Holcombe:PhrasesForGrantsAndPapers

SUPA Sydney University Perception and Action Lab Primer editing help refcard

Words for theories and hypotheses

• notion
• idea
• generalization
• claim
• framework

Going from evidence to conclusion, mostly with a verb. Different ways, in rough descending order of strength

• Proves that (largely banned from the empirical sciences)
• Shows that
• Demonstrates that
• Implies that
• It follows that
• Reveals
• convey
• Uncovers (rarely useful)
• Indicates that (I like this one because it's strong but unobtrusive)
• Suggests that
• Supports the
• Bolsters, buttressses
• Illustrates
• key evidence for
• decisive evidence for
• Fits
• in accord with, concord with
• Is evidence for
• Weighs on the side of
• Hint that
• Is consistent with
• Is not inconsistent with
• Sheds light on
• assesses

Negative impact of evidence on a theory, claim, conclusion, or criticism

• Disconfirms the
• Dismisses
• Challenges
• contradicts
• "the outmoded theory of Jones [1], unable to accommodate stubborn experimental facts [2--25], has generally fallen out of favor—Cosma Shalizi
• calls into question
• Undermines
• Counters
• Detracts from
• engenders skepticism of
• should not be taken as support for
• presents difficulties for
• highlights shortcomings of
• violates
• reveals inadequacy of
• does not sit easily with
• Contrasts with
• fails to confirm

Fluff and emphasis

• Remarkably,
• This striking result
• Provides the opportunity to
• For the first time,
• Intriguing possibility,
• Important
• Novel role for