Hedging: it would seem, tend to, appear to
It would seem that, people tend to, the results appear to show: making claims less absolute.
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Hedging means making a statement less direct or less certain. Careful writers hedge when the evidence is not complete, when they want to sound polite, or when they disagree. Distancing is a related idea: it shows that a claim comes from someone else, not from you. Both are typical of academic writing, reports, the news and polite conversation.
Direct | Hedged |
|---|---|
The results show that ... | The results appear to show that ... |
There is a problem. | There seems to be a problem. |
Young people prefer online news. | Young people tend to prefer online news. |
This is the reason. | This may be one of the reasons. |
He stole the money. | He is alleged to have stolen the money. |
Seem and appear
Seem and appear + to + verb, or It seems / appears that + clause, present something as how it looks, not as a fact. It would seem / appear that is more tentative still.
- The data seem to suggest a link between sleep and memory.
- It appears that the email was never sent.
- It would seem that the plan has failed.
- There appears to be a mistake in the figures.
- The patient seems to have recovered fully.
- Incorrect: The project seems being a success.
- Correct: The project seems to be a success.Seem and appear take to + verb, not -ing.
Tend to, be likely to, be inclined to
Tend to talks about what is usual, not what is always true. Be likely to gives a probability. Be inclined to softens your own opinion.
- People tend to overestimate how much they exercise.
- Students who sleep well are more likely to do well in exams.
- I'm inclined to agree with you.
- Incorrect: Prices are tend to rise in summer.
- Correct: Prices tend to rise in summer.Tend is a verb, so it doesn't need are.
Modals and would
May, might and could turn a claim into a possibility. Would softens an opinion: I would say, I would argue, I would suggest. It could be argued that and one might argue that present an idea without fully owning it.
- This may explain why sales fell in March.
- The change could have a negative effect on small firms.
- I would say that it's too early to decide.
- It could be argued that the policy came too late.
Adverbs and phrases
Single words and short phrases limit a claim: apparently, presumably, arguably, possibly, probably, seemingly; to some extent, in some cases, broadly speaking, on the whole; as far as I know, as far as we can tell, it is fair to say that. They usually go at the start of the sentence or before the word they limit.
- The new design is arguably the best on the market.
- To some extent, the problem was caused by poor planning.
- As far as I know, the meeting is still on.
Distancing: it is said, reportedly, allegedly
To show that a claim is someone else's, use the impersonal passive from B2, according to, or the adverbs reportedly and allegedly. Allegedly is used in news about crimes that have not been proved.
- It is believed that the painting was stolen in the 1990s.
- The minister is reported to have resigned.
- According to the survey, most people work from home at least once a week.
- The company reportedly plans to close two factories.
- The man allegedly threatened the staff with a knife.
Polite disagreement
In conversation, hedging makes disagreement less direct. British English uses it a lot.
- I'm not sure I agree.
- I would have thought the price was a bit high.
A polite way to say "I think the price is too high".
- That's not entirely true.
- Isn't it a bit early to decide?
Don't hedge everything
One or two hedges are enough. Too many make a sentence say almost nothing.
- It might perhaps possibly seem that the results could suggest a link.
Five hedges: the reader can't tell what you think.
- The results seem to suggest a link.
One hedge says the same thing clearly.