Signal Phrases

Signal Phrases or Attributive Tags are an essential element of research writing. A Signal Phrases introduce source material indicate where source matieral comes from. shape your readers response to a source through appropriate word choice.

So How Do You Write A Signal Phrase?

Signal Phrases can be a single word, phrase, or sentence. They can appear before or after a quote, paraphrase, or summary. They often include verbs; be sure your word choice fits the context of the source. Examples According to Karin Killough, Director of the Learning Center . . . Nichole distinguishes between/among . . . Signal Phrase Verbs
Acknowledges Confirms Adds Admits Advances Affirms Agrees Alludes Analyzes Argues Asserts Attests Balances Connects Considers Contends Contradicts Contrasts Creates Declares Defines Delineates Describes Develops Discusses Discloses Discounts Discovers Disputes Documents Emphasizes Endeavors to Explains Expresses Extrapolates Finds Focuses on Grants Highlights Hypothesizes Illuminates Illustrates Implies Indicates Informs Insists Introduces Maintains Means Narrates Negates Notes Notices Observes Offers Organizes Points out Prepares Presents Promises Proposes Proves Purports Questions Recognizes Recommends Recounts Refers Reflects Refutes Reiterates Rejects Relates Remarks Replies Reports Responds Reveals Says Sees Shows Signals Specifies Speculates States Submits Suggests Supports Supposes Theorizes Thinks Wishes Writes Verifies

Demonstrates Establishes Denies Estimates

g Tutors quotes ur Writin O m o d direct n fr u s o t r in a H s k Helpful ion mar d quotat d a to r be e sure to rds. Remem paper, b elses wo h e c r n a o e e s m a re q u o t es , o f so s for all rases in n h p io t l a a it n etical c sing sig When u e parenth t ia r p o r app maries. provide and sum , s e s a r paraph

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NABB 200840