Overview
Reporting verbs for opinions and claims include: argue, claim, maintain, assert, contend, insist, allege, emphasise, and state. These verbs all take a that-clause. The choice of verb signals the strength, certainty, or stance of the original speaker's opinion.
Opinion & Claim Verbs
- argue + thatHe argued that the policy was flawed.
- claim + thatShe claimed that the results were inaccurate.
- maintain + thatHe maintained that he was innocent.
- assert + thatShe asserted that the decision was wrong.
More Opinion Verbs
- believeShe believed the plan would work.
- considerHe considered the proposal unrealistic.
- contendShe contended that the law was unjust.
- emphasiseHe emphasised that safety was the priority.
Academic Use
- In academic writing, use precise opinion verbs to attribute ideas accurately.
- NeutralSmith said the theory was valid.
- PreciseSmith argued / demonstrated / concluded the theory was valid.
When to use
Academic essays
Jones argued that globalisation had widened inequality.
Journalism
The opposition claimed that the election was unfair.
Legal writing
The defendant maintained that he was not present.
Business reports
The analyst contended that costs would rise further.