Common Action Verbs on Essay Tests

Action Verbs can assist you in preparing your exam essays or papers. They provide guidance and information on what the professor is asking of you. Underline them as you read the exam questions and use them to guide your writing.

Analyze - Break into parts and discuss each part separately.

Compare - Explain similarities and differences.

Contrast - Distinguish between items being compared by focusing on differences.

Criticize - Evaluate the positive and negative effects of what is being discussed.

Define - State the essential quality or meaning. Give the common idea.

Describe - Visualize and give information that paints a complete picture.

Discuss - Examine in a complete and detailed way, usually by connecting ideas to examples.

Enumerate/List/Identify - Recall and specify items in the form of a list.

Evaluate - Give your opinion about the value or worth or something, usually by weighing positive and negative effects, and justify your conclusion.

Explain - Make the meaning of something clear, often by making analogies or giving examples.

Illustrate - Supply examples.

Interpret - Explain your view of facts and ideas and how they relate to one another.

Outline - Organize and present the main examples of an idea or sub-ideas.

Prove - Use evidence and argument to show that something is true, usually by showing cause and effect or giving examples that fit the idea to be proven.

Review - Provide an overview of ideas and establish their merits and features.

State - Explain clearly, simply, and concisely, being sure that each word gives the image you want.

Summarize - Give the important ideas in brief.

Trace - Present a history of the way something developed, often by showing cause and effect.

Source: Keys to Success, Third Edition

Russell Conwell Center

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