The Language of Acknowledgment and Response

The Language of Acknowledgments

When you acknowledge an objection or an alternate point of view, readers will determine your attitude towards the source through the types of words you use. When choosing a tone with which to acknowledge other points of view, consider whether many readers would find this objection and its source credible.

Words that contradict or call into question a claim

If you take a hostile or dismissive tone to acknowledge a source that most readers trust, you will lose credibility because readers will not believe that you are seriously considering alternatives. However, if your argument calls into question the methodology, basic assumptions, or honesty of another argument, you may wish to use language that reflects your skepticism. Here are some examples:

Acknowledgment Response
Despite _____________,

Despite recent claims that the Japanese would have surrendered without the nuclear bombs,

 (problem with objection).

no convincing evidence from the Japanese army archives has been found.
Regardless of _____________,

Regardless of the evidence that violent videogames cause aggression in young children,

(problem with objection).

the public resists censorship of violent materials.
Notwithstanding _____________,

Notwithstanding improvements in drugs inhibiting HIV transfer from mother to embryo,

 (problem with objection).

research has shown little sign of approaching a cure to AIDS.

Although_____________,

Although Ivy League colleges claim that they offer an unmatchable educational experience,

(problem with objection).

evidence shows that there is no significant difference in average salaries between graduates of Ivy League and public universities.

While_____________,

While opponents of the Kyoto treaty claim that global warming is a myth,

(problem with objection).

no reputable scientific organization supports this view.

Even though_____________,

Even though marriage rates are declining in France,

(problem with objection).

sociologists claim that this does not represent a break from the past.

Neutral introductory phrases

Acknowledging a specific person's or organization’s viewpoint instead of a general and unattributed claim shows the reader that you take the viewpoint seriously, even if it contradicts your argument. When you introduce an opposing viewpoint or alternate claim, you should consider whether your reader would find this claim or source reasonable. If so, you should introduce it with a neutral phrase. Here some examples (in each case, we've identified the specific proponent of an alternative viewpoint as "Smith"):

Acknowledgment Response
Smith shows that _____________;

Smith shows that poverty rates have steadily declined since the new taxation policy;

however, (problem with objection).

however, his study does not take into account the debt level of families.

Smith argues that _____________;

Smith argues that lower national poverty rates are proof that the administration’s policy is working;

however, (problem with objection).

however, the formula which determines “poverty” has not changed since 1968 and does not take into account many costs of living.

Smith suggests that _____________;

Smith suggests that the number of Americans living in poverty may be less than the official 25%;

however, (problem with objection).

however, many prominent economists argue the reverse.

Smith believes that _____________;

Smith believes that tax reform may be partly responsible for the declining poverty rate;

however, (problem with objection).

however, many other factors may have contributed.

Skeptical or dismissive introductory phrases

If your readers would likely not take the source or claim seriously or your argument strongly contradicts it, you may choose a dismissive or skeptical introductory phrase. But you risk alienating readers if you are too dismissive or skeptical. Here are some examples of dismissive or skeptical introductory phrases that will be unlikely to alienate readers:

Acknowledgment Response
Smith wants to show that _____________;

Smith wants to show that poverty rates have steadily declined since the new taxation policy;

however, (problem with objection).

however, his study does not take into account the debt level of families.

Smith tries to show that _____________;

Smith tries to show that poverty rates have steadily declined since the new taxation policy;

however, (problem with objection).

however, his methodology is flawed and hasn't been updated since 1968.

Smith hopes to show that _____________;

Smith hopes to show that the number of Americans living in poverty may be less than the official 25%;

however, (problem with objection).

however, many prominent economists argue the reverse.

Smith wants us to believe that _____________;

Smith wants us to believe that tax reform may be partly responsible for the declining poverty rate;

however, (problem with objection).

however, he is unable to produce convincing statistical evidence.

Acknowledging Unattributed Claims

You can also acknowledge a general claim without attributing it to a specific individual or group. This kind of acknowledgement is sufficient if readers are not already resistant to your claim or if the objection is easily refuted. Here are some ways to introduce unattributed claims:

Acknowledgment Response
Someone might argue that _____________;

Someone might argue that poverty rates have steadily declined since the new taxation policy;

 however, (problem with objection).

however, such an argument fails to take into account the debt level of families.

Some believe that _____________;

Some believe that the number of Americans living in poverty may be less than the official 25%;

however, (problem with objection).

however, the consensus among economists is the reverse.

Critics have said that _____________;

Critics have said that tax reform may be partly responsible for the declining poverty rate;

however, (problem with objection).

however, statistical evidence disproves this assertion.

Partial Acceptance of Alternative Viewpoints

When acknowledging readers’ objections, you may wish to accept part of their claim or concede that their views are valid. Similarly, when acknowledging alternative evidence, definitions, or values, you do not need to dismiss or contradict them in order to make your argument. In these cases, you can accept the alternative view and qualify your own argument.

One option is to use the first person singular (I) or plural (we) to show readers that you share their concerns, as in these examples:

Acknowledgment Response
I understand that many people believe in the American Dream, but we should examine the underlying values of this belief.
We might think that progress is linear, but a closer examination calls this idea into question.
We could argue that an absence of fathers causes poverty, but we could also argue the reverse.
We have to consider the possibility that raising teacher pay might not improve students’ test scores. However, the experiment might have other benefits.
We have to raise the question whether opening adoption records will do more harm than good. Further study might be necessary.
We have to consider the probability that further study will show that oil excavation will increase the number of endangered species. Prevention measures may become necessary.
We cannot overlook the fact that a majority of Americans support second amendment rights. Gun safety laws will have to take this belief into account.
We should not dismiss the evidence that lax regulations led to the crisis. But neither is overregulation the answer.

Another way of showing partial acceptance is to present the objection or alternative in a neutral, objective voice with an introductory phrase or an adverb:

Acknowledgment Response
It must be admitted that evidence has not yet emerged to prove the health benefits of organic food, but studies of the effects of pesticides on rodents show promise.
It is likely that changing the system will prove costly, but the benefits will outweigh the costs.
It is true that several studies show the side-effects of the drug are minimal, but the evidence is mixed in the new trial.
Granted, there's no archeological evidence that humans could produce fire before 800,000 years ago. However, biological evidence might suggest that the invention of fire was far earlier.
Admittedly, the archeological evidence is extremely thin. However, the conditions of the excavation site might be the cause.

The Language of Responses

“However” and “but” are the most common conjunctions we use to introduce a response to an objection. These conjunctions are more or less interchangeable, but “however” often introduces a more complex response to a valid objection while “but” often introduces a simpler or more direct response.

Responses range in tone from tactful and tentative to forceful and blunt. Determine the level of your response based on how much your readers will trust the objection.

Downplaying an objection's flaws

If readers are likely to believe the objection or think that the source of the objection is reliable, use a neutral tone and/or concede that the objection may have some validity. One tactful and indirect response is to use the first person and emphasize your own lack of understanding, rather than the objection’s flaws. Here are some examples:

Acknowledgment Response
Edmundson argues that professors are under too much pressure to be entertaining rather than instructive in lecture. However, I do not understand why the two are mutually exclusive.
Many believe that the government wiretapping will infringe on civil liberties. I find it difficult to see how this will affect ordinary citizens.
Credit-card lobbyists claim that regulation will dry up credit. It is not clear to me that the evidence supports this claim.

Highlighting Missing Pieces

Another way to respond to an objection is to point out an issue, question, or problem that the objection does not address. This response indicates a problem with the objection without denying that it has any validity. Here are some examples:

Acknowledgment Response
Standardized tests may create an impression of fairness across districts. But there are other issues to consider in creating a national test.
Extending health care to all uninsured citizens looks like a noble goal. However, we are still left with the question of how to finance such a project.
Proponents point out that nuclear power plants create energy without emitting carbon dioxide. But there remains the problem of waste disposal.
Libertarians argue for radically reduced income taxes. But this view overlooks the key issue of how to finance law enforcement.

Questioning Logic and Evidence

If you think your readers are inclined to believe your claim or if they are not already on the side of the objection, you can point out a problem with the rhetoric or logic of the objection. This kind of response tends to sound very blunt or combative, so it should not be used to acknowledge objections that the readers already believe and trust.

Acknowledgment Response
Sociologists Anderson and Wang point out that children raised by single mothers often have a network of other relatives. But as persuasive as this point may be, it ignores the issue at hand, which is the poverty rate of single-mother households.
Jones asserts that rampaging elephants are a great danger to small villages in Africa. But as valid as this point may be, it is irrelevant to the question at hand, which is how to stop the illegal trade of ivory.
Richardson argues that drilling for fossil fuels in Alaska will save millions of dollars in imports. But this claim fails to take into account the hidden costs in oil exploration.
Dr. Quack tries to prove that lemon juice cures cancer. But the evidence is unreliable. His personal blog is not a scientific source.
Many believe that herbal remedies can cure common diseases. But the evidence is thin. Few scientific studies back up this claim.
The study uses student subjects from three schools to prove that anti-bullying initiatives are effective in preventing violence. But the evidence is not representative. All the schools were rural.
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