subclaim

A subclaim is a claim that supports or elaborates on a main claim in an argument or essay. It is a subsidiary assertion whose purpose is to build the overall case by providing reasons, explanations, or evidence connected to the main conclusion. Subclaims work with other subclaims and evidence to establish the thesis.

In logical argumentation, subclaims are claims that can be debated and supported; premises are the grounds offered to justify a conclusion, while subclaims are themselves arguments that may require their own support. In many writing frameworks, a main claim is supported by subclaims, each with its own evidence or reasoning.

Subclaims should directly support the main claim and be contestable. They can be explanatory, causal, evaluative, or descriptive in nature, and may be nested, with subclaims supporting other subclaims. They are distinct from counterclaims, which challenge the main claim.

Well-constructed subclaims are specific, clearly linked to the main claim, and backed by evidence or reasoning. In writing practice, outlining subclaims helps organize paragraphs and topic sentences and improves coherence. The term is sometimes used interchangeably with supporting or secondary claim, though usage varies by discipline.