Snap Language

What is Hedging?

Hedging is a writing strategy used to soften your claims or statements rather than making absolute statements. It is used to reduce the chance that your readers will question your claims because there may be perspectives other than your own.

Even in science, you can never be 100% certain about anything unless you have years of data and scientific findings to back you up. If you write that “X explains Y,” you are expressing a great deal of certainty, which your readers may question. To soften the statement, you can use hedging and write one of the following instead:

• X may explain Y.
• X likely explains Y.
• It is conceivable that X explains Y.

• Hedging using modal verbs

• Without Hedging

  With Hedging

  For visitors using screen readers, you will first be presented with a sentence without hedging. Then you will hear a version of that sentence with hedging using a modal verb.

• Complete the first part of the essay by the end of the week.

  Students should complete the first part of the essay by the end of the week.

• This instructional approach is useful to people learning English as a second language.

  This instructional approach may be useful to people learning English as a second language.

• A lack of basic skills explains why students failed.

  A lack of basic skills may explain why students failed.

  (Also possible using the modal verb “might.”) A lack of basic skills might explain why students failed.

• Translating English into their native languages while they speak has a negative impact on learners’ speaking fluency.

  Translating English into their native languages while they speak may have a negative impact on learners’ speaking fluency.

• Members of European royal families suffered from various illnesses caused by inbreeding.

  Members of European royal families may have suffered from various illnesses caused by inbreeding.

• Hedging using verbs as qualifiers

• Without Hedging

  With Hedging

  For visitors using screen readers, you will first be presented with a sentence without hedging. Then you will hear a version of that sentence with hedging using a verb or a noun.

• The data show that there is a ninth planet orbiting the Sun beyond Neptune.

  The data suggest that there is a ninth planet orbiting the Sun beyond Neptune.

  (Another possible way to hedge this statement.) The data seem to indicate that there is a ninth planet orbiting the Sun beyond Neptune.

• This instructional approach is useful to people learning English as a second language.

  This instructional approach appears to be (or seems to be) useful to people learning English as a second language.

• Students from Ecks University get high-paying jobs right after they graduate.

  Students from Ecks University tend to get high-paying jobs right after they graduate.

• Hedging using adverbs as qualifiers

• Without Hedging

  With Hedging

  For visitors using screen readers, you will first be presented with a sentence without hedging. Then you will hear a version of that sentence with hedging using an adjective or adverb.

• The government’s policies will fail to reduce inflation.

  The government’s policies will likely fail to reduce inflation.

• Storms are stronger in the area due to climate change.

  Storm are stronger ni the area possibly due to climate change.

• This is the best solution to this problem.

  This is potentially (or arguably or seemingly) the best solution to this problem.

• Expanding your business in this economy is not a good idea.

  Expanding your business in this economy is not necessarily a good idea.

• Hedging using introductory clauses

• Without Hedging

  With Hedging

  For visitors using screen readers, you will first be presented with a sentence without hedging. Then you will hear a version of that sentence with hedging using an introductory clause.

• The data show that there is a ninth planet orbiting the Sun beyond Neptune.

  Based on the data, it is conceivable that there is a ninth planet orbiting the Sun beyond Neptune.

• This instructional approach is useful to people learning English as a second language.

  It appears that this instructional approach is useful to people learning English as a second language.

• Students from Ecks University get high-paying jobs right after they graduate.

  The statistical information suggests that students from Ecks University get high-paying jobs right after they graduate.

• This study shows that Americans are dissatisfied with the job the Senate is doing.

  Results of the poll indicate that Americans are dissatisfied with the job the Senate is doing.

• Hedging by distancing yourself from your claim

• Without Hedging

  With Hedging

  For visitors using screen readers, you will first be presented with a sentence without hedging. Then you will hear a version of that sentence with hedging by distancing yourself from the claim.

• The data show that there is a ninth planet orbiting the Sun beyond Neptune.

  Astronomers believe that there is a ninth planet orbiting the Sun beyond Neptune.

• This instructional approach is useful to people learning English as a second language.

  Based on the existing data, one can say that this instructional approach is useful to people learning English as a second language.

• This study shows that Americans are dissatisfied with the job the Senate is doing.

  Based on their study, researchers suggest that Americans are dissatisfied with the job the Senate is doing.

• This is a good time to invest in the stock market.

  One might suggest that this is a good time to invest in the stock market.

When Should You Use Which Technique?

There is no answer to that. What works best depends on the idea you want to express and on the structure of the sentence you are trying to hedge.

If you start out with a sentence that you feel may need hedging when you revise your work, you may find that all you need to do is introduce an appropriate modal verb in front of the main verb. Other times, you may need to rewrite the entire sentence. It all depends on the idea you want to express and the degree of hedging you judge to be appropriate.

In fact, you can even use multiple techniques in the same sentence though caution is recommended so you do not overuse it. (Refer to “Warning about Overusing Hedging” below.)

For example, you may start with this sentence,

Study participants were uncomfortable answering all the questions in the study.

You may use twp hedging techniques (introductory clause and modal verb) in the sentence as in

It is believed that study participants may have been uncomfortable answering all the questions in the study.

You could also add an adverb (“likely”) to it and end up with

It is believed that study participants may likely have been uncomfortable answering all the questions in the study.

This last sentence is not recommended.

Warning about Overusing Hedging

As you can see in the last example sentence above, you can overuse hedging. In fact, you can also overuse it by hedging too many sentences in your whole work.

When you overuse hedging throughout your writing, rather than perceiving you as cautious about making unfounded claims, your readers may perceive you as lacking confidence or being unsure about the topic you are writing about. Consequently, you should find a balance between making overly strong claims you cannot back up and hedging every idea in your writing.

Related Lesson

Learn more about modal verbs.