A signal phrase is a crucial element attributing a quote or idea to an outside source. Signal phrases are frequently employed alongside in-text citations to help the reader distinguish between your own work and the sources you are quoting, paraphrasing, or summarizing.
What is the Purpose of a Signal Phrase?
Signal phrases serve a range of important purposes, including:
- Integrating sources smoothly by introducing a quote or idea that is not your own
- Giving credit to outside scholars or studies, thereby avoiding plagiarism
- Establishing the credentials and authority of the sources you are referencing
Signal phrases also allow you to position the source in relation to your own argument. For example, phrases such as “has shown” and “have proven” suggest that you agree with the cited information. In contrast, phrases like “has claimed” or “proposes” are more tentative and may introduce a counterargument.
Ultimately, the strategic use of signal phrases enables you to seamlessly blend external evidence into your writing, substantiating your claims while maintaining the cohesion and clarity of your argument.
How to Use Signal Phrases Effectively
Once you have identified a relevant quote, paraphrase, or idea from an external source that you want to incorporate into your academic writing, using a well-crafted signal phrase can help you seamlessly introduce it.
Signal phrases can be positioned at a sentence’s beginning, middle, or end, allowing you to vary their placement to create a smooth, cohesive flow. Effectively using signal phrases involves including a few key elements:
- The name of the scholar, researcher, or study you are referencing
- An attributive verb or phrase such as “argues,” “demonstrates,” or “according to”
- The specific quoted material, paraphrased idea, or summary you wish to integrate
You can also include supplementary information like the source’s title or the author’s credentials to further establish their authority on the topic.
When crafting signal phrases, it’s crucial that you accurately represent the author’s original argument or position. Your language should convey their perspective objectively without mischaracterizing or oversimplifying their ideas.
Example
Sociologist Zygmunt Bauman contends that “in the liquid modern world, individuals are called upon to self-construct their identities” (2000, p. 64). In contrast, Bauman’s work “claims that individuals are forced to self-construct their identities” (2000, p. 64). This phrasing suggests a more definitive stance than the author’s actual claim.
Signal phrases can also be valuable tools for juxtaposing contrasting viewpoints. You might use a transition word like “however” or “in contrast” to set up a counterargument:
Smith argues that “public libraries play a vital role in promoting literacy and community engagement” (2018). However, critics like Jones have challenged this view, asserting that libraries are increasingly becoming obsolete in the digital age.
Examples of Effective Signal Phrases
Signal phrases have numerous functions, implying various perspectives on the information they frame. Your choice of signal phrases can communicate something about the stance of the author you’re citing and at times, reveal aspects of your own stance.
Signal Phrases and Their Functions
| Signal Phrase | Function | Example Sentence | Signal Words and Phrases |
| Propositional | The position is arguable rather than definitive, but the author isn’t necessarily responding to an existing debate. | The historian Oswald Spengler (1918) proposed that all cultures are superorganisms with a predictable lifespan. | assumes, believes, claims, concludes, declares, emphasizes, proposes, suggests |
| Demonstrative | A positive or negative statement is made, which can be verified. | Galileo Galilei proved that the earth rotates around the sun by examining … | proves, has disproven, confirms, displays, reveals, shows |
| Argumentative | A position is taken for or against something, implying the ongoing debate. | Allen Ginsberg denies the importance of artistic revision … | argues, contends, denies, insists, maintains |
| Supportive | A position is taken in agreement with what came before. | Recent research has confirmed Einstein’s theory of general relativity by observing light from behind a black hole. | agrees, confirms, endorses, reinforces, promotes, supports |
| Conciliatory | The author acknowledges the validity of an idea or argument but with the implication that their other ideas may differ. | While Foucault (1980) concedes that individual power can only be exercised in a field of limited possibilities, he says that … | acknowledges, admits, concedes, grants |
| Neutral | You present the author’s position neutrally, without any special emphasis. | According to recent research, food services are responsible for one-third of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. | according to, analyzes, asks, describes, discusses, explains, in the words of, notes, observes, points out, reports, writes |
Signal Phrases and Citation Styles
The appropriate tense of signal phrases can vary depending on the citation style being used.
Some signal phrases like “according to” and “in the words of” will remain consistent regardless of the citation style. However, signal phrases that contain a verb must adhere to the conventions of the chosen style, requiring the use of the correct verb tense.
- APA Style necessitates the use of past tense or present perfect tense for signal phrases.
- MLA and Chicago Styles call for signal phrases in the present tense.
Signal Phrases in APA Style
Example: Incorrect Signal Phrase in APA Style
As LaJeunesse demonstrates, “the increased social productivity that results from reduced work times can create long-term improvements in the standard of living” (1999, pp. 93–94).
Example: Correct Signal Phrase in APA Style
As LaJeunesse has demonstrated, “the increased social productivity that results from reduced work times can create long-term improvements in the standard of living” (1999, pp. 93–94).
Signal Phrases in MLA Style
In MLA and Chicago Styles, signal phrases are typically constructed using the present tense, unlike the past or present perfect tense required in APA.