Rhetorical terms · AP English Language, SAT Reading and Writing, ACT Reading
Concession
Concession: Acknowledging that part of an opposing argument is valid before explaining why one's own position still holds.
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What it means
A concession grants a point to the other side. It builds trust because it shows the writer is fair-minded, and it narrows the disagreement to the part that matters most. Concessions are usually followed by a turn, signaled by words such as but, yet, still or even so.
A concession is a strategic choice. It makes the remaining argument harder to dismiss.
Example
'Yes, the new library will cost more than renovating the old one. But the old building cannot be made accessible to wheelchair users without rebuilding most of it anyway.'
On the exam
In rhetorical analysis, explain why a writer concedes at a particular moment. In your own essays, a well-placed concession helps show complexity.
Lessons and practice questions
Related terms
- CounterargumentAn opposing view or objection to a writer's claim, which the writer may acknowledge and answer.
- RebuttalA response that answers a counterargument by showing it is flawed, incomplete or outweighed.
- QualificationLimiting a claim to the conditions or cases where it holds, making it more precise and defensible.
- EthosAn appeal based on the speaker's credibility, character or shared values with the audience.