An example signal statement is “According to Doe,” or “Smith argues that,” where the writer names a source and uses a verb to introduce quoted or paraphrased material. Signal statements (also called signal phrases) are short expressions that tell a reader or listener who said something, what they were doing when they said it, and how the information that follows connects to the rest of the text. They show up in academic papers, research essays, business reports, and oral presentations.
What a Signal Statement Looks Like
A signal statement typically pairs an author’s name with a verb that describes what the author did. The verb choice matters because it tells the reader whether the source is agreeing, disagreeing, observing, or making a claim. Here are some common examples:
- “Doe acknowledged that…” signals the author accepted a point.
- “Doe claimed that…” signals an assertion the reader should weigh.
- “Doe rejected the claim that…” signals disagreement.
- “Doe has drawn attention to the fact that…” signals the author is highlighting something.
Not every signal statement needs a verb. “According to Doe” is one of the most widely used signal phrases, and it contains no verb at all. It simply tells the reader where the information came from.
Verb Tense Changes by Citation Style
If you’re writing in APA format, signal statements use past tense: “Doe argued,” “Doe found,” “Doe suggested.” If you’re writing in MLA format, use present tense: “Doe argues,” “Doe finds,” “Doe suggests.” This distinction exists because APA treats published research as a completed event, while MLA treats a published work as an ongoing contribution to a conversation. Your instructor or style guide will tell you which to follow, but getting the tense right is one of the easiest ways to make your signal statements look polished.
Signal Statements for Transitions
Signal statements go beyond introducing sources. They also guide readers through the structure of your writing by signaling relationships between ideas. These transitional signal words fall into several categories:
- Addition: “In addition,” “Furthermore,” “What is more,” “Besides”
- Contrast: “However,” “On the other hand,” “Conversely,” “Nevertheless”
- Cause and effect: “Therefore,” “As a result,” “Consequently,” “For this reason”
- Illustration: “For example,” “For instance,” “To illustrate,” “Such as”
- Similarity: “Similarly,” “Likewise,” “In the same way”
- Reformulation: “In other words,” “Put simply,” “That is to say”
- Emphasis: “Indeed,” “In fact,” “Importantly,” “Moreover”
- Summary: “In summary,” “Overall,” “On the whole,” “In short”
Each of these phrases acts as a small road sign. When a reader sees “However,” they immediately know the next sentence will push back against whatever came before it. When they see “For example,” they know a concrete illustration is coming. Without these cues, paragraphs can feel like a list of disconnected statements.
Signal Statements in Presentations
Spoken signal statements serve the same purpose as written ones, but they tend to be more direct because a listener can’t re-read a sentence. In a presentation, signal statements help the audience track where you are in your talk and what’s coming next.
When introducing your topic, you might say “My topic today is…” or “I’m going to talk about…” When you shift to a new section, phrases like “Moving on now to…” or “Let’s turn now to…” tell the audience the previous point is finished and a new one is starting. When wrapping up a section, “That’s all I have to say about…” or “We’ve looked at…” signals closure before the next idea.
Presenters also use signal statements to flag examples: “A good example of this is…” or “To give you an example…” These phrases give the audience a split second to shift from absorbing a concept to following a specific story or data point.
Where to Place Signal Statements
In academic writing, the first time you use a source in a paragraph, introduce it with a full signal phrase that includes the author’s name and a citation. This grounds the reader. If you continue discussing the same source in the next sentence or two, you don’t need to repeat the signal phrase every time. Your sentence flow alone can make it clear you’re still drawing from the same source. Repeating “Doe states” three sentences in a row makes writing feel mechanical.
If you insert your own analysis and then return to that source later in the paragraph, use another signal phrase to make the switch clear. Without it, the reader won’t know whether the next sentence is your idea or the source’s.
Choosing the Right Verb
The verb in a signal statement carries meaning. Picking “argues” instead of “notes” changes how the reader interprets the source. Here’s a practical breakdown:
- Neutral verbs (states, notes, observes, points out, reports) present the source without taking sides.
- Agreement verbs (confirms, supports, acknowledges, endorses) suggest the source backs up a position.
- Disagreement verbs (disputes, refutes, rejects, denies, challenges) signal the source is pushing back.
- Persuasion verbs (argues, contends, claims, insists, maintains) indicate the source is making a case for something.
If you’re summarizing a straightforward finding, a neutral verb like “reports” is appropriate. If the source is taking a strong position in a debate, “argues” or “contends” is more accurate. Using “claims” can subtly imply skepticism, so choose it intentionally. The goal is to match the verb to what the author actually did in the original text, so your reader gets an honest preview before they encounter the quote or paraphrase.