Q. I'm doing research for a science class. I found an article that exactly supports the argument that I want to make. Doesn't it prove that I'm right?

Remember that science doesn’t “prove.”  Instead, it seeks evidence to support a hypothesis.
 

You’ll notice as you read research articles, that the authors will never conclude by saying, “Our results prove our hypothesis.”  Instead, they’ll make a statement like this: “Our results provide strong support for our hypothesis.”

Be careful to avoid trying to “prove” your points when you write for your classes.  Instead, look for evidence (from the sources that you find during your research) that supports your points.

Read more about how science works here.

For more writing help, visit the Scientific Writing section of Writing@APUS.

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