Whenever you include a paraphrase, summary, or direct quotation of another writer’s work in your paper, prepare your readers for it with an introduction called a signal phrase. A signal phrase names the author of the source and often provides some context for the source material.

When you write a signal phrase, choose a verb that is appropriate for the way you are supporting your argument. Are you providing background, explaining a concept, supporting a claim, lending authority, or refuting a belief?

Note that MLA style calls for present-tense verbs (argues) to introduce source material unless a date specifies the time of writing.

You can use signal phrases to