2.9: Common Argument Phrases

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Here are all of the common phrases discussed in Chapter 2 for introducing different elements of an argument. The section headings link to more information.

Claims

Claims of policy

We should _____________.
We ought to _____________.
We must _____________.
Let’s _____________.
The best course is _____________.
The solution is to _____________.
The next step should be _____________.
We should consider _____________.
Further research should be done to determine _____________.

Claims of fact

Research suggests that _____________.
The data indicate that _____________.
_____________is increasing or decreasing.
There is a trend toward _____________.
_____________causes _____________
_____________leads to _____________.

Claims of value

_____________is terrible/disappointing/underwhelming.
_____________is mediocre/average/decent/acceptable.
We should celebrate _____________.
_____________is great/wonderful/fantastic/impressive.

Comparative claims of value

_____________is the best _____________.
_____________is the worst _____________.
_____________is better than _____________.
_____________is worse than _____________.
_____________is just as good as _____________.
_____________is just as bad as _____________

Reasons

Because_____________, _____________.
Because of this, _____________.
If_____________, then _____________.
Since_____________, _____________.
For this reason,_____________.
We can conclude_____________.
Therefore, _____________.
So_____________.
Consequently, _____________.
As a result, _____________.
Hence_____________.
Thus_____________.
It follows that _____________.

Counterarguments

Mistaken counterarguments

It is a popular misconception that_____________.
Some have fallen for the idea that_____________.
Many people mistakenly believe that_____________.

Neutrally described counterarguments

Many people think _____________.
Some, on the other hand, will argue that _____________.
Some might disagree, claiming that _____________.
Of course, many have claimed that _____________.
Some will take issue with _____________, arguing that _____________.
Some will object that _____________.
Some will dispute the idea that _____________, claiming that _____________.
One criticism of this way of thinking is that _____________.

Counterarguments that have merit

It is true that ___________.
I do concede_____________.
We should grant that_____________.
We must admit that_____________.
I acknowledge that _____________.
X has a point that _____________.
Admittedly, _____________.
Of course, _____________.
To be sure, _____________.
There may be something to the idea that _____________.

Rebuttal to a counterargument

This idea misses the fact that _____________.
I disagree because _____________.
This depends on the assumption that _____________ which is incorrect because _____________.
This argument overlooks _____________.
This argument contradicts itself _____________.
This is mistaken because _____________.

Concession to a counterargument

It is true that ___________, but___________.
I do concede_____________, and yet___________.
We should grant that_____________, but we must still acknowledge that ___________.
We can admit that____________ and still believe that ___________..
I acknowledge that _____________, and yet we should nevertheless recognize that _____________.
Critics have a point that _____________; however it is more important that we focus on _____________.
Admittedly, _____________. However, ___________.
Of course, _____________, but I still insist that__________..
To be sure, _____________; but _____________.
There may be something to the idea that _____________, and yet _____________.

Limits

Less than perfect certainty

Perhaps, ________.
It is worth considering the idea that ________.
________ may________.
________might________.
________could possibly________.
Probably, ________.
Very likely, ________.
Almost certainly,________.

Narrowing the scope of the argument

Few ________.
Some________.
Many________.
Most________.
The vast majority of ________.
Almost all________.
________ unless________.
If it is not the case that________, then ________.
________, except in the case that ________.
We can exclude cases where _____________.