Things to remember about signal phrases and verbs:
- Use a variety of signal phrases in your writing to prevent repetition and monotony.
- In APA papers, use only the author's last name in a signal phrase. In MLA papers, include the author's first name and relevant credentials/affiliations the first time you reference them in a signal phrase. Use only the author's last name in additional signal phrases for MLA papers.
- Use past tense signal phrases for APA papers; use present tense signal phrases for MLA papers.
- Each signal phrase should be followed by the word "that" or a comma before including the quotation.
| Acknowledges |
Counters |
Notes |
| Admits |
Declares |
Observes |
| Agrees |
Denies |
Points out |
| Argues |
Disputes |
Reasons |
| Asserts |
Emphasizes |
Refutes |
| Believes |
Finds |
Rejects |
| Claims |
Illustrates |
Reports |
| Compares |
Implies |
Responds |
| Confirms |
Insists |
Suggests |
| Comments |
Maintains |
Thinks |
| Contends |
Mentions |
Writes |
| Acknowledged |
Countered |
Noted |
| Admitted |
Declared |
Observed |
| Agreed |
Denied |
Pointed out |
| Argued |
Disputed |
Reasoned |
| Asserted |
Emphasized |
Refuted |
| Believed |
Found |
Rejected |
| Claimed |
Illustrated |
Reported |
| Compared |
Implied |
Responded |
| Confirmed |
Insisted |
Suggested |
| Commented |
Maintained |
Thought |
| Contended |
Mentioned |
Wrote |