a useful introduction to …
a valuable and important study of …
an important and original work on …
an important contribution to …
a positive contribution to …
an important contribution to recent work on …
an important contribution to the debate on …
The study makes several or a number of important contributions to …
X’s seminal work on …
an authoritative study of …
X writes with considerable authority: she or he …
a comprehensive examination of …
a standard work
X’s classic study of …
X’s study is a textbook example of …
a valuable contribution to …
valuable in its own right
… is an achievement in itself
X’s work on … has come to be recognized US and GB or recognised GB as …
X’s work has had a profound influence on …
X’s contribution to … cannot be overestimated.
detailed knowledge of …
an in-depth discussion of …
a well-researched investigation of …
a thorough examination of …
a lucid explanation of or for …
a sophisticated theory of …
elegant prose
an elegant argument or model
Of particular interest is X’s finding etc. that …
a new and interesting observation
This is an interesting finding because it …
the study contains a number of new and important insights:
X and Y make a number of or several important observations
The authors attempt, successfully in my or our view, to …
X makes a number of valid points
X makes a strong case for …
X offers persuasive evidence for …
a strong argument for …
X’s examination of … is exemplary
X’s treatment of … is particularly interesting or compelling
X’s contribution to … is clear
X’s study illustrates …
X’s study clearly demonstrates …
X makes explicit the relationship between etc. …
X makes a useful distinction between … and …
As X rightly points out, …
X states, in my view correctly, that …
I or we share X’s view of or that …
It is possible to agree with X that …
We broadly agree with X’s interpretation of …
X highlights a number of problems in current theory
the main strength of X’s argument is …
the study breaks new ground
ground-breaking research carried out last century
The study is new in several respects:
the study will be of particular interest to …
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