Verbs of Claiming: Assert, Argue, Contend, Suggest

Read the verbs authors use to show how strongly someone makes a claim.

Writers rarely just say 'says'. They choose verbs that show how strongly, and in what spirit, a claim is made. 'Assert' means to state firmly and confidently. 'Argue' means to make a case with reasons. 'Contend' means to argue, often against opposition. 'Maintain' means to keep insisting. 'Suggest' and 'propose' are gentler, offering an idea for consideration. 'Acknowledge' and 'concede' mean to admit a point, often one from the other side.

Read this: 'The scientist suggests the data may be incomplete, while her critic asserts it is simply wrong. ' Both are criticizing the data, but one is cautious and one is forceful. These verbs also signal an author's attitude toward the person quoted. If a reporter writes that a mayor 'admits' the budget is late, the word hints the mayor is conceding a weakness. Noticing the verb tells you not just what was said, but how.

• 1Assert and maintain are firm; suggest and propose are gentle.
• 2Argue and contend mean making a case, often against others.
• 3Concede and acknowledge mean admitting a point.