Useful Expressions and Transitions for Debating

Agreeing and Disagreeing

·       That doesn’t take away from the fact that...

·       That’s beside the point.

·       With all due respect...

·       I agree with you there.

·       I agree with ---- (name).

·       I see your point, but...

·       That may be true, but...

·       We’re going to have to agree to disagree.

·       I get/see where you’re coming from, but...

·       I’m afraid I disagree entirely.

·       I’m afraid I’d have to disagree.

·       I agree to some extent, but...

·       I disagree with you there.

·       Pardon me for disagreeing, but...

Interrupting / Asking to Contribute

·       I hate to interrupt, but...

·       If I may come in here...

·       I’d like to add something.

·       Would you like to contribute something?

·       I’d like to raise a point.

·       If I could speak for a moment...

·       I’d like to cut in here.

·       You haven’t answered my question.

Persuading

·       Can you see where I’m coming from?

·       I challenge you to give this a try/chance.

·       I want you to see it my way.

·       Put yourself in my shoes.

·       Am I getting through to you?

Expressing an Opinion

• In my honest opinion...

• It is my belief that...
• From my experience...
• From where I look at it...

Clarifying / Rephrasing

·       Let’s be clear here...

·       I think you misunderstood what I said.

·       What I said was... (repeat a point that was misunderstood or confused)

·       What I meant to say was...  (rephrase something in a way that is clearer)

·       In other words...

·       What I was trying to say before I was interrupted is that...

Summarizing / Concluding

• So let me get this straight. You think...

• To conclude...
• I’d just like to summarize by saying...

• Finally, I’d like to reiterate that...

• It’s time to take stock of what we’ve heard today.

• Both sides have some valid points.
• The stronger argument/team today is...

Taken from: https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/private/lesson/pdf_child_cad_version_file/1308/73_English-Globalization_Can_Student.pdf?X-Amz-Expires=300&X-Amz-Date=20170719T220705Z&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIAJRRPTS3WYYET4URQ/20170719/us-east-1/s3/aws4_request&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=ea6323839c023dd8f6b7266170865532a45e1657314250ce3640d972b18e8c59