这些单词均有争辩或辩论的含义。argue为最常用单词，主要在于说服他人接受某项结论或支持、证明某项结论，其有时措辞较激烈，有接近争吵之嫌；argue也可指在法庭上陈述案情[1]。debate通常指正式的argue，双方陈述观点，过程受裁决人的控制，且按一定的规则进行，尤指议会对议案进行讨论等[2], 如：The House of Representatives debate the proposal for two days。dispute则常指感情多于理性的argue，且常带有一种派系观点[3]。reason多指谨慎和煞费苦心进行的争辩，目的在于劝导或作某课题上深层次的探讨[4]。

[1]“To give reasons for or against a matter in dispute; to present a case in court. ” Cf. Linda Picard Wood, J. D. Merriam Webster's Dictionary of Law, at p. 31，Memam-Web- ster, Incorporated Springfield, Massachusetts (1996).
[2]“Discussion leading to a vote, especially the discussion of a motion in Parliament. ” Cf. P. H. Collin, Dictionary of Law，2nd edition, at p. 153, Peter Collin Publishing Ltd. (1993 ).
[3] "Dispute，in this context, means to argue with more passion than logic, often from a factional point of view. ”Cf. The Editors of the Reader's Digest, Use the Right Word, at p. 20，The Reader's Digest Association Proprietary Ltd. (1971).
[4] "Reason means to argue or discuss in a careful and painstaking manner in order to persuade or explore a subject in depth. " Id. at p. 20.