establish an argument

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "establish an argument" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It means to create or develop a convincing line of reasoning or explanation. Example: In order to persuade the jury, the lawyer must establish a strong argument supported by evidence and logical reasoning.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"Is the pen a metaphorical penis?" the authors asked, attempting to establish an argument for "feminist poetics".

The New York Times - Books

It is to establish an argument about what is wrong with the country and what needs to change.

The Guardian

Again, this clause allows proofs by induction on the rules used to establish an argument.

SEP

The purpose in doing this is to establish an argument for the need to find effective ways to respond to these issues without further disadvantaging the less powerful, adversely impacted stakeholders.

International Journal of Corporate Social Responsibility

For every person who relies on Moore's law to establish an argument, however, there's a spectacular amount who believe Moore's law will soon come crashing down.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Instead of waiting to be hit by the Tories' questions, Labour has to hit back and establish a bigger argument that we deal with welfare costs by getting to grips with the root causes of those costs.

Independent

We also establish a duality argument by using the right R L fractional derivative, the purpose is to construct an efficient approach by applying the Legendre spectral method in spatial and Crank Nicolson scheme in temporal discretizations such that it can be implemented efficiently and has an optimal convergence rate.

Advances in Difference Equations

We have to establish by an argument that the self exists.

SEP

But the main thing that Blair is doing, I believe, is trying to establish a big overarching argument.

The Guardian - Opinion

With this argument Aristotle can establish an eternal chain of motions and refute those who hold that there could have been a previous stationary state of the universe.

SEP

To accept the defendant's argument and establish a due process right to retest evidence with each advance in forensic science "would leave perfectly valid judgments in a perpetually unsettled state," the panel held.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing academic papers or persuasive pieces, make sure you "establish an argument" early in the introduction to provide clarity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid stating an argument without providing sufficient evidence or reasoning. Ensure each point is thoroughly supported to create a credible and convincing case.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "establish an argument" functions as a verb phrase, where "establish" is the verb and "an argument" is the object. It describes the action of creating or setting up a line of reasoning. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

43%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "establish an argument" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe the creation and presentation of a coherent line of reasoning. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While not exceedingly common, it finds usage in various contexts, particularly within news, scientific, and formal communications. Alternative phrases like "formulate an argument" or "develop an argument" can offer slight variations in emphasis. It's important to ensure arguments are well-supported with evidence, and clearly presented, and "establish an argument" early in a paper or persuasive piece for maximum impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

formulate an argument

Focuses on the process of creating the argument.

develop an argument

Emphasizes the gradual building of the argument.

construct an argument

Highlights the structured creation of the argument.

present an argument

Focuses on the act of showing or explaining the argument.

set forth an argument

Suggests a formal and structured presentation of the argument.

advance an argument

Implies moving the argument forward or promoting it.

build a case

Uses a more legalistic or persuasive tone.

substantiate a claim

Focuses on providing evidence to support the argument.

make a claim

Reduces the scope to a single statement or assertion.

demonstrate a point

Emphasizes proving or illustrating the argument.

FAQs

How can I use "establish an argument" in a sentence?

You can use "establish an argument" to describe the process of creating and presenting a logical line of reasoning. For example, "The scientist aimed to "establish an argument" for climate change based on empirical data."

What's a more formal way to say "establish an argument"?

A more formal alternative would be to use phrases like "formulate an argument" or "advance an argument", which convey a similar meaning but with a higher degree of formality.

What does it mean to "establish an argument"?

To "establish an argument" means to create, present, and support a logical and persuasive line of reasoning. It involves providing evidence and reasons to convince others of your point of view.

Which is correct, "establish an argument" or "make an argument"?

Both phrases are correct, but they have slightly different nuances. "Establish an argument" suggests a more thorough and structured presentation of reasoning, whereas "make an argument" is a more general term for presenting a viewpoint.