RHETORICALLY ACCURATE VERBS Rhetorically accurate verbs set an essay in motion.

It is the first glimpse into what and how you plan to write. The list below is by no means an exhaustive list, nor is it required. It is simply a reference for you to use instead of says, shows or displays. ADJURES ADVANCES ADVISES AFFIRMS ASKS ASSERTS AVOUCHES AVOWS BEGS BESEECHES CAJOLES CHEERS CHIMES CHALLENGES CHAMPIONS CLAIMS CLARIFIES COMMANDS COMMENDS COMPLAINS CONCURS CONFIDES CONSTRUES CONTENDS CONVEYS CONVINCES COUNSELS COUNTERS CROWS DECLARES DECREES DECIPHERS DECRIES DEFIES DEFENDS DEMANDS DEMYSTIFIES DESCRIBES DICTATES DIRECTS DISCLOSES DISPROVES DIVULGES ELUCIDATES EMPLOYS ENCOURAGES ENFORCES ENTREATS ESPOUSES EXCLAIMS EXHORTS EXPLAINS EXPLICATES EXPOUNDS GRIPES GROANS GROUSES GRUMBLES HAILS HINTS HINTS ILLUSTRATES IMPLIES IMPLORES INQUIRES INSINUATES INSISTS INSTRUCTS INTIMIDATES INVOKES JUSTIFIES LAMENTS MAINTAINS MANDATES MOCKS MUSES OBJECTS ORDERS PERSUADES PLEADS PONDERS PONTIFICATES PROCLAIMS PRONOUNCES PROPOSES PROTESTS QUALIFIES QUERIES RATIONALIZES REASONS REBUTS RECOMMENDS RECOUNTS REFINES REFUTES RELATES REPORTS REQUESTS REVEALS SIGHS SIMPLIFIES SNARLS SNEERS STATES SUGGESTS SUMMONS SUPPORTS URGES WAILS WHIMPERS WHINES WIELDS WONDERS

Adapted from Tracy Duckarts Instructional Website at Humboldt State University and V. Stevenson, C. Rhude