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Cautious or Hedging language is a language by the use of which an expression of certainty and uncertainty can be expressed. It is used in order to clear the difference between the opinion and the fact. Many times, in academic writing of the IELTS test, a writer is not sure of the claims he/she is writing. So, in order to support or write those claims, cautionary or uncertainty verbs are used and that is called hedging language. Hedging is the use of linguistic devices to express hesitation or uncertainty as well as to demonstrate polite indirectness. It is basically used to soften the statements and to avoid criticism for being overconfident.
● To ‘hedge’ means to use an intentionally ambiguous statement.
● To use vague language deliberately∙
● To avoid fulfilling or answering a question completely∙
● To use adverbial and verbal words such as can, perhaps, may∙ suggest, which deal with degrees of probability.
● To be confidently uncertain∙
In this particular blog, one will get to know about the hedging language and the words used to express that hedging.
Before learning about all the hedging words you need to know the reasons for hedging and why hedging is used in writing. Well, there are many reasons to hedge which are described as follows:-
1. By hedging, authors can write down their statements in such a way in order to reduce the risk of criticism. This technique helps to reduce personal accountability for the said statements. Here, scientific imprecision is focused upon and statements are written with ambiguity.
2. Writers want their readers to know that they do not claim the said statements to be true. It saves the writer from all the precision of facts that the writer is ambiguous about. That's why the words like may, seems to, can etcetera are used.
It can also be used to negotiate a representation of the facts or knowledge which is still under discussion.
3. Hedging helps to save the writer to be presented as a knower. It makes him/her appear to be humble and polite in its negative as well as positive claims. Once a claim becomes widely accepted, it is then possible to present it without a hedge.
4. Another reason can be that writers can't get an accurate knowledge of all the facts in all the subjects. So minor hedging has become a part of the writing academically. It has been inserted as an accepted writing style of language itself.
5. It also stops the reader from dismissing your claims or disagreeing with you as the statements are written in hedging language.
6. The hedging language makes you aware of the wide area of the topic. Maybe the fact in one area may not be true for another one. So hedging makes you write uncertainty with certainty.
Following are a few hedging words and phrases that can be used to write the uncertainties.
The verbs appear, tend to, seem, and look like uncertainty verbs. These are used with the to be a verb and that clause.
For example:
● He seems to be nice. (Not sure)
● It appears to be hot.
● It seems that you are not very interested. (Writer secured himself by saying it seems, not clear that one is interested or not).
● It appears that the weather will remain cloudy today.
However, to show the uncertainty of a claim, a writer can also use reporting verbs. These can be, for instance, suggest, claims to be, argues that, etc.
for example:-
● The above studies claim to be true but proper evidence is still in search.
● Some people argue that junk food satisfies taste buds and some suggest that these should be avoided.
● For instance, if people live in neutral families, a huge cut-off in expenses can be seen. (It is an example, also a modal verb 'can' is used to secure the writer.)
Another way to express uncertainty can be done through the use of modal verbs. These modal verbs are may, might, can, could, etc.
For example:
● It might rain today.
● You can have this sandwich.
● Could you please help me with my work? (Not sure about getting the help back)
It is important to understand the use of adverbs for IELTS, especially for writing and speaking tasks, in order to make your answers look more refined and experienced. Another probable way of expressing uncertainty is the use of adverbs in and as hedging language. These can be rarely, occasionally, usually, commonly, conceivably, probably, potentially, not necessarily, possibly, often, roughly, etc.
For example:-
● Youngsters usually prefer to eat junk food rather than homemade food. ( Here, the facts are not available but a statement is made)
● In our school, roughly fifty students have mobile phones. (Not an exact number but an uncertain one).
● Lizy isn’t our most punctual member of staff, she is often late for work.
● These days, the probable cause of rising in inflation is the effect of war going on.
● It is often thought that
● It could be suggested that
● It might be the case that
● It is generally agreed that
● It is (un)likely that
● There is a possibility that
● There is every hope/likelihood that
For example
● Email and social networking sites such as Facebook and WhatsApp have created online communities that are global in scale.
● It is generally agreed upon that online teaching will replace the traditional methods of teaching soon.
● There is a possibility that the war between Russians and Ukrainians will lead to a high rise in fuel prices. (Not sure as the facts are incomplete)
● many
● most
● the majority (of)
● several
● some
● a few
● a minority of
● a fraction of
● a proportion of
● in certain situations
● to some extent
For example
● People do their best in certain situations whereas they feel more comfortable in their comfort zone only.
● A minority of people think that technology has made their lives simpler and more comfortable. (Ambiguous as minority can't be defined)
● A negligible amount of money is spent on the purchase of television. (It can be used when the proper amount in a bar graph or line graph is not visible)
● quite
● rather
● somewhat
● largely
● mostly
● somehow
● in general
● as a rule
● approximately
● about
For example
● Many families of these younger generations like to live as neutral, somehow the view is opposite for a majority still.
● Inflation can be seen in general.
● Approximately half of the total sales arise from the sale of Air conditioners.
Now have a look at the two sentences written below:-
● Children living in poverty do poorly in school.
● Children living in poverty tend to do poorly in school.
Which sentence makes more sense. Well, both the sentences are written correctly but in order to reduce the risk of precision, the second sentence can be written with confidence.
Why? Well, can you give proof of all the poor children who do poorly in school? No study can collect the correct statistics for data about all children. So in order to cover that may be part, a verb 'tend to' is added in order to secure oneself from writing wrong but something right.
In order to secure the writer's credibility in the reader's mind, hedging language is used.
Hedging language is not much trickier but a minor understanding of the English grammar in detail. Using the above-mentioned words and phrases in IELTS writing and speaking tests will make you look clearer yet ambiguous in your claims. Use this hedging technique in your writing and speaking in order to secure yourself and do well in the IELTS exam.
Students can also enroll now in BDS Online IELTS Preparation Course today where you will get access to anytime/anywhere IELTS classes, with 400+ detailed video lectures, sample papers, and live classes by Dr. Roma. Candidates can also sign up for IELTS Dr. Roma Writing Templates + Cue Cards Course to get ready essay templates and solutions latest IELTS essay topics. So let's get started with IELTS writing practice.
Best of luck!
Dr. Roma
Content Writer