Instruction or command words indicate what your tutor wants you to do in your written assignment. It's vital that you understand exactly what these instruction words mean so you can answer all parts of the essay question and provide a complete response.<\/p>\n
Here's a list of some of the most common instruction\/command words you'll see in essay questions (and examination questions as well), together with an explanation of what they mean.<\/p>\n
Describe: <\/strong>Give a detailed account of\u2026<\/p>\n Outline: <\/strong>Give the main features\/general principles; don't include minor details.<\/p>\n Explain, account for, interpret: <\/strong>Describe the facts but also give causes and reasons for them.\u00a0Depending on the context, these words may also suggest that you need to make the possible implications clear as well. For example: 'Explain X and its importance for Y'.<\/p>\n Comment on, criticise, evaluate, critically evaluate, assess: <\/strong>Judge the value of something. But first, analyse, describe and explain. Then go through the arguments for and against, laying out the arguments neutrally until the section where you make your judgement clear. Judgements should be backed by reasons and evidence.<\/p>\n Discuss, consider: <\/strong>The least specific of the instruction words. Decide, first of all, what the main issues are. Then follow the same procedures for Comment on, Criticise, Evaluate, Critically Evaluate and Assess.<\/p>\n Analyse: <\/strong>Break down into component parts. Examine critically or closely.<\/p>\n How far, how true, to what extent: <\/strong>These suggest there are various views on and various aspects to the subject. Outline some of them, evaluate their strengths and weaknesses, explore alternatives and then give your judgement.<\/p>\n Justify: <\/strong>Explain, with evidence, why something is the case, answering the main objections to your view as you go along.<\/p>\n Refute: <\/strong>Give evidence to prove why something is not the case.<\/p>\n Compare, contrast, distinguish, differentiate, relate: <\/strong>All require that you discuss how things are related to each other. \u00a0Compare suggests you concentrate on similarities, which may lead to a stated preference, the justification of which should be made clear. These words suggest that two situations or ideas can be compared in a number of different ways, or from a variety of viewpoints. Contrast suggests you concentrate on differences.<\/p>\n Define: <\/strong>Write down the precise meaning of a word or phrase. Sometimes several co-existing definitions may be used and, possibly, evaluated.<\/p>\n Illustrate: <\/strong>Make clear and explicit; usually requires the use of carefully chosen examples.<\/p>\n State: <\/strong>Give a concise, clear explanation or account of\u2026<\/p>\n Summarise: <\/strong>Give a concise, clear explanation or account of\u2026 presenting the main factors and excluding minor detail or examples (see also Outline).<\/p>\n Trace: <\/strong>Outline or follow the development of something from its initiation or point of origin.<\/p>\n Devise: <\/strong>Think up, work out a plan, solve a problem etc.<\/p>\n Apply (to): <\/strong>Put something to use, show how something can be used in a particular situation.<\/p>\n Identify: <\/strong>Put a name to, list something.<\/p>\n Indicate: <\/strong>Point out. This does not usually involve giving too much detail.<\/p>\n List: <\/strong>Make a list of a number of things. This usually involves simply remembering or finding out a number of things and putting them down one after the other.<\/p>\n Plan: <\/strong>Think about how something is to be done, made, organised, etc.<\/p>\n Report on: <\/b>Describe what you have seen or done.<\/p>\n Review: <\/strong>Write a report on something.<\/p>\n Specify: <\/strong>Give the details of something.<\/p>\n Work out: <\/strong>Find a solution to a problem.<\/p>\n Adapted from: Coles, M. (1995), A Student\u2019s Guide to Coursework Writing, \u00a0<\/em>University of Stirling, Stirling\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Instruction or command words indicate what your tutor wants you to do in your written assignment. It's vital that you understand exactly what these instruction words mean so you can answer all parts of the essay question and provide a...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":399,"featured_media":198,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[14],"tags":[20,19],"class_list":["post-49","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-essay-writing","tag-command-words","tag-instruction-words"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2018\/09\/wind-rose-1209398_1920.jpg","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":208,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2020\/09\/28\/how-to-analyse-essay-titles-questions\/","url_meta":{"origin":49,"position":0},"title":"How to analyse essay titles and questions","author":"Tom Reid","date":"September 28, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"One of the main criticisms from lecturers is that students don't answer the question set in the essay. If you don't address all parts of your assignment question, your mark will be much lower. It's vital, therefore, that you develop techniques to identify and understand what your tutor wants you\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Essay writing"","block_context":{"text":"Essay writing","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/academic-skills\/essay-writing\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2019\/03\/magnifying-glass-633057_1920.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2019\/03\/magnifying-glass-633057_1920.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2019\/03\/magnifying-glass-633057_1920.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2019\/03\/magnifying-glass-633057_1920.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2019\/03\/magnifying-glass-633057_1920.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2019\/03\/magnifying-glass-633057_1920.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":46,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2020\/09\/28\/getting-started-on-your-essay\/","url_meta":{"origin":49,"position":1},"title":"Getting started on your essay","author":"Kerry Vevers","date":"September 28, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Top tips for successful essay writing\u00a0","rel":"","context":"In "Essay writing"","block_context":{"text":"Essay writing","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/academic-skills\/essay-writing\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2018\/09\/home-office-336377_1920.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2018\/09\/home-office-336377_1920.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2018\/09\/home-office-336377_1920.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2018\/09\/home-office-336377_1920.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2018\/09\/home-office-336377_1920.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2018\/09\/home-office-336377_1920.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1606,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2025\/10\/02\/help-i-havent-written-an-essay-since-sixth-form\/","url_meta":{"origin":49,"position":2},"title":"Help! 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Here are some of the most common feedback phrases, and what they mean. \u201cMore analysis needed\u201d This is very common, and suggests that you\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Academic skills"","block_context":{"text":"Academic skills","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/academic-skills\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2019\/04\/board-3700116_1920.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2019\/04\/board-3700116_1920.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2019\/04\/board-3700116_1920.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2019\/04\/board-3700116_1920.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2019\/04\/board-3700116_1920.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2019\/04\/board-3700116_1920.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":665,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2021\/08\/10\/how-to-get-your-writing-right\/","url_meta":{"origin":49,"position":4},"title":"How to get your writing right","author":"Kerry Vevers","date":"August 10, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"If you\u2019re feeling unsure about writing your first essay or report, Course Leader Malcolm Skene offers some general tips on academic style and how the Academic Phrasebank can help you use the right academic language in your writing. 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