Hedging Language

What is hedging?

Nature of writing.com -

• What is hedging?

  • To hedge means to waffle on an issue, to avoid committing oneself.

  • Originally, the term referred to literally hiding in a bush or hedge.

  • These days, it simply means expressing some feeling of doubt or hesitancy.

The following words are considered hedging language -

• often

• perhaps

• possibly

• predominantly

• presumably

• probably

• roughly

• seems

• admittedly

• appears

• around

• fairly

• likely

• may

• maybe

• might

• sometimes

• so to speak

• suggests

• think

• to some extent

• typically

• usually

Example -

• Look at the difference when we use hedging language.

  • With hedging:

    • "It’s possible that we may have vandalized the school property."

  • No hedging:

    • "We vandalized the school property."

Wendell's Comment -

• Hedging can hurt your communication.

• A speaker or writer could come across as timid and needs more confidence.

• Hedging can also clutter up your communication.

• A speaker or writer could come across as wordy and needs more clarity.

12/11/2022

Uncertain & Confident Language

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