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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