Elevating Your Essays: Alternatives to “This Shows”

Using varied and precise language is crucial for creating compelling and sophisticated essays. Over-reliance on phrases like “this shows” can make your writing repetitive and lack nuance.

This article provides a comprehensive guide to alternative phrases and techniques that will help you express the same idea – demonstrating a point or providing evidence – with greater clarity and impact. Whether you are a student honing your writing skills or a professional seeking to improve your communication, this resource will enhance your ability to articulate your arguments effectively and persuasively.

This article explores numerous alternatives to the phrase “this shows,” categorizing them by function and providing examples of their use in context. By understanding these alternatives, you can add depth and sophistication to your writing, making your arguments more convincing and your essays more engaging.

Practice exercises are included to reinforce your understanding and help you incorporate these techniques into your writing repertoire.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Definition: The Role of ‘This Shows’ in Essays
• Structural Breakdown: Analyzing the Phrase ‘This Shows’
• Types and Categories of Alternatives
  • Demonstrating Evidence
  • Indicating Implication
  • Highlighting Significance
  • Presenting Results
  • Drawing Conclusions
• Examples: Alternative Phrases in Action
  • Demonstrating Evidence Examples
  • Indicating Implication Examples
  • Highlighting Significance Examples
  • Presenting Results Examples
  • Drawing Conclusions Examples
• Usage Rules: Context and Nuance
• Common Mistakes to Avoid
• Practice Exercises
• Advanced Topics: Rhetorical Strategies
• FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

Definition: The Role of ‘This Shows’ in Essays

In essay writing, the phrase “this shows” typically serves as a transitional phrase that connects evidence or examples to a broader argument or thesis statement. Its primary function is to indicate that the preceding information supports or illustrates a particular point.

While grammatically correct, overuse of “this shows” can lead to monotonous and less impactful writing. Understanding the nuances of its function allows you to replace it with more sophisticated and precise alternatives.

Specifically, “this shows” acts as a signal to the reader that the writer is interpreting the evidence presented. It is a bridge between factual information and analytical insight.

The phrase essentially tells the reader, “Here’s what I want you to understand based on what I’ve just presented.” However, more descriptive and varied phrasing can make this connection more compelling and insightful, enhancing the overall quality of the essay.

Structural Breakdown: Analyzing the Phrase ‘This Shows’

The phrase “this shows” is a simple subject-verb construction. “This” refers to the preceding evidence, example, or information.

“Shows” is the third-person singular present tense form of the verb “to show,” indicating that the evidence demonstrates or reveals something. While structurally straightforward, its simplicity can be a drawback in sophisticated writing.

The phrase typically appears after the presentation of evidence and before the explanation or interpretation of that evidence. For example: “The data indicates a significant increase in student engagement.

This shows that the new teaching methods are effective.” In this sentence, “this” refers to the data, and “shows” indicates that the data supports the claim about the effectiveness of the teaching methods. Replacing “this shows” with a more precise phrase can strengthen the connection between evidence and analysis.

Types and Categories of Alternatives

Alternatives to “this shows” can be categorized based on the specific function they serve in connecting evidence to analysis. Here are several key categories:

Demonstrating Evidence

These phrases emphasize the supportive nature of the evidence, highlighting that it proves or validates a particular point. They underscore the direct link between the evidence and the claim.

Indicating Implication

These phrases suggest that the evidence implies or suggests a particular conclusion, even if it doesn’t directly prove it. They highlight the inferred meaning or consequence of the evidence.

Highlighting Significance

These phrases emphasize the importance or relevance of the evidence, indicating that it is noteworthy or meaningful in the context of the argument. They draw attention to the key aspects of the evidence.

Presenting Results

These phrases are suitable when discussing research findings or outcomes, emphasizing that the evidence is a direct result of a particular action or phenomenon. They are often used in scientific or analytical writing.

Drawing Conclusions

These phrases explicitly state the conclusion that can be drawn from the evidence, leaving no ambiguity about the writer’s interpretation. They are useful for summarizing key points and reinforcing the argument.

Examples: Alternative Phrases in Action

The following sections provide examples of alternative phrases in each category, demonstrating how they can be used in context to replace “this shows.”

Demonstrating Evidence Examples

The following table provides examples of phrases that demonstrate evidence, replacing “this shows” with more descriptive and impactful language. Each example illustrates how the alternative phrase strengthens the connection between the evidence and the claim.

Indicating Implication Examples

The following examples demonstrate how to use phrases that indicate implication, suggesting a conclusion based on the evidence provided. These phrases add nuance and depth to your analysis.

Highlighting Significance Examples

These examples focus on emphasizing the importance or relevance of the evidence, drawing attention to its key aspects and making it more impactful.

Presenting Results Examples

These examples provide alternatives for presenting results or outcomes, typically used in scientific or analytical writing.

Drawing Conclusions Examples

These examples demonstrate phrases that explicitly state the conclusion drawn from the evidence, leaving no room for ambiguity in your interpretation.

Usage Rules: Context and Nuance

Choosing the appropriate alternative to “this shows” depends heavily on the context and the specific nuance you want to convey. Consider the following guidelines:

• Demonstrating Evidence: Use phrases like “this demonstrates,” “this proves,” or “this validates” when you want to emphasize that the evidence directly supports your claim.
• Indicating Implication: Use phrases like “this implies,” “this suggests,” or “this indicates” when you want to suggest a conclusion that is inferred from the evidence but not directly proven.
• Highlighting Significance: Use phrases like “this highlights,” “this emphasizes,” or “this underscores” when you want to draw attention to the importance or relevance of the evidence.
• Presenting Results: Use phrases like “this resulted in,” “this led to,” or “this demonstrated” when you are presenting research findings or outcomes.
• Drawing Conclusions: Use phrases like “therefore,” “thus,” “consequently,” or “in conclusion” when you want to explicitly state the conclusion that can be drawn from the evidence.

Pay attention to the tone and formality of your writing. Some phrases, such as “this evinces” or “this intimates,” are more formal and may be appropriate for academic or professional writing but not for informal contexts.

Consider the audience you are writing for and choose phrases that are appropriate for their level of understanding.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Several common mistakes can undermine the effectiveness of your writing when using alternatives to “this shows.” Here are some pitfalls to avoid:

• Overusing Alternatives: Just as overusing “this shows” can make your writing monotonous, overusing any single alternative can have the same effect. Vary your phrasing to maintain reader engagement.
• Misusing Alternatives: Using a phrase that doesn’t accurately reflect the relationship between the evidence and your claim can weaken your argument. Choose phrases that precisely convey the intended meaning.
• Using Clichéd Phrases: Avoid overly common or clichéd phrases that lack impact. Strive for originality and precision in your word choice.
• Ignoring Context: Failing to consider the context of your writing can lead to inappropriate phrase choices. Ensure that your phrasing aligns with the overall tone and style of your essay.

Here are some examples of common mistakes and how to correct them:

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding of alternatives to “this shows” with the following exercises. Choose the best alternative phrase for each sentence, considering the context and intended meaning.

Exercise 1: Choose the best alternative to “This shows” for each sentence.