A.

Describing the scope of a current project or prior research

Original
Purpose Recommended Substitute
Word/Phrase

This paper + [use the verb that originally

followed “aims to”] or This paper + (any
other verb listed above as a substitute for
“explain”) + who/what/when/where/how X.
For example:
To express the purpose
of a paper or research  “This paper applies X to Y,” instead of,
 aims to “This paper aims to apply X to Y.”
 This paper/ study/
 “This paper explores how lower sun
investigation…
exposure impacts moods,” instead of,
“This paper aims to address the
impact of lower sun exposure on
moods.”

 surveys
To introduce the topic of
a project or paper  questions

 highlights
 The paper/ study/  discusses
article/ work…  presents  outlines
 Prior research/
 features
investigations…
 investigates

To describe the
 considers  evaluates
analytical scope of a
paper or study  analyzes  interprets

 explains  clarifies
 The paper/ study/
  identifies

 delves into

 advances

 appraises

 defines

article/ work…  dissects

 Prior research/
 probes
investigations…
 tests

 explores

*Adjectives to describe degree can include:

briefly, thoroughly, adequately, sufficiently,
inadequately, insufficiently, only partially,
partially, etc.

 outlines
 highlights

 covers  sketches
To preview other
sections of a paper  deals with
 assesses
 talks
 Section X…  contemplates
about
[any of the verbs suggested as
replacements for “explain,” “analyze,” and
“consider” above]

B. Outlining a topic’s background

Purpose Original Word/Phrase Recommended Substitute

Topic significantly/considerably +

 influences
 controls

 regulates

To discuss the  directs

historical significance  plays an important
of a topic in [nominalization]  inhibits

 plays a vital role in  constrains

 Subject/
[nominalization]
Mechanism…  governs

+ who/what/when/where/how…
 
*In other words, take the
nominalized verb and make it the
main verb of the sentence.

 Widely accepted, … [to

eliminate the weak be verb]
 …is widely
To describe the
 The preferred…
historical popularity of accepted as…
a topic  …is widely used  Commonly/Frequently
as… implemented,… [to eliminate
 X Theory…
the weak be  verb]
 
 The prevailing method for…

To describe the recent

 Much attention has  Discussions regarding X have
focus on a topic
been drawn to dominated research in recent
 years.
 …has appealed to…

 …has propelled to the

forefront in investigations of

 …has gained much Y.

importance in  … has
recent years dramatically/significantly
shaped queries on X in recent
years.

 …has critically influenced

academic dialogue on Y.

 Prior research generally

confirms that…
To identify the current  The consensus has
 Several studies agree that…
majority opinion
been that…
about a topic  Prior research substantiates
the belief that…

 contend
 purport
To discuss the findings  indicate
of existing literature  have documented  suggest

 Previous  have demonstrated  proffer

studies…
 have shown that  have proven that

 evidence

To express the
 Much is known  The academic community has

breadth of our current
knowledge-base,
including gaps
To segue into
expressing your
research question
C. Describing the analytical elements of a paper
Purpose
To express agreement
between one finding and
another
extensively explored X…
 Prior research has thoroughly
investigated….
about…  However, little research has
 But, little is known been conducted to show…
about…
 However, prior studies have
failed to evaluate/ identify /
(any other word suggested to
replace “analyze” above)
 Several theories
have been  Recent/Previous studies have
proposed to promoted…
explain…  Prior investigations have
 To solve this implemented/ queried diverse
problem, many approaches to…
researchers have  A number of authors have
tried several posited…
methods
Original
Recommended Substitute
Word/Phrase
 supports  substantiates
 confirms
 corroborates
  This paper/ study/
 underlines
investigation

 challenges
 disputes

 rebuts
To present contradictory
 refutes
findings
 calls into
 disproves
 This paper/ study/ question
 debunks
investigation
 invalidates

 rejects

 questions

 These investigations,
however, disregards…
 This method/ approach fails
to…

 This study only…

 The limitations
To discuss limitations of a of this paper  …falls short of addressing/
study
include: identifying / illustrating…

 A drawback/disadvantage of
this framework is…

 This framework, however,

solely pertains to…
D. Discussing results

Purpose Original Word/Phrase Recommended Substitute

 extrapolate
 deduce

To draw inferences from results  surmise

 suggest
 approximate
 The data…
 show
 These findings…  derive

 extract

 evidence

 manifested
 surfaced

 materialized
To describe observations
 appeared
 yielded
 [Observed event or result]…  was observed to
 generated

 perceived

 detected

E. Discussing methods

Original
Purpose Recommended Substitute
Word/Phrase

To discuss methods
 used  applied
 performed  administered
 This study…
  employed

 diffused
 X method…
 disseminated

 relayed

This study/ research…

 simulated
 was created
 replicated
to…
To
describe simulations  was used to…  imitated

 was
 A simulation… +
performed
“X environment/ condition to..”
to…
+
[any of the verbs suggested as
replacements for “analyze” above]

F. Explaining the impact of new research

Original Recommended
Purpose
Word/Phrase Substitute

 illustrates
To explain the impact of a paper’s  proves
findings  demonstrates
 evidences
 shows
 This paper/ study/ investigation
 strengthens (the
position that)
  attributes
To highlight a paper’s conclusion
 establishes  illustrates

 This paper/ study/ investigation  proves  advances (the idea

that)

 ushers in
 proffers

 conveys

 promotes

To explain how research contributes  advocates

to the existing knowledge-base  offers
 introduces
 introduces
 This paper/ study/ investigation  broach (issue)

 reveals

 unveils

 exposes

 unearths