Command Verbs Academic Writing

Command Verbs - Academic Writing

This resource aims to help Year 1 university students understand 10 command verbs used in instructions and guidelines for academic written assignments.

The list of verbs is presented in alphabetical order. Each slide contains a command verb and its definition as well as an image that illustrates the term.

Command Verb 1: Define

This instruction verb asks you to provide the precise meaning of a word or phrase in your academic discipline. How do various authors use that term? are there co-existing definitions for the term? It is also important to situate the term in the general area of knowledge and to demarcate the limitations of the term.

Command Verbs 2 Describe

This instruction verb asks you to provide a thorough description to highlight the most important points. It also asks you to recall facts, processes or events. 

Command Verb 3 Compare & Contrast

This instruction verb asks you to explore how situations, ideas, theories or interpretations are related to each other, to highlight their similarities or differences. When you compare you concentrate on similarities, while contrast requires that you focus on differences.

Command Verb 4

Discuss

This instruction verb asks you, in the first place, to consider and decide what the main issues are in the topic you are exploring in your written assignment and then to describe, analyse, and explain. Think of a discussion panel where points for and against a particular issue are expressed.

Command Verb 5

Explain

This instruction verb asks you to provide clear definitions and details about the topic, and about key terms used in your writing. Think of helping someone understand an issue, of providing an explanation as to the 'what', 'how', and 'why' of an issue.

Command Verb 6

Identify

This instruction verb asks you to clearly name and tag, also to describe the main ideas.

Command Verb 7

Illustrate

This instruction verb asks you to clarify and usually requires the use of carefully chosen examples.

Command Verb 8

List

This instruction verb asks you to provide a concise answer with a list of items or things.

Command Verb 9: Summarise

This instruction verb asks you to provide a summary. That is a concise, clear explanation, presenting the main factors and excluding minor detail or examples.

Command Verb 10

Trace

This instruction verb asks you to outline or follow the development of something (a process, history of an idea/event) from the the starting point (origin) to the latest.