Guide 11 / 200 6 swaps Formal register
Professional words for “think”
Six verbs that promote "think" from vague to evidenced.
i · When it mattersTwo lines, no filler
In prose and business writing, "I think" is a hedge. Replace it with a verb that tells the reader where the thinking came from — analysis, judgement, or working assumption.
ii · The swaps6 ways
- 01Conclude formal
reached by reasoning from evidence
The team concluded that the fix was premature.
- 02Determine formal
settled after investigation
We determined the root cause on Friday.
- 03Consider neutral
holding an opinion, reflectively
We consider the pilot a success.
- 04Reason formal
work through logically
She reasoned that the bottleneck was upstream.
- 05Posit formal
put forward as a working claim
The paper posits a new mechanism.
- 06Believe neutral
hold as likely without proof
We believe the vendor will recover.
iii · And what not to sayKeep this one
"I think" is fine in speech. In a report, pick a verb that carries the warrant.