argue to the effect

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "argue to the effect" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the implications or conclusions drawn from an argument or statement made by someone. Example: "The lawyer argued to the effect that the evidence presented was insufficient to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Both argue to the effect that there are alternatives to Malament's conclusion.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The MCCC method is argued to remove the effect of a channel that does not correlate with the other channels [17].

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

Hence, the averaging only provides first-order statistics and is thus argued to hide the effect of design parameters on the uncertainties due to such variations [26].

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

These associations between hostility and metabolic disturbances were found in healthy, middle-aged men employed as managers after a 12-h fast and were argued to demonstrate the effects of personality, behavioral patterns, and a stress-inducing lifestyle on insulin resistance.

Brain Informatics

As with other dinosaurs from Hațeg, such as Magyarosaurus, a dwarf sauropod, its aberrant features are argued to show the effects of its island habitat on its evolution.

Wikipedia

A range of Coherence Relations have been posited and argued to effect the structuring of discourse.

Lingua Sinica

Those powers are used to sign treaties but not, I would argue, to put them into effect in the UK.

The Guardian - Opinion

The equivalent amount of H2O generated during the conversion process from PbO to PbI2 was argued to have positive effect on the formation of the provskite layer.

Nano Convergence

[Note that these built-in properties, especially the active-memory function, have been argued to be the net effect of neuronal assemblies, not a feature intrinsic to single cells (Zipser et al., 1993; Fuster, 2003)].

European Journal of Neuroscience

In line with the behavioural results, the M350 peak occurred earlier for compounds relative to monomorphemic controls, which was argued to reflect the facilitatory effect of accessing individual morpheme constituents on access to the full compound word representation.

Brain and Language

As a method of self-report, the written diary could be argued to have distorting effects, however, the diary method offers a unique window to understand phenomenology, in this case IAMs, in the context of everyday life (see Bolger, Davis, & Rafaeli, 2003 for a detailed review on the strengths and limitations of the diary methodology).

Consciousness and Cognition

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "argue to the effect" when you want to emphasize the consequence or implication of an argument, rather than just the argument itself. This phrase is particularly useful in legal or academic contexts where the consequences of an argument are important.

Common error

Avoid using "argue to the effect" in casual conversation or informal writing. It can sound overly formal or pretentious. Simpler alternatives like "argue that" are more appropriate in those situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "argue to the effect" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the manner in which an argument is presented. It specifically highlights the intended outcome or implication of the argument. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

34%

Formal & Business

32%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "argue to the effect" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that indicates presenting an argument with a specific consequence or implication in mind. While not overly common, its usage is consistent across formal contexts such as science, news, and business. According to Ludwig AI, it's suitable for written English, but best reserved for situations where emphasizing the result of the argument is crucial. For more casual settings, alternatives like "argue that" are often more appropriate. It is most frequent in Science, News & Media, and Formal & Business contexts, and less common elsewhere. Top sources include authoritative publications like The New York Times and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

argue that

A more direct and common way to express the same idea.

contend that

A more formal synonym for argue, suggesting a firm declaration.

maintain that

Suggests a consistent and persistent argument.

assert that

Implies a confident and forceful statement.

claim that

A neutral way of reporting an argument, without necessarily endorsing it.

posit that

A more academic and theoretical way of presenting an argument.

insist that

Emphasizes the firmness and persistence of the argument.

reason that

Highlights the logical basis of the argument.

advocate that

Suggests active support and promotion of the idea.

suggest that

A more tentative and indirect way of presenting an argument.

FAQs

What does "argue to the effect" mean?

The phrase "argue to the effect" means to present an argument that leads to a particular conclusion or implication. It emphasizes the consequence or overall impression of the argument.

How can I use "argue to the effect" in a sentence?

You might say, "The lawyer "argued to the effect" that the evidence was insufficient to prove guilt."

What can I say instead of "argue to the effect"?

You can use alternatives like "argue that", "contend that", or "maintain that" depending on the context.

Is "argue to the effect" formal or informal?

"Argue to the effect" is generally considered a formal phrase, more suitable for academic, legal, or professional writing. In informal settings, simpler alternatives are usually preferred.