Blending text into your writing with signal phrases.
Signal Phrase: a phrase, clause, or even sentence which leads into a quotation or statistic. These generally include the speaker/author’s name and some justification for using him or her as an expert in this context; it may also help establish the context for the quotation.
Model Signal Phrases: In the words of researchers Redelmeier and Tibshirani, “…” As Matt Sundeen has noted, “…” Patti Pena, mother of a child killed by a driver distracted by a cell phone, points out that “…” “…” writes Christine Haughney, “…” “…” claims wireless spokesperson Annette Jacobs. Radio hosts Tom and Ray Magliozzi offer a persuasive counterargument: “…” From Diana Hacker, The Bedford Handbook(7th ed), 603. |
Verbs in Signal Phrases
Acknowledges Adds Admits Addresses Argues Asserts Believes Claims Comments Compares Confirms Contends Declares Denies Disputes |
Emphasizes Endorses Grants Illustrates Implies Insists NotesObserves Points out Reasons Refutes Rejects Reports Responds Suggests Thinks Writes |