writing is the painting of the voice: Entry #11 Writing strategies: Hedging and boosting

The importance of hedging

Hedging → Used when we want to soften what we are saying.

Ex: Students arrive late for Monday morning classes. (overgeneralization)

Students tend to arrive late for Monday morning classes. (to limit claim)

Generally speaking, students arrive late…..

Students are likely to arrive late ……..

Examples from the video

Categorical: The issues highlighted in this study are applicable to all participating institutions.
Hedged claim: The issues highlighted in this study may be applicable to many participating institutions.
Categorical: Government support will assure the spread of knowledge and the skills necessary to use the internet to thousands of people in rural areas.
Hedged claim: Government support may help with the spread of knowledge and the skills necessary to use the internet to thousands of people in rural areas.
Categorical: The study proves the link between smoking and lung disease.
Hedged claim: The study indicates/suggests (a possible) link between smoking and lung disease.
Categorical: The number of unemployed people will continue to raise as the poor economic situation exists.
Hedged claim: The number of unemployed people will probably continue to raise as the poor economic situation exists.
Categorical: This (and subsequent) studies led to the conclusion that the GTP itself must be the elusive base and therefore the proposal of the GTP-as-base- mechanism.
Hedged claim: This (and subsequent) studies led to the conclusion that the GTP itself may be the elusive base and therefore the proposal of the GTP-as-base- mechanism.

In the previous pairs of sentences, we have categorical claims (a) and hedged claims (b). We can note how the degree of certainty in the "b" versions descends, as the enunciator takes a prudent distance from the statement. This can be done through the use of certain verbs, adverbs, or modal verbs, as the examples show.

Hedging and boosting