2.9: Common Argument Phrases
- Page ID
- 110020
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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 _____________.