Episode 43: According to Scientists…

Reporting verbs variety — Modern media, present day (B1-B2)

Grammar Box

Meaning: Different reporting verbs show how information was communicated — stating facts, claiming opinions, admitting mistakes, or denying accusations.

Form: Various patterns: verb + that, verb + -ing, verb + to + infinitive, depending on the verb

Example 1: Scientists claim that climate change is accelerating.

Example 2: The company denied causing pollution.

Common mistake: Wrong: He admitted to steal. Better: He admitted stealing / admitted that he stole.

The Challenge

Luna scrolled through news headlines. “Experts warn…” “Officials deny…” “Studies suggest…” “Research confirms…” Every article used different verbs, and each one meant something slightly different. She wondered: Why “warn” instead of “say”? Why “confirm” instead of “tell”? The watch glowed brighter than usual. Professor Wisdom appeared, holding a newspaper. “Words,” he said, “are not just containers for information. They’re signals of truth, doubt, authority, and bias. Let me show you how the right verb can change everything.”

The Journey

A modern newsroom, deadline approaching. The editor stared at competing headlines about the same medical study. Version one: “Scientists say vitamin D helps immunity.” Version two: “Researchers claim vitamin D boosts health.” Version three: “Studies prove vitamin D prevents disease.” Same data, different verbs — each creating a different level of certainty.

The health reporter, Dr. Maya Chen, explained to her intern why word choice matters. “Listen carefully,” she said. “When we write ‘Scientists state that,’ we present it as established fact. When we write ‘Researchers suggest that,’ we show it’s preliminary. ‘Experts warn that’ adds urgency. ‘Officials deny that’ signals controversy. Each verb carries weight.”

She pulled up examples. “Last month, a pharmaceutical company announced that their drug was safe. But internal emails revealed that executives admitted knowing about side effects. The CEO insisted that the drug met standards, but whistleblowers alleged that tests were rushed. When reporters confirmed the allegations, the company finally acknowledged making mistakes.” The intern’s eyes widened. Every verb told part of the story — not just what was said, but how it was said and whether it was trustworthy.

Dr. Chen continued, “In science journalism, precision matters. We can’t write ‘Scientists prove’ unless it’s truly proven. We write ‘Studies indicate’ or ‘Data suggests.’ When experts disagree, we write ‘Some argue that’ versus ‘Others maintain that.’ These verbs protect truth.” She pointed to a headline: “Company Denies Wrongdoing.” “Notice,” she said, “‘deny’ already suggests doubt. If we believed them, we’d write ‘Company States It Followed Rules.’ The verb itself is editorial.”

Outside, screens displayed breaking news. “Officials admit failure.” “Experts warn of risks.” “Studies confirm benefits.” Each verb carefully chosen. Each one shaping how millions of people understand reality. In the age of information, the verb between the source and the claim might be the most important word in the sentence.

The Deep Dive

Reporting verbs do more than convey speech — they indicate the speaker’s attitude, the listener’s interpretation, and the relationship between claim and evidence. Neutral verbs like “say” and “state” present information without judgment. Verbs like “claim” and “allege” suggest doubt. “Confirm,” “prove,” and “demonstrate” signal verification. “Admit” and “acknowledge” imply previous denial or reluctance.

Different verbs follow different grammatical patterns. Some take “that” clauses: argue, claim, suggest, confirm that. Some take infinitives: agree to, refuse to, threaten to. Some take -ing: admit, deny, suggest (doing something). Some take both: “He admitted that he lied” or “He admitted lying.” Mixing patterns creates errors: “He denied to steal” is wrong; “He denied stealing” is correct.

In academic and professional writing, choosing the right reporting verb demonstrates critical thinking. “Smith argues that” shows it’s an opinion. “Research demonstrates that” suggests proven evidence. “Critics allege that” signals unverified accusations. Understanding these nuances helps you read news critically and write persuasively.

More Examples

History: The government denied involvement in the scandal but later admitted that officials had known about it for months.

Science: The study suggests that sleep quality affects memory, while previous research had claimed that quantity mattered more.

Everyday: My friend insisted that the restaurant was excellent, but online reviews indicated that service had declined recently.

Formal: The defendant maintained that he was innocent and refused to answer questions without his lawyer present.

Informal: She promised to call me back, but then forgot — well, that’s what she claims anyway!

Contrast: “He said he was sorry” (neutral) vs “He admitted he was wrong” (implies previous denial or reluctance).

Practice & Reflection

Exercises:

1. Fill in the blank: The company _ causing pollution, but environmental groups _ that evidence proved otherwise.

2. Correct the mistake: The witness admitted to see the suspect leaving the building.

3. Choose and explain: “The scientist __ that more research is needed.”
   a) proves
   b) suggests

4. Rewrite: Change the reporting verb to show doubt: “The politician said taxes would decrease” → “The politician __”

5. Compare: What’s the difference in meaning between “She stated the facts” and “She claimed the facts”?

6. Your reflection: Find a news headline. Identify the reporting verb. How would meaning change with a different verb?

Answer Key:

1. denied / claimed (or alleged, maintained) — shows opposition
2. The witness admitted seeing / admitted that he/she saw — “admit + -ing” or “admit + that”
3. b) suggests — “prove” is too strong for “more research needed”
4. The politician claimed / alleged that taxes would decrease — adds doubt
5. “Stated” = neutral fact; “claimed” = possible doubt about truth
6. Check: Did you identify how the verb shapes trust and certainty?

The Lesson

Luna re-read the news with new eyes. “Officials claim…” — not certain. “Studies suggest…” — preliminary. “Experts warn…” — urgent. The watch faded. She realized that Professor Wisdom had taught her to read between the lines. Every article was a chorus of voices — stating, claiming, admitting, denying. And the verbs? They were the conductor, telling her who to trust and how much. In a world of information, knowing how something is said matters as much as what is said.