Rhetorically Accurate Verbs - Master List with 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.  
 
Category Verb Meaning

RAVS to use to discuss a  pose   to set forth or offer for attention or consideration 
speaker ​bringing
something up introduce  To make (something) known to the reader 

RAVs to use when a  suggest  To convey an idea indirectly 

speaker is saying 
something ​indirectly imply  To express an idea indirectly 

indicate  To point toward something without saying it directly 

insinuate  To express an idea indirectly 

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

 
RAVs to use when you  highlight  to center attention on something 
want to discuss a 
speaker’s choice to  feature  to give special prominence to something 
emphasize​ or ​call
focus on  to pay particular attention to something 
attention​ to something 
point out  to direct attention toward something (in order to create awareness of a fact or 
circumstance) 

call attention to  to direct attention toward something 

spotlight  To direct attention toward something 

stress  To emphasize something 

underscore  To emphasize something 

RAVs to use when the  contextualize  To consider something together with the situation, events, or information related to 
 speaker is providing  it, rather than alone 
context​ for their claim 
provide background  To give background information on a topic 

RAVs to use when you  claim  To state that something is true 

want to discuss the 
speaker ​making​ a ​claim assert  To say that something is certainly true 
or assertion
contend  To state that something is true or a fact 

RAVs to use when the  support  to defend the truth or validity of something 
speaker is ​supporting or
proving the validity of demonstrate  to clearly show the existence or truth of something by providing evidence 
a claim  
substantiate  To provide evidence to support the truth of something 

corroborate  To support a claim with evidence 

reinforce  To make something stronger 

confirm  To prove that an opinion is true 

RAVs to use when you  provide  to supply or make (an example, anecdote, etc) available to the reader 
want to discuss a 
speaker​ giving an list  to make a list of a series of things 
example or examples*
of something  enumerate  to specify things one after another; to list things 
 
  illustrate  to make something clear by providing examples 

present  To show something to the reader 

offer  To present something to the reader 

RAVs to use to discuss a  explain  to make something clear or easy to understand by describing or giving information 
speaker’s choice to  about it 
(further) ​explain​ or 
clarify​ something   convey  make something known or understandable to someone; to communicate an idea 

elucidate  To make something more clear 

demonstrate  To show or make something clear 

 elaborate  to add more information, detail, or explanation about something 

develop  To elaborate and advance your explanation about something 

expand upon  To give more details about something 

RAVs to use when you  raise   To bring [an opposing point] to the reader’s attention 
want to discuss a 
speaker ​conceding ​a  acknowledge  accept or admit the existence or truth of something 
point ​(you can also use these to 
discuss a speaker bringing  address  to give attention to or deal with something 
something up in general) 
  admit  to reluctantly confess that something is true 
 
  concede  to acknowledge grudgingly or hesitantly 
 
  entertain  to give attention or consideration to something 
RAVs to use when you 
respond  to say something in reply to something else (an opposing argument) 
want to discuss a 
speaker ​refuting​ or  refute  To respond to and overcome an opposing point 
responding​ to a point: 
counter  to respond in opposition to something 

RAVs to use to discuss  reiterate  To say something again 

when a speaker is 
saying something more repeat  To say something again 
than once​ or ​telling the 
audience something they already  remind  To make someone think of something they (might) have forgotten 
know 

RAVs to use when you want  add  to put something in  

to discuss a speaker’s 
choice to ​include  include  to contain something as a part 
something 

RAVs to use when you  narrate  To tell a story 

want to discuss the 
speaker ​telling a story recount  To describe how something happened or tell a story 

give an account of  To tell a narrative about someone or something to someone 

RAVs to use to when you  examine  to consider a person or thing carefully and in detail in order to discover something 
want to discuss a  about them 
speaker ​considering an
idea​ ​(but ​not​ necessarily  explore  to think or talk about something in order to find out more about it 
making definitive claims 
about that idea)  consider  to spend time thinking [talking] about a possibility or making a decision 

analyze  to study or examine something in detail, in order to discover more about it 

RAVs to use when you  minimize  to treat or describe something as less important than it is 
want to discuss a 
speaker’s choice to  tone down  to reduce the importance or impact of something; to make something less severe, 
deemphasize​ or ​exclude  offensive, or shocking 
something 
discount  to leave something out or disregard something 

ignore  to fail to consider or notice something; to disregard something intentionally 

disregard  To ignore something 

RAVs to use when you  celebrate  to express admiration and approval for something or someone 
want to discuss a 
speaker’s choice to ​say compliment  to expresses approval, admiration, or respect for something or someone 
something positive
about something  praise  to express admiration or approval of the achievements or characteristics of a person 
or thing 

RAVs to use when you  critique  to give an opinion or judgment about something (especially a negative opinion) 
want to discuss a 
speaker’s choice to ​say disparage  to criticize someone or something in a way that shows you do not respect or value it 
something negative 
about something  criticize  to express disapproval of someone or something 

RAVs to use when a  equate  to consider one thing to be the same as or equal to another thing 
speaker is ​comparing or
contrasting​ two or more  compare  to judge, suggest, or consider that something is similar or of equal quality to 
things  something else / to examine or look at the differences between two things 

distinguish between  to point out the difference between two things 

contrasts  to compare two people or things in order to show the differences between them 
 RAVs to use when you  characterize  to describe something by stating its main qualities 
want to discuss the 
speaker ​characterizing  describe  to say or write what someone or something is like 
or ​describing  depict  to represent or show something in a picture or story 
something/someone in a 
certain way  portray  to represent or describe someone or something in a painting, film, book, or other 
artistic work