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Academic Verbs of Purpose
Purpose Verbs
To show analysis analyse, appraise, define, diagnose, explore, identify, investigate, observe
To summarize assess, conclude, feature, highlight
To indicate control
(to be stable or
to maintain at a level) constrain, control, govern, influence, inhibit, limit, maintain, prohibit, regulate, secure
To discuss findings attest, confirm, contend, demonstrate, document, indicate, reveal
To state comment, convey, elaborate, establish, identify, propose
To show increase advance, development, enlarge, exceed, extend, facilitate, improve, increment,
maximise
To show decrease alleviate, cease, decline, depress, descent, deteriorate, minimize, subside, reduce
To show change alter, accommodate, difference, evolve, fluctuate, generate, transform, transition, vary
To indicate
information
in a figure depict, display, illustrate, portray, reveal
To indicate
information
in a table classify, enumerate, gives, lists, presents, summarizes
To stress that
a task has been
performed in-depth adequately, comprehensively, exhaustively, extensively, thoroughly
To show parts comprise, compose of, constitute, encompass, include, incorporate
To indicate a
negative stand challenge, contradict, disagree, dispute, reject, question
To indicate a
positive stand confirm, compliment, corroborate, substantiate, support, uphold, validate, verify
To show
approximation approximate, estimate, resemble, predict
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