Carol Garza Flores

Verbs of Attribution: Going Beyond So-and-so says

From the Undergraduate Writing Center, The University of Texas at Austin

Verbs of attribution, also known as lead-in verbs, signal that the writer is quoting, paraphrasing, or referring to another source. Says is the most commonand boring if overusedverb of attribution. The following verbs indicate you are citing someone elses opinions, or information you found elsewhere. Often these verbs show whether or not the writer or the source author agrees with the cited material. While some verbs of attribution are relatively objective, others carry more emotional weight and should be used with care.

More objective: illustrates, indicates, mentions, addresses, states, suggests, cites, writes, reports

Use with care: exclaims, insinuates, retorts, mumbles, whines

General list of attributive verbs:

accepts

accounts for

acknowledges

addresses

adds

admits

advises

affirms

agrees

alleges

allows

analyzes

answers

argues

asks

asserts

assumes

believes

categorizes

challenges

charges

cites

claims

comments

compares

complains

concedes

concludes

concurs

confesses

confirms

considers

contends

contents

criticizes

deals with

decides

declares

defines

denies

describes

disagrees

discusses

disputes

emphasizes

emphasizes

endorses

exclaims

explains

expresses

finds

grants

hypothesizes

illustrates

implies

indicates

insinuates

insists

interprets

introduces

lists

maintains

mentions

mumbles

notes

objects

observes

offers

opposes

points out

proposes

questions

realizes

reasons

refutes

rejects

remarks

replies

reports

responds

reveals

sees

shows

speculates

states

suggests

supports

supposes

thinks

uses

utilizes

verifies

whines

writes

Be attentive to each verbs implied meanings. Be careful not to mislead the reader with inappropriate verbs of attribution. For example, here is a quotation from bell hooks (Gloria Watkins publishes as bell hooks, and she purposefully does not capitalize her name):

Feminism is essentially a white, middle-class endeavor.

-bell hooks, YearningWhich of these attributive verbs are or are not appropriate for the above quote? admits = indicates resistant acceptance; will likely be qualified with a rebuttal.bell hooks admits that feminism is essentially a white, middle-class endeavor. asserts = the writer is presenting the statement as bell hooks opinion rather than a fact.bell hooks asserts that feminism is essentially a white, middle-class endeavor. insinuates = indicates that the source author is indirectly suggesting a negative evaluation.bell hooks insinuates that feminism is essentially a white, middle-class endeavor. believes = the quotation is a belief, not a statement of fact. The writer has the opportunity to agree or disagree in the following sentences.bell hooks believes that feminism is essentially a white, middle-class endeavor. verifies = the writer is using the source authors statement to support his own claim, and thereby implying that the source author is an authoritative source. Be sure to use verifiable facts rather than opinions with this verb. Notice that this verb does not appropriately introduce bell hooks opinion.

bell hooks verifies that feminism is essentially a white, middle-class endeavor.

confesses = the writer is implying that the source author accepts responsibility or admits guilt.bell hooks confesses that feminism is essentially a white, middle-class endeavor.

If in doubt, use a dictionary to check the implied meanings of any attributive verb you use. Be aware of that some verbs require special sentence structure; not all verbs are directly interchangeable with says. For example, the verb accounts for must be followed by a noun. Also remember that verbs of attribution are used to not only directly quote a source, but also to paraphrase:

bell hooks accounts for class and race within a feminist paradigm.

Using and Framing Direct Quotations

From the Undergraduate Writing Center, The University of Texas at AustinWhen used properly, quotations can add authority, persuasion, and strength to your argument. However, quotations should only supplement your argument. Dont make an argument of only quotations then its not your argument. Getting the hang of using quotations correctly can be tricky. The guidelines below will help you. Remember that all quotes must be properly cited.

Usage

Quote a person who:

Is an authority in a field related to your issue. For example, if you were writing a paper about Jane Austen, you could quote another well-respected author. Example: Jane Austen is the pinnacle to which all other authors aspire, according to international bestselling author J.K. Rowling.

Is in a position that would strengthen your argument. For example, if you were examining how the people in New Orleans felt when Hurricane Katrina hit, any person who was there would be a credible source.

Example: New Orleans resident Ihsan Mahdi said, Now I have a taste of what people in war ravaged countries go through.

Uses vivid or memorable language that would lose power if paraphrased.

Example: Yesterday, December 7, 1941 a day which will live in infamy the United States was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the empire of Japan. Franklin Delano Roosevelts speech after the Pearl Harbor attack

Has a unique idea or point of view.

Example: Karl Marx famously wrote, Religion is the opiate of the masses.

Avoid direct quotes if the language or idea is mundane or ordinary.

Chuck Norris said, My name is Chuck Norris.

The American Revolution began in 1776.

There are 435 members of the House of Representatives and 100 members of the Senate.

Framing

Framing is a fancy name for fitting quotations into your writing. It is almost always a good idea to frame your quotes and provide analysis.

The most straightforward method of framing quotes is to use speaker tags (also called attributive tags or lead-in verbs) at the beginning, middle, or end of a quote. As the name implies, these tags tell your reader about the speaker.

As actress Mae West quips, Too much of a good thing is wonderful.

Another option is to embed the quote into the sentence:

Roald Dahl believes that a little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.

Block quotes are quotations of more than four lines. They should be used rarely and only when omitting part of the quote would hurt its power. In MLA style, block quotes should be double-spaced and indented one inch on the left (10 spaces). Sentences preceding a block quote should introduce the speaker and context. The sentence immediately preceding a block quote is punctuated with a colon or period.

(See the MLA Documentation Format handout or a handbook for citation details.)Rhetorical uses of framing quotes:

Framing can do much more than provide simple attribution. The way you frame quotes can also indicate your stance on the issue at hand, and how the quote contributes to the overall argument of your paper. The examples below show very different ways of framing Gloria Steinems observation, I have yet to hear a man ask for advice on how to combine marriage and a career.

As legendary feminist Gloria Steinem said, I have yet to hear a man ask for advice on how to combine marriage and a career.

Gloria Steinems opinion may have held sway in the 1960s, but it does not apply today: I have yet to hear a man ask for advice on how to combine marriage and a career.

Analysis:

Never use a quote without analyzing it. To analyze, explain how the quote fits into your argument.

Citations:

All direct quotations must be properly cited in standard academic writing. Please consult your instructor or relevant books or websites if you have questions about how to cite your quotes.

http://projects.uwc.utexas.edu/handouts/?q=node/32http://www.utexas.edu/tip/TIP-FY/ct_links/verbs_attrition.pdf