4. Language functions

4.1 Agreeing and Disagreeing

Agreeing and disagreeing are typical elements of spoken English but may also appear in scientific writing. When writers want to compare their findings with those of other scientists, they may have to express their agreement or disagreement. For example:

Other contexts in which phrases expressing agreement appear in scientific literature include making assumptions or conclusions:

Assumption It is generally agreed that...
Conclusion In the previous chapter, we agreed to...

Language you can use to express agreement

The following verbs and phrases express varying degrees of agreement.

Expressing disagreement

There are a variety of verbs and other phrases for expressing disagreement.

Some linking phrases for contradicting what someone else has written:

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Last update: 19-Dec-2005, 16:06