or present tense?

You can use both the past and the present tense in academic writing.

If you are talking about recent research, use the present. This makes a connection between past research and now, which adds weight to your argument.

• Wang (2016) support s the idea that there is a significant link between play and child development. (present simple)

If you are talking about how research was conducted, you will need to use the past simple (either active or passive voice).

• Wang (2016) examin ed fifty groups of siblings. (past simple) The siblings were asked the following questions. (passive voice)

Avoid these common mistakes!

• It’s possible to express someone’s opinion using “According to…”. This does not need a reporting verb. “According to” does the job of a reporting verb already. e.g. “According to Covey (2017)…” (Not: “ According to Covey (2017) states that… ”)
• A source written by one author will need a singular verb with “-s” at the end e.g. “Liu (2016) suggest s that…” (Not: “ Liu (2016) suggest that… ”)
• A source written by more than one author will need a plural verb. e.g. “Liu and Helzer (2016) suggest that…” (Not: “ Liu and Helzer (2016) suggests that… ”)
• If you use “et al.” to indicate multiple authors, this will also require a plural verb as it means “they”. e.g. “Rosenberg et al. (2018) argue that…” (Not: “ Rosenberg et al. (2018) argues that…” )

Reporting verbs: Exercises

• Why didn’t you _____________ me that you don’t eat meat? a) say.  b) tell
• I didn’t ____________ anything to you, because I was too worried. a) tell.    b) say
• We __________ them to meet us in the main square at half past eleven. a) told.  b) said
• You should ________ her that you don’t want to go on holiday. a) say.  b) tell
• Are you going to ___________ anything to Sue about your good news? a) say.  b) tell
• They have ________ that we will need to bring our own bed linen and towels. a) told.    b) said

Which of these sentences are right and which are wrong? Choose correct or incorrect.

• She suggested to study together for the exam. a . Correct    b. Incorrect
• I said you not to do that. a. Correct    b. Incorrect
• I didn’t tell anyone anything. a . Correct.  b . Incorrect
• We have decided live in the countryside. a. Correct    b. Incorrect
• My grandmother always encouraged to learn to cook. a. Correct    b. Incorrect

Choose the correct verb to complete the sentences.

• She invited me ________ to her house for a drink after work. a. go    b. going  c. to go
• She asked me _________ some money. a. lending    b. to lend    c . to lend her
• They persuaded me _________ to London with them. a. go    b. to go    c. of going
• He advised _______ more exercise. a. I do    b. me to do    c. me doing
• He begged me not _______ anybody about the accident. a. of telling    b. tell    c. to tell
• He reminded ________ to renew the car insurance. a . to me    b. me    c. of me
• She refused _______ the washing-up again! a. me to do    b. to do.  c. doing
• She apologised _________ me an angry text message. a. of sending. b. for sending    c. sending
• He admitted ________ the red wine on the sofa. a. spilling    b. to spill    c. spill of
• He suggested _________ on a cycling holiday next year. a. go    b . going c. we going
• He denied _________ my car. a. taking    b . to take    c. taking of
• She decided __________ the risotto. a. having.  b. to have    c. to having

Exercise 1:

Exercise 2:

• b. Incorrect (She suggested studying together for the exam.)
• b. Incorrect (I told you not to do that.)
• b. Incorrect (We have decided to live in the countryside.)
• b. Incorrect (My grandmother always encouraged me to learn to cook.)

Exercise 3:

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List of Reporting Verbs in Academic Writing

200 reporting verbs for students and academics.

• Albert Einstein agrees that...
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Reporting verbs

Academic writing requires you to use citations to refer to the original source when you have used someone else’s ideas or concepts in your writing.

One of the most common ways to incorporate these citations into your writing is to use reporting verbs to help you to present the information.

The use of reporting verbs in your written academic work can help to reflect your attitudes to the 'sourced information' or help you to voice your opinions/arguments better in your assignment work.

There is a wide variety of reporting verbs in the English language, some of which are detailed below:

Part 1: Advanced ways to show your attitude

Reporting verbs are a way for you, the writer, to show your attitude towards the source of information you are citing. These attitudes are either ‘ positive ’, ‘ negative ’ or ‘ neutral ’.

Do you agree with what the author has said? If so, use reporting verbs with a positive meaning to them. Here are some reporting verbs that tend to be positive:

Do you disagree with what the author has said? In this case, you can use a negative reporting verb to indicate this. Here are some reporting verbs used when there is a belief that the literature is incorrect:

Perhaps you feel neutral about the source you are citing. In this situation, you should use a neutral reporting verb. Here are some reporting verbs that tend to be neutral:

Keep in mind that there are many more reporting verbs you can use to more fully express how you feel about the sources you are using in your essays and papers. Adapted from:  The Independent Learning Centre  (opens external site), Chinese University, Hong Kong, n.d.  Reporting verbs , viewed 26 October 2012

Part 2: Your "writer's" voice

Academic writing at university normally requires you to use multiple information sources, and to evaluate the quality of these ideas. One important tool for doing this is reporting verbs.

Reporting verbs tell us that someone said something. However, careful selection of reporting verbs can help show your assessment of the quality of what they have said. This is a vital academic skill. It not only helps turn ordinary Pass-level work into much better work, but it also develops your critical thinking skills.

Reporting verbs can show your opinion of others’ ideas:

• a belief that the literature is correct (stronger position)
• a neutral attitude towards the veracity of the literature (i.e. neither correct nor incorrect – neutral position)
• a belief that the literature is incorrect (weaker position)

The grammar of reporting verbs

Reporting verbs have simple basic grammar. However, it can be confusing because there are two basic patterns.  Some reporting verbs belong to one pattern, some to the other, and some to both.

Pattern 1: Verb + Noun (noun phrase) The authors show the devastating results of this policy (Smith and Jones 2008, p. 12). For example: Gillard (2012) indicated her negative opinion of Abbott’s proposal. Pinker (2002) frequently approves of Chomsky’s theories.

Pattern 2: Verb + That + clause (i.e. sentence) Examples: The authors show that this policy had 'devastating economic results' (Smith & Jones 2008, p. 12). Gillard (2012) indicated that Abbott’s proposal was untenable in her opinion.

Reporting verbs are normally present simple – especially for recent articles and books. For example: Turner (2010) states that the modern nation wields more power in new ways. However, use the past tense if presenting the results of past research – even in recent literature. For example: The groups observed during the research showed a range of leadership styles (Kang 2006).

Adapted from:

Office of Student Success 2010, Reporting verbs , Australian Catholic University, viewed 17 October 2012. (opens external site) University of Adelaide,  Common reporting verbs for academic writing   (PDF 80kB, four pages) , viewed 25 October 2012.

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.

Reporting Verbs

In academic writing (and to a lesser extent, academic speaking) it will often be necessary to refer to the research of others and to report on their findings. In order to do so, we have to use reporting verbs such as 'Evans (1994) suggests that....'; 'Brown (2001) argues that....'.

The difficulty with using reporting verbs is that there are many different verbs, and each of them has slightly different, and often subtle shades of meaning. Using the correct words relies, as much as anything, on making the correct interpretation of what the writer you are studying is saying.

1. What are the different reporting verbs that can be used?

2. What are some of the main language points that need to be considered when using reporting verbs?

3. Example 1 : reporting verbs in an extract of academic writing

Reporting verbs differ in terms of their strength; for example, 'to suggest' is much weaker, and more tentative, than 'to argue'. The two verbs convey very different pictures about how the author you are studying sees his or her materials and research.

Some reporting verbs are used principally to say what the writer does and does not do. These verbs do not indicate any value judgement on the part of the writer; they are called 'neutral' reporting verbs.

A second group of verbs is used to show when the writer has an inclination to believe something but still wishes to be hesitant; we call these 'tentative' reporting verbs.

Finally, if the writer has strong arguments to put forward and is absolutely sure of his or her ground, we can use 'strong' reporting verbs to refer to these ideas.

Obviously, it is important (when we read) to ensure that we interpret the writer's ideas correctly. For instance, if we say 'Jones (1999) argues' rather than 'Jones (1999) suggests', this is a major difference of meaning. The first indicates strength, the second tentativity. It is very important, in academic writing, not to misinterpret a writer's intentions when we are reporting them.

In the table below, the main reporting verbs in English are classified in terms of their function, and their strength.

  2.   What are some of the main language points that need to be considered when using reporting verbs?

• The structure of sentences when using reporting verbs can vary, and can be flexible; for example:
• It is possible (and often quite attractive stylistically) to invert the subject and verb when reporting:

e.g. Thermodynamics, argues Jones (1999), is..

• Reporting the work of others often needs an extra sentence introduction or 'lead-in':
• It is important to remember to put the final 's' on the verb when the subject is 'he/she'.
• Very often, in academic writing, reporting takes place in the present tense , as in the examples above; this is because of the need to bring past research into the present moment.
• If you have used the verb 'said' very often in your writing, try to replace this with something more descriptive and precise.
• The words 'mention' or 'reckon' are informal and are often best replaced with a more formal equivalent.
• Other informal verbs of saying that are best avoided in academic writing are: 'come up with', 'guess', etc.
• As regards referencing, it is usually best to put the year of publication straight after the name used, before going on with the sentence. The page reference can then be placed at the end of the sentence.

Unit 3: Summarizing and Responding to Writing

15 Reporting Verbs

Using reporting verbs effectively.

Words like “says” and “discusses” are often overused when reporting information from sources. See the chart below for alternatives to these verbs.

Be careful with the phrasing after your reporting verb.

Many reporting verbs can be followed by “that:”

• Experts agree that mobile devices can be distracting in the classroom.
• Gambino claims that …
• X concludes that …
• X emphasizes that …
• X implies that …
• X maintains that …
• X suggests that
• X states that …

How do you know if a reporting verb is followed by “that?”

Use a learner’s dictionary, like the Oxford Learners Dictionary . to see which words  collocate with that verb.

However, some reporting verbs cannot be followed by “that:”

Some reporting verbs can be followed by “about:”

• X talks about …
• X writes about …

However, some reporting verbs cannot be followed by “about:”

Some reporting verbs collocate (go together) with specific words:

• agrees with
• agrees or disagrees with the idea that
• asks if/whether
• challenges the notion/idea that
• disputes the notion/idea that
• disagrees with
• explains how/why

Tip: Use the Skell Sketch Engine Corpus to see examples of how reporting verbs can be used.

Academic Writing I Copyright © by UW-Madison ESL Program is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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 Reporting verbs

There are many different reporting verbs in academic English writing. Here is a list of the most common reporting verbs, what they mean and sample sentences to show you how they can be used.

Popular academic reporting verbs

Casts doubt on, demonstrates, hypothesises, provides evidence, puts forward, sentence examples of academic verbs.

Wills (2020) states that genetically modified (GM) food can be harmful for the body.  (says directly)

Jones (2018) mentions the importance of building restoration to a country’s economy.  (refers to briefly)

Harris (2021) suggests that Bitcoin has no value whatsoever. (says indirectly that something is true)  

Ackroyd et al. (2020) questions whether the use of facial recognition software is ethical. (suggests it is inaccurate)

Krashen (1981) discusses that language acquisition does not need extensive use of grammar rules. (to examine the key points)

Samuel and Preston (2021) argue that the increase spending for councils in England is not adequate enough to address the issues in the care sector. (they give reasons for their view)

Watson (2021)  claims that he has had a major breakthrough in the fight against cancer.  (says something is true directly, and firmly, often used when others disagree)

Asprey (2018) emphasises that exercise is a powerful anti-aging tool. (to highlight an important point)

Banks (2021) explains how the UK government plans to launch a rocket into orbit next year. (give clear details about something)

Parker (2019) concludes that a reduction in the manufacturing of single-use plastics is necessary to reduce plastic pollution. (the final point or summary)

Robinson and Williams (2022) reject the claims that 5G technology poses a threat to humans. (disagree with somebody or a theory)

Dawes et al. (2021) points out that a quarter of all adults in the UK used mobile payments in 2020. (states but does not develop at length)

Madley (2022) notes that robots will be an important investment in most industries.   (to say just briefly)

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Reporting Verbs Worksheet

Reporting verbs: worksheet 

 Use the verbs in the box to put into the sentences in the worksheet. Each sentence has a description of the type of verb needed. Check the grammar of the verb too! TEACHER MEMBERSHIP  / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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Teacher’s Activity for reporting verbs

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Reporting verbs

Academic writing must draw on ideas from other scholarly sources. You can refer to these sources in your writing using reporting verbs. 

The reporting verb you choose can show the original author’s view or your view of the ideas. This shows the marker that you can understand and evaluate the source. 

Reporting verbs can be tentative, neutral or strong. Some verbs can fit in more than one category. Each reporting verb has a different meaning, so use a dictionary to check that you have chosen the right verb for your context.

Tentative reporting verbs

Tentative reporting verbs indicate less certainty and acknowledge other views may exist. 

Example sentence: Jones (2019) suggests that water pollution damages children’s health.

Neutral reporting verbs

Neutral reporting verbs describe the information as fact and tell the reader that you consider the source to be credible.

Example sentence: Watson (2018) notes that water pollution damages children’s health.

Strong reporting verbs

Strong reporting verbs can be used for information that is not factual but supported by sound evidence.

Example sentence: Adams (2016) disagrees with Jones (2019) and rejects the idea that water pollution damages children’s health.

Common reporting verbs

The following table categorises reporting verbs by their strength.

Grammar of reporting verbs

Many reporting verbs are followed by ‘that’.

Example: Wallis (2019) argues that the policy failed to protect children.

However, some reporting verbs follow other patterns.

Example: Papadopoulos (2016) rejects the idea that the policy was a failure.

Check a dictionary if you are not sure how to use a particular reporting verb.

Reporting verbs are usually written in the present tense .

Example: Playing golf appears to have significant benefits for a person’s physical and mental health (Woods & Norman, 2018).

Use the past tense when reporting specific findings of a previous study or describing how the study was conducted.

Example: The authors examined the relationship between golf and heart disease. Fifty professional golfers participated in the study.

Use the present perfect tense when summarising research with general subjects (e.g., “Researchers have found…”).

Example: Several studies have found that playing golf can reduce the risk of falls in the elderly (Brown, 2018; Green, 2019; White, 2018). 

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Still have questions? Do you want to talk to an expert? Peer Learning Advisors or Academic Skills and Language Advisors  are available.

Content on this page adapted from:

The Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre. (n.d.). Reporting verbs. https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/asc/sites/files/asc/public/shared/pdf/tip_sheets_writing/Reporting_Verbs_web_v1_XH.pdf Used under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.

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• B1-B2 grammar

Reported speech: reporting verbs

Do you know how to tell someone what another person said using reporting verbs? Test what you know with interactive exercises and read the explanation to help you.

Look at these examples to see how reporting verbs are used.

direct speech: 'You should come, it's going to be a lot of fun,' she said. indirect speech: She persuaded me to come. direct speech: 'Wait here,' he said. indirect speech: He told us to wait there. direct speech: 'It wasn't me who finished the coffee,' he said. indirect speech: He denied finishing the coffee.

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

Reported speech 3 – reporting verbs: 1

Grammar explanation

When we tell someone what another person said, we often use the verbs say , tell or ask . These are called 'reporting verbs'. However, we can also use other reporting verbs. Many reporting verbs can be followed by another verb in either an infinitive or an -ing form. 

Reporting verb + infinitive

Verbs like advise , agree , challenge , claim , decide , demand , encourage , invite , offer , persuade , promise , refuse and remind can follow an infinitive pattern.

'Let's see. I'll have the risotto, please.' He decided to have the risotto. 'I'll do the report by Friday, for sure.' She promised to do the report by Friday. 'It's not a good idea to write your passwords down.' They advised us not to write our passwords down.

We can also use an infinitive to report imperatives, with a reporting verb like tell , order , instruct , direct or warn .

'Please wait for me in reception.' The guide told us to wait for her in reception. 'Don't go in there!' The police officer warned us not to go in there.

Reporting verb + -ing form

Verbs like admit , apologise for , complain about , deny , insist on , mention and suggest can follow an -ing form pattern.

'I broke the window.' She admitted breaking the window. 'I'm really sorry I didn't get back to you sooner.' He apologised for not getting back to me sooner. 'Let's take a break.' She suggested taking a break.

Do this exercise to test your grammar again.

Reported speech 3 – reporting verbs: 2

Language level

Would you consider the following structure to be reported speech?

The original sentence went as follows:

- After the procedure the doctors confirmed it was the right thing to have done.

Why am I asking? As far as I know the top notch phrasing should go like this:

- After the procedure the doctors confirmed it HAD BEEN the right thing to have done.

I think so because at that time the doctors must have said something like:

- Doctors confirming after the procedure - It was the right thing to have done, Dominik.

Would you be so kind to comment on this one, please :)

• Log in or register to post comments

Hello Dominik992,

The version that you propose is correct, and, as you mention, is what is taught as best practice in most grammars.

The other version is also fine, however. Especially in more informal speaking and writing, we often use a past simple form when a past perfect form doesn't add any additional or important meaning.

Best wishes, Kirk LearnEnglish team

Hello! I would like to know whether this two sentences are correct. I think they are both correct, but I am not sure.

"He apologized for letting me down." Or: "He apologized for having let me down"

Thank you in advance! GabDip

Hello GabDip,

Yes, both sentences are correct. There is a slight difference in meaning:

Sentence 1 ( for letting ) could be about a particular situation or it could be about his general habit of being unreliable.

Sentence 2 ( for having let ) describes an issue in the past which is not true any more.

The LearnEnglish Team

Hello, i have 2 questions, firstly is the same use advise with verb + object + infinitive that use it with + gerund, it changes the meaning or no? secondly, when we use warn + object + infinitive it has the same meaning that warn somebody against?

Hi facundo62,

For  advise , the meaning is the same with those two structures. For example:

• I'd advise resting as much as you can.
• I'd advise you to rest as much as you can.

However, the structure  advise  + - ing form is less commonly used than the advise + object + to + infinitive structure. 

About  warn , the two structures you mentioned do also have the same meaning. But just to be clear, it's  warn  + object + not + to  + infinitive that has that meaning. For example:

• The doctor warned me not to eat too much.
• The doctor warned me against eating too much.

I hope that helps.

LearnEnglish team

what is the diffrence beetween he suggested to ask andi for some ideas and he suggested asking andi for ideas

"He suggested to ask ..." is not grammatically correct. 

The verb "suggest" is followed by either:

• an - ing  verb form -->  He suggested asking ...  OR
• a  that  clause -->  He suggested  that we ask   ...

"Suggest" is not in the group of verbs that is followed by an infinitive ( to  + verb).

it helped alot thanks

Why can't we say "Katie suggested us going for a walk" but instead should say "KATIE SUGGESTED THAT WE GO FOR A WALK" whilst "The man warned us not to park in this street" is correct. It's unclear why "She suggested us" isn't correct but "The man warned us...." is.

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Reporting Verbs: Important List of 85 Reporting Verbs for ESL Learners

Reporting verbs are an essential aspect of writing in various fields such as academic writing, journalism, and literature. They are used to report or refer to another writer’s work and are necessary to link your in-text citation to the information that you are citing. These verbs are used to convey the writer’s attitude towards the information being reported and help to establish credibility.

In this article, we will explore the meaning, strength, and nuance of different reporting verbs. We will also provide examples of how to use them in sentences and offer exercises to test your knowledge. Whether you are a student, researcher, or writer, understanding reporting verbs is essential to improve your writing and communicate your ideas effectively.

Reporting Verbs

Definition and Purpose

As writers, we often need to report what someone else has said, written or done. To do this, we use reporting verbs. Reporting verbs are words that we use to convey information about what someone else has said or done. The purpose of using reporting verbs is to make our writing more concise and clear.

Common Reporting Verbs

There are many reporting verbs that we can use in our writing. Some of the most common reporting verbs include “say,” “tell,” “ask,” “warn,” “suggest,” “advise,” “promise,” and “offer.” The choice of which reporting verb to use depends on the context of the sentence and the tone that we want to convey.

Here is a list of some common reporting verbs and their meanings:

It is important to note that some reporting verbs are followed by a direct object (e.g. “tell” is followed by the person being told), while others are not. For example, “say” is not followed by a direct object, but “warn” is.

List of Reporting Verbs

Reporting verbs list.

Below is a useful reporting verbs list in English.

• Recommended
• Acknowledged

Reporting Verb Examples

• He  said  he wanted to go to town.
• I asked him where he lived.
• Mark promised he would buy me lunch.
• She  complaine d that I was always late.
• Stuart  commented  that this was very true.
• They  promised  that all books would be returned by Friday.
• “What do you want?” He demanded  aggressively.
• She  exclaimed  that she was innocent.
• They  announced  that a cold wave would come soon.
• The police  acknowledged  that three police vehicles were damaged.
• It is expected  that the report will suggest some major reforms.
• It is often  stated that we use only 10 percent of our brain.
• “I’m not sure”, she responded .
• The prime minister  admitted  that the crisis had been mishandled.
• He  repeated that he had been misquoted .
• It has been  confirmed  that Lewis’s next fight will be against Bruno.

Learn more about reported speech .

Types of Reporting Verbs

Reporting verbs for statements.

The most common type of information cited in academic writing is statements. Here are some reporting verbs that can be used to report statements:

• Say : This is the most basic and common reporting verb. It can be used to report any kind of statement, whether it is a fact or an opinion.
• State : This verb is often used to report formal statements, such as those found in legal documents or official reports.
• Claim : This verb is used to report statements that may be controversial or in dispute.

Reporting Verbs for Questions

When citing information from a question, it is important to use a reporting verb that accurately reflects the nature of the question. Here are some reporting verbs that can be used to report questions:

• Ask : This verb is used to report a direct question that was asked by someone else.
• Inquire : This verb is used to report a more formal question, such as one made in a research study or survey.
• Wonder : This verb is used to report a more informal or speculative question.

Reporting Verbs for Orders and Requests

When citing information about orders or requests, it is important to use a reporting verb that accurately reflects the nature of the order or request. Here are some reporting verbs that can be used to report orders and requests:

• Order : This verb is used to report a direct order given by someone else.
• Request : This verb is used to report a direct request made by someone else.
• Suggest : This verb is used to report a more indirect or tentative order or request.

Using Reporting Verbs

Tense agreement.

When using reporting verbs, it is important to ensure that the tense of the verb used in the reported speech matches the tense used in the reporting verb. For example, if we use the reporting verb “said” in the past tense, then the verb used in the reported speech should also be in the past tense. If we use the present tense reporting verb “says”, then the verb used in the reported speech should also be in the present tense.

Subject-Verb Agreement

Another important aspect of using reporting verbs is ensuring that there is agreement between the subject of the reporting verb and the subject of the reported speech. For example, if the subject of the reporting verb is “he”, then the subject of the reported speech should also be “he”. If the subject of the reporting verb is “they”, then the subject of the reported speech should also be “they”.

Reporting Verb Patterns

Reporting verbs follow specific patterns for their sentence structure. For instance, “say” uses the basic verb pattern: “Say + ( that) + clause”. On the other hand, with “tell” we need to use an object, a person who we tell the information to. Other reporting verbs such as “ask” and “inquire” also have their own unique patterns.

Reporting in Different Contexts

Academic writing.

In academic writing, reporting verbs are extensively used to link in-text citations to the information cited. These verbs help the writer to accurately and effectively present the ideas and arguments of other authors.

Reporting verbs can be divided into two categories: neutral and evaluative. Neutral verbs, such as “state” and “report,” are used to present information without any subjective evaluation. Evaluative verbs, such as “argue” and “contend,” are used to present information with a subjective evaluation. It is important to choose the appropriate reporting verb that accurately reflects the author’s intention.

Journalism is another field where reporting verbs are frequently used. In journalism, reporting verbs are used to convey the tone of the article and the writer’s perspective. For example, “allege” and “claim” are used to indicate that the information is unverified, while “confirm” and “verify” are used to indicate that the information is true. Journalists need to be careful in their choice of reporting verbs to avoid any bias or misrepresentation.

Business Communication

In business communication, reporting verbs are used to convey information in a clear and concise manner. Business professionals use reporting verbs to communicate the results of their research, surveys, and analysis. Neutral verbs, such as “indicate” and “show,” are used to present information without any subjective evaluation. Evaluative verbs, such as “recommend” and “propose,” are used to present information with a subjective evaluation.

It is important to choose the appropriate reporting verb that accurately reflects the author’s intention and the purpose of the communication.

Last Updated on December 6, 2023

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Report Verbs Infographic How to refer to the work of other writers

The following is an infographic for the information on the reporting verbs page in the writing section .

Author: Sheldon Smith    ‖    Last modified: 17 July 2020.

Sheldon Smith is the founder and editor of EAPFoundation.com. He has been teaching English for Academic Purposes since 2004. Find out more about him in the about section and connect with him on Twitter , Facebook and LinkedIn .

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TOEFL Reporting Verbs for Integrated Tasks

TOEFL reporting verbs during the integrated writing and speaking tasks help you to explain the most important points from the reading and listening passages.  TOEFL reporting verbs plus acknowledgement of the reading and listening passages will frame your writing task from the author’s and speaker’s points of view.  This will help you to create a formal summary tone. This is the most appropriate tone for TOEFL writing task 1.

Table of Contents

TOEFL Reporting Verbs: What are reporting verbs?

A reporting verb is a word such as “suggest, “explain,” or “illustrate.”  These reporting verbs explain what someone is saying from his/her point of view. Reporting verbs are common in academic summaries such as TOEFL integrated speaking and writing tasks.

TOEFL Reporting Verbs: Why do I need to use them?

You should use TOEFL reporting verbs during TOEFL integrated speaking and writing tasks. These important verbs will help you to keep a neutral tone. Furthermore, TOEFL reporting verbs keep your writing framed from the author’s and speaker’s points of view and not yours. Notice the difference in tone from paragraph A and B. Paragraph A uses no reporting verbs. Nor does it acknowledge the author or speaker from the two sources.  Paragraph B uses reporting verbs, and it acknowledges the information from the reading and listening passage .

Paragraph A: A large part of any language is learned when the children imitate the sounds and words that they hear around them. To illustrate, there was a 2-year old who often repeated words that her mother spoke to her. However, children often don’t and can’t imitate what they hear in their language-rich environment. Instead, children learn a language by constructing its rules as they go along.  Therefore, most language is not learned through imitation. 

Paragraph B:  The author in the reading passage contends that a large part of any language is learned when the children imitate the sounds and words that they hear around them. To illustrate, the author gives the example of a 2-year old who often repeated words that her mother spoke to her. The speaker in the listening passage , in contrast, casts doubt on the validity of the imitation theory. He believes that children often don’t and can’t imitate what they hear in their language-rich environment. According to him , children learn a language by constructing its rules as they go along.  Therefore, most language, according to the speaker , is not learned through imitation. 

TOEFL Reporting Verbs: Reporting verbs and sentence variety

Generally, you should use a combination of simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences. In addition, you should use mostly longer and medium length sentences, with a shorter sentence now and then.  Similarly,  you should place TOEFL reporting verbs with their accompanying voice markers in various parts of the sentence.

Beginning: The author in the reading passage asserts that employees should be required to read all documents in their entirety.

Middle:  Most employees do not need to write a document all at once, argues the speaker in the lecture , but they should be encouraged to write the essay in various stages: pre-writing/outlining, drafting, peer collaboration, and editing.

End:  Most developed countries have declining birth rates, explains the author in the reading passage .

TOEFL Reporting Verbs: Reporting verbs and verb tenses

For most situations, you should use simple present tense reporting verbs as you explain the main points of the reading and listening passages. If you switch from simple present to simple past reporting verbs throughout your response, you will lose consistency. Random shifts with your TOEFL reporting verbs will also create some problems with your organization. These inconsistencies and organizational problems will result in your essay scoring lower.

Paragraph with random TOEFL reporting verb shifts: The speaker in the listening passage explains several steps in glacial formation.  First of all, enough snow  had to accumulate on higher elevations, asserted the speaker.  Then, the snow begins to pile up year after year until it becomes really heavy.  According to the speaker, as the snow gets deeper and heavier, it pushes down on the lower layers causing them to compress. Eventually, the snow, described the lecturer, turned into a very condensed state called fern, an intermediate state between water and glacial ice.  Finally, the compressed snow began to move downhill due to gravitational forces.  Click Here to see Corrected Paragraph.

Paragraph with only simple present reporting verbs:  The author in the reading passage defines a concept called Doublespeak, and the speaker in the listening passage presents four examples to further illustrate the concept. According to the author, doublespeak refers to any type of communication that prevents , limits , or conceals thought. In fact, the author argues that the government and large corporations may even use double speak to avoid responsibility when something goes wrong. In addition, the speaker in the lecture gives four examples of doublespeak to further illustrate the concept: euphemism, jargon, gobbledygook, and inflated language.  Each type of doublespeak, warns the speaker, can be used to hide information from the general public.

The paragraph which uses simple present tense verbs has more consistency. In addition, the ideas in each sentence connect together well since every verb is in the simple present tense.

TOEFL Reporting Verbs: A list of reporting verbs

I would include a lengthy list of TOEFL reporting verbs here. However, many web sites already have such lists, so I will not be adding anything valuable to the Internet. To find a good list, use Google and type in “an extensive list of academic reporting verbs.”  Choose a web site that categorizes these TOEFL reporting verbs so you can see different types.  Make sure that you are comfortable using these TOEFL reporting verbs as you practice your integrated speaking and writing practice tests.

TOEFL Reporting Verbs: Model integrated essay

It is now important to see how TOEFL reporting verbs are used on the context of a complete TOEFL integrated essay.  Therefore, watch the following video. You will have a chance to read a passage and then listen to a lecture. The integrated writing model response is based on this reading and listening passage in this video.

The topic of the reading passage is the use of credit cards as a way of payment. While the reading passage discusses the advantages of credit cards, such as making the purchase easier, having a credit history, and getting protection, the listening passage analyzes the disadvantages of paying with credit cards.

The first point discussed in the reading passage is that credit cards offer an easier way of paying things since the buyer doesn´t need to carry a large amount of money in his or her pocket. In addition, the reading passage asserts that many companies just accept credit cards as a way of payment. The lecture opposes this idea in that, while a person believes that the payment is easy, he or she doesn´t realize at that moment that the payment will cost more because of the interest the company will charge for borrowing the money.

The second point the reading passage considers as an advantage is the development of a credit line, which will allow the buyer to get loans, rental applications, or even jobs. On the other hand, the listening passage refutes this point in that a damaged credit history may be developed because of late payments. Therefore, this irresponsible act may cost the buyer to be denied when applying for a house or a car.

The reading passage also mentions a third advantage of paying with credit cards. It emphasizes that this way of payment may protect a buyer when the original receipt is lost or stolen. The lecture points out that the buyer is no longer protected when he or she has to pay interests at the end of the month. As the lecture indicates , high interest rates, such as 20 to 25%, may lead the buyer to bankruptcy if he or she has not money to pay.

To sum up, the reading passage explains some advantages of paying with credit cards, which are refuted by the lecture that gives some examples of why credit card payments sometimes may be dangerous for buyers.

TOEFL Reporting Verbs: Are you ready to practice?

Hearing is good.  Seeing is better. Doing is best, right?  Now that you have read a powerful lesson on how you can effectively use TOEFL reporting verbs during your integrated speaking and writing tasks, it is time to practice what you have learned. For as little as $45 a month, you can begin sending me speaking and writing practice by e-mail. Using the TOEFL iBT speaking and writing rubrics, I will evaluate, score, and comment on your practice. Then I will send you an e-mail of my written and speaking feedback. Many of my students reach their subtotal scores of 26 and 24 on the speaking and writing sections of the TOEFL iBT exam.

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