Hedging refers to the use of certain words or phrases to make statements less direct or less forceful. It is about softening language to imply uncertainty, politeness, or caution. By using hedges, speakers can express themselves in a way that is less likely to sound too blunt or aggressive, and invites others to join in the discussion.
Here are some common ways of hedging in sentences: 1. Using modal verbs of possibility such as can, could, may, and might
2. Using qualifiers - Qualifiers are words that either limit or intensify the meaning of other words. Using qualifiers allows you to express the degree of certainty in your ideas, from being 100% certain to being undecided. Qualifiers that limit or decrease intensity include slightly, somewhat, a bit, a little, just a little, kind of, sort of, rather, relatively, moderately, marginally, barely, etc. On the other hand, qualifiers that enhance or intensify meaning include very, really, a lot, a great deal, too, extreme/extremely, total/totally, complete/completely, exceptional/exceptionally, significant/significantly, etc. Qualifiers are used both formally (Early results suggest that....) or informally (I kinda believe more in X...) and in the case of hedging, it is the qualifiers that limit meaning that are particularly useful.
3. Using adverbs - A lot of the qualifiers mentioned above are already adverbs but here are other examples of specifically using adverbs to add subtlety your sentences.
4. Phrases
Why Hedging Makes Your English Better 1. It can make you sound more polite. Using hedges can make your language less direct and therefore more polite. This is especially important in English, where direct statements can sometimes come across as rude or too strong. By using hedging, you can avoid making statements that sound absolute, which can sometimes lead to disagreements or misunderstandings. For example, saying "I think we might need to reconsider our approach" is more polite than "We should change our approach." 2. It helps you to practice diplomacy. Diplomacy simply means dealing with people without offending or upsetting them. Hedging helps especially in situations where you need to give feedback or disagree without offending the other person. Instead of saying, "Your idea won't work..." you can say, "I'm not sure if this idea will work because..." or "This idea might not work because..." 3. It helps to express uncertainty without losing your authority. When you are not entirely sure about something, hedging allows you to express your uncertainty and still sound professional. This is useful in academic and work contexts wherein people have to be careful about the accuracy or information that they put out because it could seriously affect their credibility and reputation. For example, "Current research suggests that there might be a correlation..." shows caution and acknowledges the possibility of other interpretations. 4. It allows for flexibility in expressing opinions. Hedging allows you to state your opinions without appearing rigid or intolerant of others' viewpoints. This is helpful in discussions and debates where flexibility is valued. Saying, "It seems that this solution is more effective..." still leaves room for others to say what they think and to contribute other ideas that may be contrary. Hedging is an essential aspect of effective communication in English. It helps you to be polite, diplomatic, and cautious, making your statements sound more considerate and thoughtful. By learning to use hedges both in your everyday conversations and in formal discussions, you can improve your ability to express uncertainty, give feedback gently, and engage in discussions more effectively.
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