Rhetorically Accurate Verbs - First 8 Categories

Rhetorically accurate verbs (RAVs) are verbs that describe moves made by a writer/speaker. They allow you to write about what a writer/speaker is “doing” in the most precise way possible.

RAVS to use to discuss a speaker bringing something up

pose

pose

to set forth or offer for attention or consideration

RAVS to use to discuss a speaker bringing something up

introduce

introduce

To make (something) known to the reader

RAVS to use to discuss a speaker bringing something up

suggest

suggest

To convey an idea indirectly

RAVs to use when a speaker is saying something indirectly

imply

imply

To express an idea indirectly

RAVs to use when a speaker is saying something indirectly

indicate

indicate

To point toward something without saying it directly

RAVs to use when a speaker is saying something indirectly

insinuate

insinuate

To express an idea indirectly

RAVs to use when you want to discuss a speaker’s choice to emphasize or call attention to something

emphasize

emphasize

to give special importance or attention to something in speaking or writing

RAVs to use when you want to discuss a speaker’s choice to emphasize or call attention to something

highlight

highlight

to center attention on something

RAVs to use when you want to discuss a speaker’s choice to emphasize or call attention to something

feature

feature

to give special prominence to something

RAVs to use when you want to discuss a speaker’s choice to emphasize or call attention to something

focus on

focus on

to pay particular attention to something

RAVs to use when you want to discuss a speaker’s choice to emphasize or call attention to something

point out

point out

to direct attention toward something (in order to create awareness of a fact or

circumstance)

RAVs to use when you want to discuss a speaker’s choice to emphasize or call attention to something

call attention to

call attention to

to direct attention toward something

RAVs to use when you want to discuss a speaker’s choice to emphasize or call attention to something

spotlight

spotlight

To direct attention toward something

RAVs to use when you want to discuss a speaker’s choice to emphasize or call attention to something

stress

stress

To emphasize something

RAVs to use when you want to discuss a speaker’s choice to emphasize or call attention to something

underscore

underscore

To emphasize something

RAVs to use when the speaker is providing context for their claim

contextualize

contextualize

To consider something together with the situation, events, or information related to

RAVs to use when the speaker is providing context for their claim

provide background

provide background

To give background information on a topic

RAVs to use when you want to discuss the speaker making a claim or assertion

claim

claim

To state that something is true

RAVs to use when you want to discuss the speaker making a claim or assertion

assert

assert

To say that something is certainly true

RAVs to use when you want to discuss the speaker making a claim or assertion

contend

contend

To state that something is true or a fact

RAVs to use when the speaker is supporting or proving the validity of a claim

support

support

to defend the truth or validity of something

RAVs to use when the speaker is supporting or proving the validity of a claim

demonstrate

demonstrate

to clearly show the existence or truth of something by providing evidence

RAVs to use when the speaker is supporting or proving the validity of a claim

substantiate

substantiate

To provide evidence to support the truth of something

RAVs to use when the speaker is supporting or proving the validity of a claim

corroborate

corroborate

To support a claim with evidence

RAVs to use when the speaker is supporting or proving the validity of a claim

reinforce

reinforce

To make something stronger

RAVs to use when the speaker is supporting or proving the validity of a claim

confirm

confirm

To prove that an opinion is true

RAVs to use when you want to discuss a speaker giving an example or examples* of something

provide

provide

to supply or make (an example, anecdote, etc) available to the reader

RAVs to use when you want to discuss a speaker giving an example or examples* of something

list

list

to make a list of a series of things

RAVs to use when you want to discuss a speaker giving an example or examples* of something

enumerate

enumerate

to specify things one after another; to list things

RAVs to use when you want to discuss a speaker giving an example or examples* of something

illustrate

illustrate

to make something clear by providing examples

RAVs to use when you want to discuss a speaker giving an example or examples* of something

present

present

To show something to the reader

RAVs to use when you want to discuss a speaker giving an example or examples* of something

offer

offer

To present something to the reader

RAVs to use to discuss a speaker’s choice to (further) explain or clarify something

explain

explain

to make something clear or easy to understand by describing or giving information about it

RAVs to use to discuss a speaker’s choice to (further) explain or clarify something

convey

convey

make something known or understandable to someone; to communicate an idea

RAVs to use to discuss a speaker’s choice to (further) explain or clarify something

elucidate

elucidate

To make something more clear

RAVs to use to discuss a speaker’s choice to (further) explain or clarify something

demonstrate

demonstrate

To show or make something clear

RAVs to use to discuss a speaker’s choice to (further) explain or clarify something

elaborate

elaborate

to add more information, detail, or explanation about something

RAVs to use to discuss a speaker’s choice to (further) explain or clarify something

develop

develop

To elaborate and advance your explanation about something

RAVs to use to discuss a speaker’s choice to (further) explain or clarify something

expand upon

expand upon

To give more details about something