Other Ways to Say “This Shows” in an Essay (With Examples for Every Situation)

Updated 10 October 2026

Quick answer: For strong, clear evidence, use “this demonstrates.” For trends or data, “this indicates” fits best. For interpretations that aren’t airtight, “this suggests” adds honest caution. For hidden meaning in literature, “this reveals” works well, and for stressing importance, “this highlights” does the job. The best choice always depends on how strong your evidence is and what kind of writing you’re doing.

“This shows” isn’t wrong. It’s clear, direct, and impossible to misread. The problem is repetition: when nearly every paragraph connects evidence to a claim with the same two words, an argument starts to read like a checklist instead of an analysis. A teacher, examiner, or manager notices the pattern before they notice your point. Here’s how to vary your language without losing clarity.

What “This Shows” Actually Does in a Sentence

“This shows” is a bridge phrase. One side holds your evidence (a quote, a statistic, an observation), and the other side holds the meaning you want the reader to take from it. Grammatically it’s simple: “this” is a demonstrative pronoun pointing back at the evidence you just presented, and “shows” is the third-person singular verb. It almost always pairs with “that”: “This shows that the company’s revenue climbed steadily for five years.”

Because it’s so plain, it’s also the first connector most writers reach for, which is exactly why it ends up everywhere. The fix isn’t to ban it. The fix is to choose a stronger or more precise verb when the situation calls for one.

Match the Verb to the Strength of Your Evidence

The most useful way to choose an alternative is to ask: how certain is my evidence? Different verbs carry different levels of confidence, and picking the right one makes your argument sound both honest and sharp.

When your evidence is strong and clear

Demonstrates — confident and formal, common in academic and professional writing. “This demonstrates that the policy change reduced employee turnover within six months.”

Confirms — signals that new evidence backs up something already suspected or stated. “This confirms the findings presented in the earlier research.”

Proves — the strongest option, best reserved for evidence that genuinely leaves no room for doubt. “This proves the experiment’s results were not random.”

When your evidence points toward a conclusion but isn’t airtight

Indicates — analytical and slightly cautious, a staple of business and data-driven writing. “This indicates a gradual shift in customer preferences over the past year.”

Suggests — adds a layer of honest hedging, ideal when you’re offering an interpretation rather than a certainty. “This suggests that the character regrets her earlier decision, even if she never says so directly.”

Implies — similar to “suggests,” but often used when something is communicated indirectly rather than stated outright. “His silence implies he disagrees with the plan.”

When you want to uncover or emphasize something

Reveals — dramatic, implies discovery, perfect for literary analysis involving hidden motives or symbolism. “This reveals the narrator’s hidden fear of abandonment.”

Highlights — draws attention to why something matters, useful in conclusions and summaries. “This highlights the urgent need for better workplace mental health support.”

Emphasizes — similar to “highlights,” but stresses the writer’s or speaker’s own focus on a point. “The author’s repetition emphasizes the character’s growing desperation.”

When you’re working with a specific example or theme

Illustrates — works best for a single clear example rather than a broad pattern. “This illustrates how small daily habits build into long-term success.”

Reflects — fits themes, emotions, and character development. “This reflects the character’s emotional growth throughout the story.”

Conveys — suits analysis of tone, mood, or message in literature and media. “This conveys the author’s feelings of hope and resilience.”

A Quick Reference Table

Beyond Swapping Verbs: Three Structural Fixes

Replacing “shows” with a synonym solves part of the problem. The bigger gain comes from changing the sentence structure around it.

1. Replace “this” with a specific noun. Starting many sentences with the bare pronoun “this” can make writing feel monotonous and occasionally vague. Naming what you’re referring to keeps your reader oriented.

• Weak: “This shows that pollution is increasing.”
• Stronger: “The evidence demonstrates that pollution levels are increasing.”

Useful replacements include the evidence, the research, the finding, the result, the statistic, the example, and the analysis.

2. Drop “this” entirely and let the evidence be the subject.

• Less effective: “This shows that technology is changing education.”
• More effective: “The research demonstrates that technology is transforming modern education.”

3. Rewrite passive “this is shown” constructions. Passive phrasing tends to sound weaker and wordier. Active versions read as more confident:

• Original: “This is shown by the results of the experiment.”
• Improved: “The experimental results clearly demonstrate this.”
• Other options: “This is evident from…”, “This can be seen in…”, “This is reflected in…”

Writing About Quotations

When analyzing a quote, writing “this quote shows” repeatedly gets stale quickly. Vary how you refer to the quotation itself, and vary the verb too:

• Instead of “This quote shows the character’s determination,” try “The passage highlights the character’s determination.”
• Instead of “This quote suggests that society is changing,” try “The author’s words suggest that society is undergoing significant change.”

Other ways to refer to a quotation include the excerpt, the line, the statement, the speaker’s remark, and the cited text.

A Note for IELTS and Exam Writers

In IELTS Writing Task 2, lexical variety is part of the scoring criteria, so replacing “this shows” with more precise expressions can help your vocabulary score. The key is accuracy, not complexity. A simple word used correctly beats an impressive word used wrongly.

• Basic: “This shows that education is important for economic growth.”
• Improved: “This demonstrates that education plays a crucial role in driving economic growth.”
• Advanced: “This highlights the significant role that education plays in promoting long-term economic development.”

Alternate between expressions across paragraphs instead of repeating one. That variety reads as natural control of the language, which is exactly what examiners look for.

Go Beyond the Connector: Explain Why the Evidence Matters

Even the best verb can’t rescue a thin analysis. A phrase like “this demonstrates” only tells the reader that a connection exists; the real work is explaining what the connection is and why it matters. A reliable pattern for strong analytical paragraphs has four steps:

1. Claim: state your point.
2. Evidence: present the quote, statistic, or example.
3. Connector + interpretation: use your chosen verb to explain what the evidence means.
4. Significance: add one sentence on why that meaning matters to your larger argument.

For example: “Employee turnover fell by 18% after the policy change. This indicates that flexible scheduling addressed a major source of dissatisfaction. The result matters because retention costs are among the largest hidden expenses in the company’s budget.” The connector does its job in one sentence, and the next sentence carries the deeper analysis. That structure is what makes writing sound analytical rather than merely descriptive.

Seeing It in Action

Academic essay: “The survey found that 90% of employees preferred remote work. This demonstrates the growing demand for flexible working arrangements.”

Business email: “Attached is the Q2 report. The figures indicate a 14% increase in client retention compared to last quarter, largely driven by the new onboarding process.”

Presentation (spoken): “If you look at slide six, this highlights a clear drop in customer churn since we launched the loyalty program.”

Casual chat: “He didn’t text back for three days. Honestly, that tells you everything.”

Notice that even in casual speech, people rarely say “this shows” verbatim. They lean on shortcuts like “that tells you everything” or “proof that…” instead.

Mistakes to Avoid

• Starting nearly every paragraph with “this shows.” It turns an argument into a list. Vary your connectors across the essay.
• Forgetting “that” after the verb. Writing “this shows the character feels guilty” works in casual speech, but “this shows that the character feels guilty” reads more cleanly in formal writing.
• Using “this proves” for suggestive evidence. Overstating your certainty makes an argument easy to challenge.
• Choosing dramatic verbs for plain data. “This reveals” suits hidden meaning in a novel, but feels mismatched applied to a sales spreadsheet.
• Repeating the same alternative everywhere. Swapping “shows” for “demonstrates” in every paragraph just moves the repetition somewhere else.
• Using stiff verbs in casual contexts. “This demonstrates” in a text message can sound sarcastic or oddly formal.

Regional and Tone Notes

British academic and professional writing often leans toward hedged phrasing, such as “this would suggest” or “this might indicate,” where directness can come across as slightly forceful. American writing tends to favor more direct constructions, so “this demonstrates” without extra softening reads as confident rather than blunt. In casual social English, the full phrase rarely appears at all; people use shortcuts like “this basically means” or “so this is proof that.”

Synonyms for “This Shows” in an Essay

When writing an essay, using the phrase “this shows” repeatedly can make your arguments sound predictable. Choosing more precise expressions helps you explain evidence, connect ideas, and present your reasoning in a clear, academic style. The best alternative depends on what you want to communicate. For example, “this demonstrates” works well when explaining evidence, while “this suggests” is more suitable when drawing a possible conclusion. Other options, such as “this highlights,” “this indicates,” and “this reveals,” help emphasize different aspects of an argument. Instead of replacing every instance of “this shows” with the same phrase, consider the meaning of your sentence and choose wording that fits naturally. This approach makes your writing more engaging, improves clarity, and helps your ideas flow smoothly from one paragraph to the next.

“This Shows” List

There are many alternatives to “this shows,” and each has a slightly different meaning. Some expressions are useful for academic essays, while others work better in everyday writing or professional communication. Choosing the right phrase helps you explain your point without making your sentences repetitive.

Here are some useful alternatives, along with examples of how to use them naturally.

• This demonstrates: Used to explain how evidence proves or supports a point.
• This indicates: Suggests that something is likely to be true based on available evidence.
• This suggests: Introduces a possible interpretation or conclusion.
• This highlights: Draws attention to an important point or issue.
• This reveals: Helps uncover information that may not be immediately obvious.
• This illustrates: Explains an idea through an example or specific evidence.
• This proves: Emphasizes that evidence establishes something as true.
• This reflects: Shows a connection between an observation and a broader situation.
• This emphasizes: Gives additional importance to a particular idea.
• This confirms: Shows that existing information or expectations are supported.
• This implies: Communicates an indirect meaning or conclusion.
• This underscores: Stresses the importance of a particular point.
• This establishes: Shows that a fact or argument has been firmly supported.
• This points to: Directs attention toward a possible explanation or conclusion.
• This provides evidence that: Connects research, facts, or examples to a claim.

For example, instead of writing, “This shows that exercise improves concentration,” you could write, “This suggests that exercise improves concentration.” If your evidence strongly supports the conclusion, “This demonstrates that exercise improves concentration” may be more appropriate. The key is to choose an expression that accurately reflects the strength of your evidence.

“This Shows” Synonym Without “This”

Sometimes, removing the words “this shows” altogether makes a sentence sound more direct and professional. You can often begin with a strong verb or restructure the sentence to focus on the evidence, result, or main argument. This technique is especially useful in academic writing, where clear and concise sentences help readers follow your reasoning.

Consider these alternatives:

• Demonstrates: “The study demonstrates the benefits of regular exercise.”
• Indicates: “The survey indicates a growing interest in online education.”
• Highlights: “The findings highlight the importance of effective communication.”
• Reveals: “The results reveal a significant difference between the two groups.”
• Suggests: “The evidence suggests that sleep affects memory.”
• Illustrates: “The example illustrates how language influences perception.”
• Reflects: “The increase in sales reflects changing customer preferences.”
• Confirms: “The experiment confirms the initial hypothesis.”
• Emphasizes: “The report emphasizes the need for further research.”
• Establishes: “The evidence establishes a clear connection between the variables.”

You can also use phrases such as “According to the findings,” “The evidence supports,” or “The results point to” when introducing research or explaining an observation. These alternatives make your writing more varied without changing the main idea.

For instance, instead of writing, “This shows that students learn better through practice,” you could write, “Regular practice improves students’ learning outcomes.” The revised sentence communicates the idea directly and avoids unnecessary wording.

“This Shows” Synonym Formal

In formal writing, the best alternative to “this shows” depends on the level of certainty and the purpose of your statement. Academic essays, reports, and professional documents benefit from precise language rather than expressions that sound overly conversational. Words such as “demonstrates,” “indicates,” “establishes,” and “illustrates” can help present your ideas with greater clarity.

Here are some formal alternatives and examples:

• This demonstrates: “This demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed strategy.”
• This indicates: “This indicates a possible relationship between education and employment.”
• This establishes: “This establishes the importance of consistent evaluation.”
• This illustrates: “This illustrates the practical application of the theory.”
• This highlights: “This highlights the challenges faced by small businesses.”
• This provides evidence of: “This provides evidence of a change in consumer behavior.”
• This substantiates: “This substantiates the argument presented in the report.”
• This confirms: “This confirms the accuracy of the initial findings.”
• This underscores: “This underscores the need for stronger environmental policies.”
• This reflects: “This reflects the broader changes occurring within the industry.”

Although these expressions are useful in formal writing, they are not always interchangeable. “Confirms” suggests that something has been verified, while “indicates” communicates a conclusion supported by evidence without necessarily proving it. Similarly, “substantiates” is appropriate when evidence strengthens an existing argument.

For a professional essay, focus on accuracy rather than choosing the most complicated word. A simple, well-supported statement often communicates more effectively than a sentence filled with unnecessarily formal vocabulary.

“This Shows” Synonym Academic

Academic writing requires more than replacing familiar words with sophisticated synonyms. It involves explaining evidence, interpreting findings, and showing readers how your reasoning supports your main argument. Instead of repeatedly using “this shows,” select expressions that reflect the relationship between your evidence and your conclusion.

The following alternatives are particularly useful in essays, research papers, and analytical assignments.

• This suggests: Use this when the evidence supports a possible explanation but does not establish it conclusively.
• This demonstrates: Choose this when the evidence clearly illustrates a principle or argument.
• This indicates: Use this to point toward a pattern, result, or relationship.
• This supports the argument that: Connect evidence directly to your central claim.
• This provides evidence that: Introduce findings that support a specific statement.
• This implies: Explain a conclusion that can reasonably be drawn from the available information.
• This is consistent with: Show that a finding agrees with an established theory or previous research.
• This lends support to: Explain how a result strengthens an existing interpretation.
• This illustrates: Use an example to clarify an abstract concept.
• This points to: Identify a possible trend or explanation that deserves further consideration.

For example, consider the sentence, “This shows that social media affects students’ academic performance.” In an academic essay, you could write, “The findings suggest that social media use may influence students’ academic performance.” This version is more precise because it presents the conclusion cautiously rather than assuming that the relationship has been conclusively proven.

Similarly, “The results support the argument that regular feedback improves student engagement” clearly connects the evidence to the claim. When writing academically, make sure your chosen phrase reflects what your sources actually establish.

“This Shows” in Spanish

The English phrase “this shows” can be translated into Spanish in several ways, depending on the context. The most common translation is “esto muestra,” but other expressions may sound more natural in academic writing, everyday conversation, or formal communication.

Here are some useful translations:

• Esto muestra: This shows.
• Esto demuestra: This demonstrates.
• Esto indica: This indicates.
• Esto sugiere: This suggests.
• Esto revela: This reveals.
• Esto destaca: This highlights.
• Esto confirma: This confirms.
• Esto pone de manifiesto: This makes evident or brings to light.
• Esto evidencia: This provides evidence of or makes evident.
• Esto refleja: This reflects.

For example, “This shows the importance of education” can be translated as “Esto muestra la importancia de la educación.” A more formal alternative is “Esto demuestra la importancia de la educación,” particularly when the supporting evidence is strong.

The appropriate translation depends on the meaning you want to convey. “Esto sugiere” is useful when presenting a possible interpretation, whereas “esto confirma” is better when the evidence supports an established conclusion. Choosing the right expression helps preserve the original meaning while making the Spanish sentence sound natural.

“Shows” Synonym in Research

In research writing, “shows” is often used to describe findings, explain data, or connect results to a hypothesis. However, repeating this word throughout a research paper can make the analysis sound less precise. Alternatives such as “indicates,” “demonstrates,” “reveals,” and “suggests” allow researchers to describe their findings more accurately.

Here are several useful synonyms for research contexts:

• Indicates: “The data indicate an increase in customer satisfaction.”
• Suggests: “The findings suggest a possible link between stress and sleep quality.”
• Demonstrates: “The experiment demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed method.”
• Reveals: “The analysis reveals differences between the two groups.”
• Identifies: “The study identifies several factors associated with employee retention.”
• Establishes: “The research establishes a baseline for future comparisons.”
• Confirms: “The results confirm the initial prediction.”
• Supports: “The findings support the hypothesis.”
• Documents: “The report documents changes in regional employment.”
• Correlates with: “Higher participation correlates with improved completion rates.”

It is important to distinguish between describing a result and interpreting what it means. For example, “The data indicate an association between sleep duration and academic performance” is more cautious than claiming that sleep duration directly causes better academic performance. Likewise, correlation alone does not establish causation.

When writing a research paper, select verbs that match the methods, findings, and limitations of your study. Precise wording makes your analysis more credible and helps readers understand exactly what the evidence can—and cannot—tell them.

Other Words for “This” in an Essay

The word “this” is useful in essays, but using it repeatedly can make your writing vague. Readers may struggle to understand whether “this” refers to a specific fact, an entire argument, a research finding, or a situation discussed earlier. Instead of replacing “this” with another word every time, identify the idea you want to reference and express it clearly.

Here are some alternatives that can improve academic writing:

• The finding: Use this when referring to a research result.
• The evidence: Appropriate when discussing facts, data, or supporting information.
• The result: Useful when explaining the outcome of an experiment or process.
• The argument: Best when referring to a claim or line of reasoning.
• The observation: Suitable for describing something noticed during research or analysis.
• The pattern: Use this when referring to a repeated trend.
• The example: Appropriate when discussing a specific illustration.
• The situation: Useful when referring to a particular circumstance.
• The approach: Best when discussing a method or strategy.
• The conclusion: Suitable when referring to an interpretation drawn from evidence.

For example, instead of writing, “This shows that communication is important in the workplace,” you could write, “The findings highlight the importance of communication in the workplace.” If you are discussing a specific example, you might write, “The example illustrates how clear communication can prevent misunderstandings.”

Another effective option is to remove “this” entirely when the meaning remains clear. For example, “This is important because it improves productivity” could become “Clear communication is important because it improves productivity.”

The goal is not to eliminate every use of “this,” but to make each reference specific, natural, and easy for the reader to understand.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can you say instead of “this shows that”?

You can use phrases such as “this demonstrates that,” “this suggests that,” or “this highlights that” to express an idea more clearly. The best choice depends on whether you are presenting evidence, explaining a result, or emphasizing an important point.

What is the meaning of “this show”?

“This show” usually refers to a television program or a particular demonstration. When explaining evidence or an idea, the grammatically correct phrase is “this shows,” which means that something provides evidence of a fact or supports a conclusion.

What is the meaning of “it shows”?

“It shows” means that something reveals, explains, or provides evidence of a particular fact or idea. For example, “Her progress shows that consistent practice leads to improvement” means her progress provides evidence that regular practice is effective.

What is another sentence starter for “this shows”?

You can replace “this shows” with “this indicates,” “this suggests,” “this reveals,” or “this demonstrates.” For academic writing, choose a phrase that accurately reflects your evidence rather than repeating the same expression throughout your essay.

How can you avoid saying “this shows” in an essay?

To avoid repeating “this shows,” use precise sentence starters such as “this evidence suggests,” “the results indicate,” or “this finding demonstrates.” You can also explain the significance of your evidence directly, making your argument more natural, clear, and persuasive.

What can you use instead of “shows”?

Depending on the context, alternatives to “shows” include demonstrates, indicates, reveals, illustrates, highlights, suggests, reflects, and establishes. Use “demonstrates” for strong evidence, “suggests” for a possible conclusion, and “highlights” when emphasizing an important point.

Final Thought

“This shows” will never be a serious error. It’s a reliable, readable connector. But the writers who sound most convincing are the ones who match each verb to their evidence: confident where the proof is solid, careful where it isn’t, vivid where something is truly being uncovered. Start small. Replace one repeated phrase in your next essay, read it aloud, and notice how much sharper the argument sounds.

Saqlain Ali

Saqlain Ali is the founder and lead content strategist at ClarityPointHub.com, where he helps writers, students, and professionals improve their grammar, sentence clarity, and overall writing quality. With hands-on experience in content writing, editing, and language tools, Saqlain is passionate about making clear communication accessible to everyone.