Vocabulary

Learn to use proper words

Topic:

Showing and proving

1. To show that smth is true:

To show – to provide the facts and information which make it clear that smth is true: The engineer wanted to show to students how well the system worked.

To prove – to show that smth is definitely true by providing facts and information, especially when other people have doubted it:. He was able to prove his theory to his fellow scientists.

To demonstrate – to do smth or to provide information that makes it very clear to people that smth is true: The aim of the experiment was to demonstrate the effectiveness of the treatment.

Smth can be seen – used when smth shows that what you are saying is true: This can be seen in the following examples.

To be evidence of – used when information shows that smth is true or smth exists: Some people think that this research is evidence of a much larger problem.

To reveal – to show that smth is true, especially smth surprising that many people didn’t realize: A recent survey revealed that 61% of those interviewed believe that tobacco advertising should be banned.

To confirm – if smth confirms an idea or opinion that peple already have, it shows that it is true: The recent research confirms the view that global warming is happening at an increasing rate.

To support / back up – to show that an idea, opinion or claim is true: Our research supports this view. They produced no evidence to back up their claims.

To corroborate - a formal word to provide additional information that shows that what someone has said is true, is used about findings and results: Further research is needed to corroborate the results of this study before we publish the article.

To validate – a formal word meaning to prove that smth is correct using scientific tests or very careful checking; is used about claims, theories and data: Our data is collected and validated by a team of researchers, using multiple sources to ensure reliability.

2. To show that smth is likely:

To suggest – to show that smth is probably true, even though there is no definite proof: This suggests that humans existed on earth thousands of years earlier than was previously thought.

To indicate – if scientific facts, tests, figures etc indicate smth, they show that smth is probably true: Research indicates that over 81% of teachers are not satisfied with their salary.

To give the impression – to make you think that a situation exists, even though this may not actually be true: The report gives the impression of having been rather hastily put together.

To lead to the conclusion that – to make you decide that smth is likely to be true after examining all the facts, arguments etc: All these arguments lead to the conclusion that there should be greater control over the quality of our products.

3. To show that smth is untrue:

To disprove – to show that smth is untrue: The results of the experiment disproved our theory.

To contradict – if one statement, study, piece of evidence etc contradicts another, it make the other one seem completely untrue or impossible: Recent evidence appears to contradict his hypothesis.

To invalidate – a formal word meaning to prove that someone’s ideas or arguments contain mistakes, with the result that it is unlikely that they are true: Problems with the way the original data was collected invalidated their findings.