Argumentative phrases for essays

These are common expressions for framing one’s ideas1. The asterisks [*] indicate expressions that are not preferred in academic English, e.g., due to their informality; first person, especially I, is generally to be avoided in most formal academic writing.

1 Essay opening

1.1 Topic priming

• for a long time X, it has been the case that Y
• it is/has been (often) asserted / believed / noted that X
• most accounts of X state / claim / maintain that Y
• according to, X is Y
• one of the most controversial/important X’s (in the recent literature) is Y

1.2 Topic nomination (naming / identifying a topic): Statement of purpose

• this paper intends / is designed to X
• the basic emphasis / purpose / goal of the paper / article is to X
• I/we / this paper intends to show / demonstrate / illustrate that X*
• the purpose of this study / analysis / discussion is to X

1.3 Topic nomination: Statement of topic

• this paper treats / discusses / claims that X
• it is the case that X
• my/our / this paper’s argument is essentially that X*
• I/we / this paper claims / maintains / contends that X*

1.4 Statement of organization

• this paper will compare / contrast / describe / demonstrate that X (first) (by analyzing / comparing / demonstrating) (that Y) (then by ____ing Z, and finally by ____ing A)
• in what follows, X will be examined in erms of Y (and Z)

2 Body

2.1 asserting

• it can be claimed / said / assumed that X
• it seems certain / likely / doubtful that X
• I/we / this paper maintains / claims that X*

2.2 agreeing

• as X perceptively states
• I/we rather / somewhat / strongly agree with / support (the idea that) X*
• X provides / lends support to Y’s argument / claim / conclusion that Z / about Z

2.3 disagreeing

• as X would have us believe,
• I/we rather / somewhat / strongly disagree with X*
• as X states (somewhat) unclearly / erroneously
• X does not support Y’s argument / claim / conclusion that Z
• although X contends that Y
• rather, this paper argues that X
• X in no way substantiates / supports Y
• X repudiates / disproves / disconfirms / calls Y into question

2.4 comparing

• both X and Y are (quite) similar in that Z
• X resembles Y
• X and Y have / share some aspects of Z
• X and Y have in common that Z
• X is not unlike Y in that / with respect to Z

2.5 contrasting

• X is (quite) different from Y (in that Z)
• X is not the case that / the same as Y
• X in no way resembles Y
• X contrasts with Y (in that Z)
• X is unlike Y in that / with respect to Z

2.6 recommending

• it is suggested / recommended that X
• this study recommends that X
• I / we recommend / suggest that X*

2.7 substantiating

• as proof / evidence / an example (for this) ...
• according to ______
• as X says / claims / maintains / demonstrates
• X provides evidence / support that Y
• X substantiates Y

2.8 classifying

• X can / may / might be divided / classified into Y (and Z)
• X and Y are categories / divisions of Z

2.9 demonstrating

X demonstrates / shows that Y X is an illustration of Y