Reporting What Others Say

Reporting Verbs · Reporting Nouns · Referencing · Paraphrasing

💡 Pro Tip: Kỹ năng tường thuật (Reporting) là cốt lõi của Academic Writing (IELTS Task 2, Bài luận đại học). Di chuột vào các từ in đậm màu cam để xem chi tiết cách dùng. Hãy ghi chép lại các dạng danh từ (Noun forms) của động từ để tối ưu điểm Lexical Resource.

A. Reporting Verbs in Academic Contexts

Reporting what others say is a key aspect of academic English. You need a range of verbs to do this in an appropriate and varied way. Choose your verb carefully based on the strength and nature of the statement.

1. Stating Information & Arguments

Direct statements: state, explain, describe. (e.g., Morton explains how technology is changing society).
Firm arguments (often when others disagree): assert, contend, maintain, declare, claim.
Indirect or tentative statements: imply, suggest.

2. Emphasizing, Proving & Doubting

🎯 To give importance: emphasise / highlight / stress.
🔬 To show truth/evidence: demonstrate / show / prove.
🔍 To focus in on details: pinpoint / note / observe / point out.
💡 To propose a theory: advance / put forward / propose.
⚠️ To disagree or question: cast doubt on / question.

B. Reporting Nouns (Nominalisation)

Academic writing frequently uses nouns rather than verbs to report others' ideas. This technique makes your writing sound more formal and objective. Notice how these nouns often head long phrases.

Reporting Verb	Corresponding Noun Phrase
explain	provides an explanation as to how…
suggest	Kon's suggestion that…
claim / assert / contend	Uvarov's claim / assertion / contention that…
imply	Van Ek's implication that…
argue	Patel's argument that…
emphasise / stress	Greenberg's emphasis / stress on the importance of…
observe	Levack's observation that…
demonstrate	Kim's demonstration of the way in which…

C. Common Pitfalls & Grammar Rules 🛑

Avoid these common mistakes in your IELTS Writing Task 2 or University essays:

❌ According to me… ➔ ✅ In my opinion…
(Note: "According to" is strictly used when reporting other people's views, e.g., "According to Green…").
❌ He mentions to several studies. ➔ ✅ He mentions several studies.
(Note: "Mention" is a transitive verb and does not take the preposition "to").
❌ They cast doubt to the hypothesis. ➔ ✅ They cast doubt on the hypothesis.
❌ It has not yet been proof that… ➔ ✅ It has not yet been proven that…
(Note: "Proof" is the noun. The passive verb form is "proven" or "proved").

✍️ Comprehensive Practice

Hệ thống bài tập tự động chấm điểm. Hoàn thành toàn bộ các ô trống trước khi nộp bài.

Exercise 32.1: Word Formation

Verb ↔ Noun

Fill in the missing reporting verbs or nouns based on the theory section. (One word per gap).

1. Verb: imply ➔ Noun:

2. Noun: observation ➔ Verb:

3. Verb: argue ➔ Noun:

4. Noun: assertion ➔ Verb:

5. Verb: contend ➔ Noun:

6. Noun: demonstration ➔ Verb:

7. Verb: describe ➔ Noun:

8. Noun: statement ➔ Verb:

9. Verb: emphasise ➔ Noun:

10. Noun: explanation ➔ Verb:

Exercise 32.2: Nominalisation in Context

Sentence Transformation

Rewrite the sentences conceptually by using nouns instead of the bolded verbs. Fill in the exact noun form.

1. Harkov contends that continued population growth will be a serious problem.
➔ Harkov's that continued population growth will be a serious problem…

2. The report implies that no government will be able to control the internet.
➔ The report makes the that no government will be able to control the internet.

3. Groot emphasises the role of schools in preventing drug abuse.
➔ Groot puts on the role of schools…

4. Plana explained the possible origins of the pyramids.
➔ Plana's of the possible origins of the pyramids…

5. The President asserts that he cares about fighting poverty.
➔ The President makes the that he cares about fighting poverty.

Exercise 32.3: Finding the Errors

Grammar & Accuracy

Fix the common academic mistakes by providing the correct word(s) in the gap.

1. According to me, courses in academic writing should be compulsory.
➔ my opinion, courses in academic writing should be compulsory.

2. Our latest results cast doubt to our original hypothesis.
➔ Our latest results cast doubt our original hypothesis.

3. Taylor mentions to several studies which have looked at the problem.
➔ Taylor several studies which have looked at the problem.

4. It has not yet been proof that the virus can jump from species to species.
➔ It has not yet been that the virus can jump from species to species.

Exercise 32.4: Meaning & Collocations

Lexical Choice

Choose the most precise reporting verb based on the context. Type the exact word from the options.

1. To focus in on the key features of a period.
(observes / pinpoints / proves) ➔

2. To express doubts about previous interpretations.
(declares / maintains / questions) ➔

3. Grey puts forward / a controversial theory to explain climate change.
(advances / proves) – Hint: You cannot "prove" a controversial theory immediately upon presenting it.