Signal Verbs

What Are Signal Verbs?

Signal verbs are verbs that show your understanding of an author's purpose and alert the reader to the context in which the source’s statement should be viewed. Signal verbs help your reader understand the author's intentions and the degree to which the author supports his statements.

Common Signal Verbs:

You can use the following signal verbs to signal readers how you have evaluated your source:

acknowledges advises agrees allows analyzes answers

appreciates asserts assumes believes charges claims

considers criticizes declares describes disagrees discusses

embraces emphasizes explains expresses holds implies

interprets leaves us with lists objects observes offers

opposes points to presents proposes recognizes regards

remarks replies reports responds reveals says

states suggests supports tells us thinks wants to

wishes wonders

Remember: Signal verbs signal the reader that you understand the author’s purpose and alert the reader to the context in which the source’s statement should be viewed.