Hedging Language

Grammar Reference

Hedging Language — Exercises

Choose the most appropriate hedging word or phrase

1. The new policy _____ reduce unemployment, but it is not guaranteed.
   (may / will / proves) 
2. This is _____ the most controversial decision of the decade.
   (arguably / certainly / absolutely) 
3. The data _____ that further investment is needed.
   (suggests / proves / guarantees) 
4. There _____ to be a direct relationship between diet and performance.
   (appears / seems right / feels) 
5. It is _____ that climate patterns are shifting.
   (possible / obvious / definite) 
6. Stress _____ have a negative effect on productivity.
   (tends to / always does / must) 
7. The research _____ indicates that early intervention helps.
   (generally / definitely / absolutely) 
8. The results are _____ consistent with previous findings.
   (largely / entirely / totally) 

Rewrite the claim with appropriate hedging

1. Exercise cures depression.
   
2. Social media destroys relationships.
   
3. The new drug works perfectly.
   
4. Students learn better with technology.
   

Exercise three — Production

1. Write a hedged academic claim about technology, health, or the environment.
   

Hedging Language — Answer Key

Choose the most appropriate hedging word or phrase

1. may
2. arguably
3. suggests
4. appears
5. possible
6. tends to
7. generally
8. largely

Rewrite the claim with appropriate hedging

1. Exercise may help reduce the symptoms of depression.
2. Social media arguably has a negative effect on some relationships.
3. The new drug appears to be effective in most cases.
4. Students generally tend to perform better when technology is integrated into lessons.

Exercise three — Production

1. Open answer — graded automatically online; no single fixed model answer.