
However, do not use the word "indicate" too often if you do, your findings may be considered too tentative for publication. Use "indicate" when you want to avoid a definitive statement. " Indicate" is similar to "show" but introduces a note of uncertainty: that the data leads you to suspect something but you can't be sure. Therefore, use "reveal" to convey that it took some analysis or interpretation of the data to arrive at the conclusion. The Oxford Dictionary of English defines "reveal" as make (previously unknown or secret information) known to others. " Reveal," on the other hand, means that the conclusion is not obvious but requires some thinking on the part of the reader-as it did on the part of the writer. Use it when the statement obviously follows from the source, as in "Table 1 shows that of the six months, December was the coldest." A glance at the source is all that is needed to know the truth of the statement. " Show" is perhaps the plainest of the three. According to Malley (1998, p.28), study skills are increasingly used by Higher Education institutions.Constructions like "the data reveal that," "Table 1 shows that," or ‘Figure 2 indicates that’ are common enough in research papers-and all are commonly used to connect a source (data, a table, a figure, etc.) to a statement supported by that source however, the three verbs are not exactly synonyms but differ subtly in meaning.


Mahoney (1998, pp.10–12) established that this reaction is in fact….Many of the verbs in this table are used with the conjunction 'that'. You can use reporting verbs in the present tense or past tense, as long as you're consistent throughout your assignment. If you're not sure about the meaning of any of the verbs in this table, consider using a dictionary like the Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary to check the word's usage. It's your responsibility to report others’ work accurately in your assignments.

These verbs aren't always interchangeable so make sure you read your resource carefully and understand the author’s claims before you choose a verb. This table shows reporting verbs for citing others. Malley (1998, p.26) found that study skills are increasingly used by Higher Education institutions. 29 other terms for findings of research - words and phrases with similar meaning. In the following case, we've used the verb 'to find': Whenever you decide to use a citation you'll need a reporting verb to introduce it to your text. This also applies if you paraphrase or summarise what someone else has written. You can use direct quotes of others' work if you acknowledge the source and use a citation. You'll need to cite and reference resources you've read in your academic writing.
