How to Introduce Evidence: 41 Effective Phrases & Examples

Research requires us to scrutinize information and assess its credibility. Accordingly, when we think about various phenomena, we examine empirical data and craft detailed explanations justifying our interpretations. An essential component of constructing our research narratives is thus providing supporting evidence and examples.

The type of proof we provide can either bolster our claims or leave readers confused or skeptical of our analysis. Therefore, it’s crucial that we use appropriate, logical phrases that guide readers clearly from one idea to the next. In this article, we explain how evidence and examples should be introduced according to different contexts in academic writing and catalog effective language you can use to support your arguments, examples included.

When to Introduce Evidence and Examples in a Paper

Evidence and examples create the foundation upon which your claims can stand firm. Without proof, your arguments lack credibility and teeth. However, laundry listing evidence is as bad as failing to provide any materials or information that can substantiate your conclusions. Therefore, when you introduce examples, make sure to judiciously provide evidence when needed and use phrases that will appropriately and clearly explain how the proof supports your argument.

There are different types of claims and different types of evidence in writing. You should introduce and link your arguments to evidence when you

state information that is not “common knowledge”;
draw conclusions, make inferences, or suggest implications based on specific data;
need to clarify a prior statement, and it would be more effectively done with an illustration;
need to identify representative examples of a category;
desire to distinguish concepts; and
emphasize a point by highlighting a specific situation.

Introductory Phrases to Use and Their Contexts

To assist you with effectively supporting your statements, we have organized the introductory phrases below according to their function. This list is not exhaustive but will provide you with ideas of the types of phrases you can use.

Purpose	Introductory Phrase	Example
stating information that is not “common knowledge”	[use relevant style guide’s in-text citation format] As [Author] indicated/ stated/ discovered According to [Author],	As Smith indicated in a 2010 study . . . According to Marks and Peters . . .
drawing conclusions, making inferences, or suggesting implications based on specific data	suggests as evidenced/ suggested/ indicated by based on can be seen/ observed when as seen in which is made apparent when is demonstrated by/ through/ when hinges on	The strong negative correlation suggests that . . . As evidenced/ suggested/ indicated by their enlarged adrenal glands, patients with . . . Based on self-reported survey results . . . This phenomenon can be seen/ observed when wind speeds exceed . . . As seen in the high recurrence rates of . . . The causal link between A and B, which is made apparent when B triggers . . . The efficacy of chocolate as a cure for unhappiness is demonstrated by survey results highlighted in . . . This conclusion hinges on . . .
clarifying a prior statement	for example for instance by way of illustration as an example to clarify to explain further namely to be specific that is, in other words,	This occurrence is rare. For example, only one in twenty . . . It is unlikely that current population growth rates are sustainable. For instance, several major coastal cities are already suffering from . . . By way of illustration, less than 20% of new matriculants feel prepared for . . . As an example, when a country faces economic recession, polls indicate that over 80% of the population supports . . . To clarify, not all government-funded facilities provide . . . To explain further, large doses of Agent O can trigger . . . Millennials prefer flexible work conditions, namely the ability to work remotely. To be specific, bull markets can . . . That is, significant and sudden drops in temperature can . . . In other words, short bursts of high-intensity ultrasound can . . .
identifying representative examples of a category	for example/ instance such as* e.g. one/ another example like* excluding including an example being *NOTE: “such as” and “like” have two different uses. “Such as” introduces a specific example that is part of a category. “Like” suggests the listed items are similar to, but not included in, the topic discussed.	Typhoons are considered acts of God, for example/ instance. The island is home to many native carnivorous plants, such as Venus flytraps. The only known bioluminescent vertebrates are fish (e.g. the anglerfish and lantern fish). One/ another example of this exception is . . . I prefer outdoor sports like mountain climbing because they allow me to enjoy nature while exercising. All mammals, excluding humans, stop drinking milk at a young age. All stars, including our sun, . . . Hawks feast on rodents, an example being . . .
distinguishing concepts	in a similar case unlike the case of in the same way as a case in point in a typical situation in a normal scenario	In a similar case, a male patient with arthritis . . . Unlike a single-blind study, a double-blind study reduces the risk of observer bias. Redundancy and wordiness can be reduced in the same way: through careful editing. As a case in point, let’s look at the situation in which . . . In a typical situation, marsupials would . . . In a normal scenario, cortisol suppressant effects . . .
emphasizing a point by highlighting a specific situation	for example indeed in fact notably markedly as a case in point	Nocturnal marsupials, for example, have . . . Indeed, since the World Health Organization declared an end to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo . . . Ice-free habitats around Antarctica, in fact, have . . . High carbon steel alloys, notably, undergo a transformation when . . . Markedly, the deserts’ irregular rainfall levels have . . . As a case in point, the last known male northern white rhinoceros . ..

Although any research author can make use of these helpful phrases and bolster their academic writing by entering them into their work, before submitting to a journal, it is a good idea to let a professional English editing service take a look to ensure that all terms and phrases make sense in the given research context. Wordvice offers paper editing, thesis editing, and dissertation editing services that help elevate your academic language and make your writing more compelling to journal authors and researchers alike.

For more examples of strong verbs for research writing, effective transition words for academic papers, or commonly confused words, head over to the Wordvice Academic Resources website.

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