Grammar Worksheet — Intro
Hedging and Tentative Language
Explanation
Hedging helps writers avoid overstating claims, especially in academic or professional contexts.
Use modal verbs, cautious reporting verbs, and adverbs such as apparently, arguably, broadly, and relatively.
Hedging does not mean being vague; it means matching the strength of a claim to the available evidence.
Form
| Use | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Core form | Modal verb + base verb | The results may indicate a wider trend. |
| Variation | appear/seem/tend + to-infinitive | The policy appears to have reduced costs. |
| Advanced form | It + cautious passive/reporting phrase | It is likely that demand will increase. |
Use may, might, could, appear to, seem to, and tend to for cautious claims.
Avoid combining too many hedges in one sentence unless the evidence is genuinely weak.
Examples
- The results may indicate a wider trend.
- The policy appears to have reduced costs.
- This could explain the difference between the two groups.
- The data tends to support the original hypothesis.
- It is likely that demand will increase.
- The findings are broadly consistent with earlier studies.
- This may be partly due to regional variation.
- The evidence suggests, but does not prove, a causal relationship.
Common Mistakes
- The results prove that the policy always works. → The results suggest that the policy may work in some contexts. Use cautious language when the evidence is limited.
- This may possibly perhaps indicate a trend. → This may indicate a trend. Avoid piling up unnecessary hedges.
- The policy appears reduced costs. → The policy appears to have reduced costs. Use appear to + verb or appear to have + past participle.
- It likely that demand will increase. → It is likely that demand will increase. Use It is likely that...