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 their 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.