narrative states that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "narrative states that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to what is conveyed or expressed in a narrative, such as a story, report, or account. Example: "The narrative states that the protagonist faced numerous challenges throughout their journey."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Never mind all the decades President Trump's party has spent trashing anti-poverty programs to justify shredding them: The new narrative states that these programs have worked so well that U.S. poverty has been all but eradicated.

The Washington Post

In chapter 8 of Fagrskinna, a prose narrative states that, after the death of her husband Eric Bloodaxe, Gunnhild Mother of Kings had a poem composed about him.

Wikipedia

Haakon expresses concern that he shall receive Odin's hate (Lee Hollander theorizes this may be due to Haakon's conversion to Christianity from his native heathenism), yet Bragi responds that he is welcome: In chapter 8 of Fagrskinna, a prose narrative states that, after the death of her husband Eric Bloodaxe, Gunnhild Mother of Kings had a poem composed about him.

Wikipedia

The narrative states that advanced dementia is an incurable illness of the brain caused by many years of Alzheimer's disease or a series of strokes.

British Medical Journal

The audacious new political narrative states that a purple patch of polling brings on the axe.

Vice

The narrative states that the Æsir foresaw his arrival and had prepared grand illusions for him, so that when Gangerli enters the fortress, he sees a hall of such a height that he has trouble seeing over it, and notices that the roof of the hall is covered in golden shields, as if they were shingles.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

And just last weekend during his visit to Jerusalem, Mitt Romney — who makes much of his reported friendship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — inserted the possibility of an Israeli attack on Iran into his campaign narrative, stating that the "highest national security priority" for the United States is to prevent a nuclear Iran.

The New York Times

In addition, there have also been frequent popular narratives stating that streams and rivers that were once had abundant water are drying, which is possibly due to deforestation (Santos et al. 2006).

Applied Water Science

Similar Chinese narratives state that if a vampire-like being came across a sack of rice, it would have to count every grain; this is a theme encountered in myths from the Indian subcontinent, as well as in South American tales of witches and other sorts of evil or mischievous spirits or beings.

Wikipedia

There is some inconsistency of reporting; the authors' narrative summary states that being female is a predictor of greater disability at discharge, yet the statistical presentation of results suggests the opposite; that being female is a predictor of lower DASH score (i.e. better function) at discharge.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

So I have some sympathy for climate scientists trying to square the fluidity of data with the simple narrative which states that the world is warming fast and we've got to do something about it.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "narrative states that" to introduce information directly derived from a specific account or story. It is suitable when you want to emphasize the source of the information.

Common error

Avoid using "narrative states that" in casual conversation or informal writing. Opt for simpler alternatives like "the story says" or "it mentions" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "narrative states that" functions as a declarative statement, introducing information directly extracted from a story or account. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a valid and usable expression. It helps to establish a specific source for the information being presented.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "narrative states that" is a grammatically sound and usable expression, although Ludwig AI identifies it as relatively rare. It functions to introduce information sourced directly from a story or account, and is most frequently observed in News & Media, Wiki, and Science contexts. When deciding to use this phrase, consider less formal alternatives such as "the story indicates" or "the account reports" for a more casual tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the story indicates

Changes the noun from "narrative" to "story" and the verb from "states" to "indicates".

the account reports

Substitutes "narrative" with "account" and "states" with "reports", emphasizing a factual record.

the text asserts

Replaces "narrative" with "text" and "states" with "asserts", suggesting a strong declaration.

according to the description

Introduces the information as being based on a "description", altering the sentence structure.

the record shows

Replaces "narrative" with "record" and "states" with "shows", focusing on demonstrable evidence.

the document specifies

Changes "narrative" to "document" and "states" to "specifies", highlighting precision.

the source mentions

Replaces "narrative" with "source" and "states" with "mentions", indicating a passing reference.

it is written that

Uses a passive construction, shifting the focus from the narrative itself.

the chronicle relates

Substitutes "narrative" with "chronicle" and "states" with "relates", implying a sequential account.

the version proclaims

Changes "narrative" to "version" and "states" to "proclaims", suggesting a public announcement.

FAQs

How can I use "narrative states that" in a sentence?

Use "narrative states that" to introduce a fact or detail directly from a story or account. For example, "The narrative states that the hero journeyed far to find the artifact."

What are some alternatives to "narrative states that"?

You can use alternatives like "the story indicates", "the account reports", or "the text asserts" depending on the context.

Is "narrative states that" formal or informal?

"Narrative states that" is generally considered more formal. In informal contexts, simpler phrases like "the story says" may be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "narrative states that" and "narrative suggests that"?

"Narrative states that" implies a direct declaration, while "narrative suggests that" implies a less direct or conclusive indication. The former is more assertive, the latter more nuanced.