36 Science Research Writing 2. VERBS USED IN THE LITERATURE REVIEW TO PRESENT PREVIOUS AND/OR CURRENT RESEARCH AND CONTRI- BUTIONS achieve develop obtain address adopt analyse apply argue assume attempt calculate categorise carry out choose claim classify collect compare concentrate (on) conclude conduct confi rm consider construct correlate deal with debate defi ne demonstrate describe design detect determine discover discuss enhance establish estimate evaluate examine explain explore extend fi nd focus on formulate generate identify illustrate implement imply improve incorporate indicate interpret introduce investigate measure model monitor note observe prefer overcome perform point out predict present produce propose prove provide publish put forward realise recognise recommend record report reveal revise review show simulate solve state study support suggest test undertake use utilise
Introduction — Vocabulary 37 Here are some examples of how these are used: • Th is phenomenon was demonstrated by... • In their study, expanded T-cells were found in... • Initial attempts focused on identifying the cause of... • Weather severity has been shown to... • Early data was interpreted in the study by... • Th e algorithm has been proposed for these applications... • Th e results on pair dispersion were reported in... • Th eir study suggested a possible cause for... • An alternative approach was developed by... Note: You can recycle these verbs at the end of the Introduction when you say what you plan to do in your paper (see 4 below) 3. GAP/QUESTION/PROBLEM/CRITICISM Th is is oft en signalled by words such as however, although, while, nevertheless, despite, but. ambiguous computationally demanding confused defi cient doubtful expensive false far from perfect ill-defi ned impractical improbable inaccurate inadequate incapable (of) incompatible (with) incomplete inconclusive inconsistent inconvenient incorrect (the) absence of (an) alternative approach (a) challenge (a) defect (a) diffi culty (a) disadvantage (a) drawback (an) error (a) fl aw (a) gap in our knowledge (a) lack (a) limitation (a) need for clarifi cation (the) next step no correlation (between) (an) obstacle (a) problem (a) risk (a) weakness