signal phrases

Examples of signal phrases in the following topics:

• MLA: In-Text Citations and Parentheticals

  • If you choose, you can integrate the author’s name into the sentence itself—this is known as a "signal phrase"—and provide just the page number in parentheses:
  • If an author has multiple publications that you want to cite in the same sentence, include the author's name in a signal phrase and the titles of the referenced sources instead in the parentheticals:

• APA: In-Text Citations and Parentheticals

  • If you choose, you can integrate the author’s name into the sentence itself—this is known as a "signal phrase"—and provide just the year in parentheses:
  • If you choose to use a signal phrase instead, use the word “and” rather than an ampersand:

• Chicago/Turabian (Author–Date): In-Text References and Parentheticals

  • If you choose, you can integrate the author’s name into the sentence itself—this is known as a "signal phrase"—and provide just the year in parentheses:
  • You may still choose to use a signal phrase instead, but make sure you keep both authors in it:

• Transitions, Signal Phrases, and Pointing Words

  • Within paragraphs, transitions tend to be single words or short phrases.
  • Also within paragraphs, signal phrases alert the reader that he or she is about to read referenced material, such as a quotation, a summation of a study, or statistics verifying a claim.
  • Ideally, your signal phrases will connect the idea of the paragraph to the information from the outside source.
  • Such phrases prepare the reader to receive information from an authoritative source and subconsciously signal the reader to process what follows as evidence in support of the point being made.
  • Here are some common signal-phrase verbs: acknowledges, adds, admits, argues, asserts, believes, claims, confirms, contends, declares, denies, disputes, emphasizes, grants, implies, insists, notes, observes, points out, reasons, refutes, rejects, reports, responds, suggests, thinks, writes.

• Introducing and Formatting Quotations

  • To quote an author, you should copy the author's exact language and frame the words with quotation marks, which signals that you are reproducing exact language from another source.
  • This is also known as a "signal phrase."
  • An introductory tag is a phrase that introduces a quote by providing the authority's name and a strong verb.

• Using Signal Verbs that Fit the Action

  • Within the body of an essay, deploying specific phrases can assist the reader in tracking the movement of your argument.
  • Within the body of an essay, deploying specific phrases can assist the reader in tracking the movement of your argument.
  • Including phrases such "to begin" or "in conclusion" signal larger argumentative transitions, while phrases such as "in other words" or "it is worth noting that" tend to be used to elaborate smaller, more local claims.
  • Use signal verbs and phrases to point your reader in the right direction.
  • List phrases you can use to assist the reader in tracking the movement of your argument

• Making Concessions

  • Indicate these difficulties with a phrase that signals your concession.
  • Here are some other phrases you can use to respond to this sort of objection:
  • No matter what phrases you use to make concessions, your goal is the same: To demonstrate that you have considered the opposing viewpoint fairly, that you can recognize when the opposition brings up a good point, and that your argument still holds true despite this valid objection .

• Incorporating Your Sources Into Your Paper

  • Direct quotations are words and phrases that are taken directly from another source, and then used word-for-word in your paper.
  • If you incorporate a direct quotation from another author's text, you must put that quotation or phrase in quotation marks to indicate that it is not your language.
  • When paraphrasing, you may put any part of a source (such as a phrase, sentence, paragraph, or chapter) into your own words.
  • It is common to use a mixture of paraphrased text and quoted words or phrases, as long as the direct quotations are inside of quotation marks.
  • Signaling who is saying what is an important part of the writing process.

• Introduction to Commas

  • Put a comma after introductory words, phrases, or clauses in a sentence.
  • Put a comma after introductory words, phrases, or clauses that introduce a sentence.
  • To do so, writers can use introductory words or introductory phrases.
  • Another type of relationship between ideas that writers signal to readers with a comma is that of accumulation.
  • As in this example, accumulative phrases should be separated by commas.

• Deciphering an Argument You're Reading

  • For example, when reading through a difficult scholarly piece, try to be on the lookout for phrases that may indicate premises that the author relies on or conclusions that she draws.
  • Be on the lookout for phrases like: "X writes that _____, however…"; "It may be tempting to agree with X, but…; "Following X…; "X provides a useful description of…"
  • Be on the lookout for phrases like: "X writes that _____, however…"; "It may be tempting to agree with X, but…; "Following X…; "X provides a useful description of…".
  • What can often happen in particularly dense or difficult articles is that authors do not signal to readers that they are transitioning into an engagement with counter-arguments, so suddenly it seems as though authors are arguing for the opposite of their thesis.
  • In such instances, authors use quotation marks to explicitly signal that these are not their own words.