Academic Verbs of Purpose

Purpose                                    Verbs

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To show analysis                 analyse, appraise, define, diagnose, explore, identify, investigate, observe

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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

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To show decrease             alleviate, cease, decline, depress, descent, deteriorate, minimize, subside, reduce

To show change                 alter, accommodate, difference, evolve, fluctuate, generate, transform, transition, vary

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To indicate

information

in a figure                               depict, display, illustrate, portray, reveal

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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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