How To Argue in English

If you're a mortal like all of us, you've probably lost an argument only to later realize how
you could have handled it better. It's always challenging to get someone else to agree to
your point, and it's especially difficult when you're still learning English.
When arguing in English, how you say things is just as important as what you say. The 7
steps below will give you a repertoire of phrases and tips to sound logical and persuasive
while arguing.
These steps won't guarantee that you will win every argument, but they will definitely help
you win more often than not.
How to Argue in English in 7 Steps:
Picture this, you and a friend are talking about what country to travel to for vacation. They
want to go to Italy and aren't going to take no for an answer, but you don't want to be there
during peak tourist season. What do you do?
1. State your argument, then list the evidence
When you hear something you disagree with, it's tempting to jump straight into criticizing
your friend's opinions. However, you should always begin by proposing a better idea.
Remember that arguments should be solution-oriented, and the result should be better for
everyone.
If your friend has already proposed something, you can begin your argument by saying:
 Before we decide, have you considered...

 I think doing [your idea] may be better for us
 Actually, I was thinking about doing [your idea]
 I'd approach this differently, such as [your idea]
On the other hand, if no one has proposed an idea, you can simply say:
 I think we should [your idea]

 Why don't we [your idea]
Afterward, list the evidence as to why your idea is attractive. Remember, don't jump into
refuting yet. Chances are if others realize how good your idea is, they may even agree to it
right away. To help others keep track of your supporting evidence, number them out:
 Firstly,
 Second,
 Third,
 Lastly,
2. Acknowledge the other's view

Just as it goes for everything in life, you need to respect your friend's opinions for them to
respect yours. Use these phrases to show your friend that you've been listening attentively:
 I see your point, and/but...

 I see what you mean
 Point taken
 You've got a point here
You can even go further and acknowledge the merits of your friend's argument. This way,
it's easier to compromise later when everyone makes a final decision:
 I empathize with...
 I think it's important that you mentioned [specific point]
 We should take [specific point] into consideration
Afterward, you're ready to think about how to refute their points.
3. Ask your opponent to explain their points, then interpret them in your own words
Don't quickly assume that you understand what your friend is implying without asking first.
Asking questions helps you understand any part of the argument that is unclear and identify
weaknesses in their statement. These phrases work for almost every argument you may
have:
 What do you mean by [their argument]

 Do you mind explaining [specific point]
 I'm not sure what you mean by [specific point]
 Why do you say that [specific point]
 How do you explain [specific point]
Asking the question "how" is also an effective psychological trick to moderate your

opponent, especially when debating complex topics like science or politics. Chances are, if
you keep asking the details of how something works, there will come the point where they
are unable to explain how it works. Your opponent will humble down after you reveal how
shallow their knowledge is.
Asking 'how' is ultimately more important than 'why.' 'How' refers to how something works,
while 'why' includes all the emotional reasons that your opponent chose their argument.
After asking for your clarification, you need to paraphrase their argument in your own
words. This demonstrates that you've grasped their ideas and helps avoid any future
disputes. The last thing you want to happen is for your friend to say, 'you don't even
understand what I was talking about.' Prompt this by saying:
 What you mean is [paraphrasing], right?

 So you're saying [paraphrasing]?
 From what I understand, you're saying [paraphrasing]?
4. Refute every one of your opponent's points
Now that all the arguments are on the table, you can do what you've been waiting to do:
refute.
Keep a tab of all the points that your friend made, then make sure to address all of them.
Use the phrases below for this part of the argument:
 It's true that ... However,...

 While I agree that...., it is much more important to...
 I can understand that..., but we must prioritize...
 I see your point with... . On the other hand...
 I get that... is true, but we should also note...
 Yes, perhaps, but ...
 I don't think it's as simple as that.
When you refute, make sure you have evidence to back up your point. It's always ok to
accept one of your friend's points if you don't have a good argument against it.
5. Address any reservation
This is the step people forget the most when making an argument. Even when it seems like
you're winning the argument, make sure that you have addressed every counterpoint. To
flush out any potential future disagreement, say:
 Does anyone have any more questions about this?

 Does anyone still have any reservations about [your idea]?
 I'm happy to address any reservation you may still have
 Is there anything that still keeps you from choosing [your idea]?
Addressing reservations also works well with anything involving other people deciding about
you, such as during business proposals and school or job interviews.
In reverse, you can also express your own reservations and doubts about your friend's
opinions:
 I'm not sold on...

 I'm unsure about...
 I'm still not convinced that...
 I want to know what you think about...
 I wonder if you realize that...
 There's still another aspect to consider
6. Conclude and reiterate your main point
There are many ways to end an argument. You may win, you may lose, or you may reach a
compromise with whoever you were arguing with. Some other times you and your friend
may agree to disagree.
Sum up the argument by saying one of these phrases:
 The only plausible conclusion is...

 By now, I think we can all agree that...
 Long story short, ...
 Based on our argument, let's agree that...
If there's no way to reach an agreement or compromise, or you need to pick up the

conversation later, you can say:
 Let's agree to disagree for now

 We don't have to agree on everything
 I appreciate your point, but I've already made up my mind about this
 Our perspectives are too different on this
 I don't think anything can change my belief that...
7. Watch your tone
Realistically, arguments are most likely to occur in situations where you are angry, annoyed,
or agitated at someone. Paradoxically, you must remain calm and level-headed to make the
argument a productive conversation. You sound less credible if you lose your cool.
Below are ways to soften your statement when you feel like getting too emotional:
Avoid superlatives or adjectives that are too strong:
 Instead of saying 'Your argument is dumb,' say 'I don't quite agree with your
argument that...'
 Instead of saying 'Your idea is the worst,' say 'To be honest, I don't think this is one of
your best ideas that I've heard.'
 Instead of saying 'This is such a lie,' ask 'How do you prove that?'
The bottom line is to avoid making accusations that can turn an argument into a fight. Aim
to understand, not to defeat.
Soften your statements:
 Instead of saying 'You're obviously wrong,' say 'I can't quite agree that...'
 Instead of saying, 'Are you seriously saying that?' say 'What makes you think so?'
 Instead of saying 'Don't be stupid!' say 'I don't think you can assume that..."
Express how you feel, if you must:
Sometimes arguments do hurt your feelings or tickle a sensitive spot. If it's among your
friends, you may want to express your frustration in these ways:
 What you said was actually very disrespectful/hurtful/rude/etc., because...

 I'd appreciate it if you don't bring up...
 You know how saying ... make me feel
Final Thoughts
It takes a bit of practice to learn the formalities of arguing in English. However, these 7 tips
will help you become more persuasive whenever you get into an argument.
While it's not always about winning, be confident that you'll win at least a bit more if you
keep these tips in mind. And even if you don't, you will still impress your friends with your
ability to compellingly speak your mind.

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If you're a mortal like all of us, you've probably lost an argument only to later realize how

How to Argue in English in 7 Steps:

1. State your argument, then list the evidence

 Before we decide, have you considered...

 I think we should [your idea]

2. Acknowledge the other's view

 I see your point, and/but...

Afterward, you're ready to think about how to refute their points.

 What do you mean by [their argument]

Asking the question "how" is also an effective psychological trick to moderate your

 What you mean is [paraphrasing], right?

 It's true that ... However,...

5. Address any reservation

 Does anyone have any more questions about this?

 I'm not sold on...

6. Conclude and reiterate your main point

 The only plausible conclusion is...

If there's no way to reach an agreement or compromise, or you need to pick up the

 Let's agree to disagree for now

7. Watch your tone

Avoid superlatives or adjectives that are too strong:

Soften your statements:

Express how you feel, if you must:

 What you said was actually very disrespectful/hurtful/rude/etc., because...

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