Better Ways to Say This Shows (30+ Alternatives That Sound Natural)

For the third time in one paragraph you write, “this shows”. You stop. It feels flat. It feels repeated. There’s a better way of saying it, but you can’t think of anything quickly enough.

This is the issue that this article addresses. Below you’ll find better ways to say this shows for essays, reports, business writing, and everyday emails. There’s a rapid example with each option to see it in action before you read about it.

Why “This Shows” Gets Overused

It is safe to say, “This shows”. It’s short. It’s clear. Does the job. That’s how writers use it too much.

It’s not the word or words in the statement. The challenge lies with repetition. The same three words are repeated five times consecutively, at the beginning of sentences for a reader, and the writing becomes mechanical. Even when a reader is not able to articulate the pattern, he recognizes it. Repeated phrases, even in good content, can indicate low effort.

With little modification, you can fix this without altering your meaning in any way.

Better Ways to Say This Shows in Formal Writing

Academic papers, reports, and business documents need precision. Here are options that keep things professional.

• This indicates — “The data indicates a steady rise in demand.”
• This suggests — “The results suggest a link between sleep and focus.”
• This demonstrates — “The test demonstrates the product’s durability.”
• This confirms — “The audit confirms the earlier findings.”
• This reveals — “The survey reveals a gap in customer trust.”
• This points to — “The pattern points to a supply chain issue.”
• This reflects — “The chart reflects last quarter’s growth.”
• This establishes — “The evidence establishes a clear timeline.”

Each of these carries a slightly different weight. “Confirms” is stronger than “suggests.” “Reveals” implies something was hidden before. Pick the one that matches your actual confidence level, not just the one that sounds good.

better ways to say this shows in Everyday Writing

Not every piece of writing needs formal language. Blogs, emails, and casual reports can use simpler, more conversational options.

• This tells us — “This tells us customers want faster shipping.”
• This means — “This means the plan is working.”
• This proves — “This proves the new design is easier to use.”
• This highlights — “This highlights a real gap in training.”
• This makes it clear — “This makes it clear we need more staff.”
• This backs up — “This backs up what the team already suspected.”
• This lines up with — “This lines up with last year’s trend.”
• We can see that — “We can see that engagement went up.”

These work well in blog posts, internal memos, and social captions. They sound like a person talking, not a textbook.

better ways to say this shows for Data and Research

When you’re writing about numbers, charts, or study results, precision matters more than variety. Still, you don’t need to repeat the same phrase over and over.

• The data shows → The numbers reflect
• This shows a trend → This pattern points to
• This shows growth → This marks an increase in
• This shows a decline → This signals a drop in
• This shows a correlation → This links to

Use words that match the actual relationship in your data. “Correlation” is not “causation.” “Trend” is not a “spike.” Choosing the right verb keeps your writing accurate, not just varied.

Quick Comparison Table: This Shows vs. Better Alternatives

Here’s a fast reference table you can scan in seconds. Save it, bookmark it, or copy it into your writing checklist.

Original Phrase	Better Alternative	Best Used For	Example Sentence
This shows	This indicates	Formal reports	The report indicates a 20% rise in sales.
This shows	This suggests	Research, hypotheses	The study suggests a link between diet and energy.
This shows	This proves	Strong evidence	This proves the fix worked.
This shows	This highlights	Drawing attention	This highlights a gap in the process.
This shows	This confirms	Verified data	This confirms what the team predicted.
This shows	This reflects	Charts, visuals	This reflects last month’s traffic drop.
This shows	This tells us	Casual, conversational	This tells us readers want shorter posts.

Print this table. Pin it near your desk. It solves the “this shows” problem in one glance.

How to Choose the Right Alternative

Don’t just swap words at random. Ask yourself three quick questions before you pick a replacement.

Is the evidence strong or weak? Strong evidence supports “proves” or “confirms.” Weak or early evidence fits better with “suggests” or “points to.”

Is your tone formal or casual? Business reports lean toward “indicates” and “demonstrates.” Blog posts and emails work better with “tells us” and “means.”

Are you repeating yourself? If you already used one alternative in the last paragraph, pick a different one. Variety keeps readers engaged and keeps your writing from sounding like a template.

This simple checklist takes ten seconds and instantly improves your writing.

A Real Example: Before and After

Let’s see how these substitutions affect a real paragraph.

Before: Sales increased in March. This indicates that the interest of the customers is rising. This indicates that the new pricing is working. This indicates that the marketing campaign is working.

After: Sales increased in March, indicating that the customer interest is increasing, the new pricing is having an impact, and that the payoff from the marketing campaign is working.

Same facts. Same meaning. New reading experience. The second version does “flow. The first one is a repetition and is stiff.

Short Answers for Other Ways to Say This Shows

Question	Short Answer
What can I say instead of “this shows”?	Use “indicates,” “suggests,” “demonstrates,” “reveals,” or “confirms,” depending on how strong your evidence is.
Is “this shows” bad grammar?	No. It’s grammatically correct. The issue is repetition, not correctness.
What’s a formal way to say “this shows”?	“This demonstrates,” “this indicates,” or “this establishes” work well in formal or academic writing.
What’s a casual way to say “this shows”?	“This tells us,” “this means,” or “we can see that” sound natural in blogs and everyday writing.
Why do writers repeat “this shows” so often?	It’s a default phrase that comes to mind quickly, especially during fast drafting.
What’s the difference between “shows” and “suggests”?	“Shows” implies clear, direct evidence. “Suggests” implies a possibility or early sign.
How do I stop overusing “this shows” in my writing?	Build a short list of alternatives and rotate them based on tone and how strong your evidence is.

Final Words

“This shows” is effective but it becomes tedious very quickly. Not a long list – but a small rotation of alternatives, fit for various occasions – this is what every strong writer needs.

The quickest and easiest way to improve your writing is to identify better ways to say this shows and to correlate each with your tone and evidence. For formal writing use terms such as “indicates” or “demonstrates. In casual writing, use “tells us” or “means. Strong evidence results in ‘proves’ or ‘confirms’. Early or uncertain evidence should be accompanied by ‘suggests’ or ‘points to’.

Have the comparison table on hand. Use it while editing, not when drafting. Write the first draft quickly, then change some of the repeated phrases during the second draft.

When you begin to use another words for this shows regularly, it is automatic. Your writing flows more smoothly. It’s not a template, it’s like a person speaking. It is that difference that keeps readers on the page.

FAQs:

Q: Can I use “this shows” more than once in an article? 

A: Yes. Using it once or twice is fine. The problem starts when it appears in back-to-back sentences or paragraphs. Aim for variety after the second use.

Q: Does Google penalize repeated phrases like “this shows”? 

A: Google doesn’t penalize repetition directly, but it does reward content that reads naturally and keeps users engaged. Repetitive phrasing can hurt readability, which indirectly affects rankings.

Q: What’s the strongest alternative to “this shows” for persuasive writing? 

A: “This proves” and “this confirms” carry the most weight. Use them only when your evidence is solid, not when it’s still early or uncertain.

Q: Are these alternatives suitable for academic essays?

A: Yes. Words like “indicates,” “demonstrates,” and “establishes” are standard in academic writing and fit formal citation styles well.

Q: How many alternatives should I keep in my writing toolkit?

A: Five to seven is enough. Too many options slow you down while writing. A short, reliable list works better than a long one you rarely use.

Q: Is there a difference between “this shows” and “this suggests”?

A: Yes. “Shows” implies clear, direct evidence. “Suggests” implies a possibility or early sign. Match the word to how confident your data actually is.

Q: Can I use these swaps in speech or presentations? 

A: Yes. Phrases like “this tells us” and “this means” work especially well when speaking, since they sound natural and conversational.