Hedging in English: Language and Examples (C1)

What is hedging?

Hedging means making a statement less direct or less certain. We hedge when we are not 100% sure, when we want to sound polite, or when a strong claim could be wrong. It is very common in academic writing, work emails and meetings.

Remote work may lead to lower costs for some companies.

Compare: "Remote work leads to lower costs." This sounds like a fact for every company. The hedged version is more careful and easier to defend.

How to form hedged sentences

Hedging is not one structure. It is a set of tools. You can use one or two of them in a sentence.

Modal verbs

Modal	Example
may + base form	This may explain the delay.
might + base form	The price might go up next year.
could + base form	That could be a problem.
would + base form	I would say the first option is better.

Verbs: tend to, seem to, appear to

Structure	Example
subject + tend(s) to + base form	Prices tend to rise in summer.
subject + seem(s) to + base form	The new system seems to work well.
subject + appear(s) to + base form	There appears to be a mistake in the invoice.
It seems / appears that + clause	It seems that the meeting has been moved.

Adjectives: likely, possible, probable

Structure	Example
It is likely / possible / probable that + clause	It is likely that rents will increase.
subject + is likely to + base form	Rents are likely to increase.
subject + is unlikely to + base form	The store is unlikely to open before May.

Adverbs and phrases

Type	Words	Example
Probability	probably, possibly, perhaps	It's probably too late to apply.
Frequency	generally, usually, often	Buses are usually on time.
Degree	to some extent, to a certain degree, relatively	I agree to some extent.
Amount	in most cases, many, some	In most cases, refunds take five days.
Numbers	approximately, around, roughly	Approximately 200 people came.
Opinion	arguably, I would say, in my view	This is arguably the best café in town.

When to use hedging

1. When you are not completely sure

The parcel should arrive tomorrow, but it might be late.
The problem seems to be with the router.
It is possible that the file was deleted by mistake.

2. To soften opinions and disagreement at work

Hedging makes disagreement sound polite, not rude.

I'm not sure that's the best approach.
I would suggest moving the deadline.
It might be worth checking with the client first.
I see your point, but the budget may be too small.

3. In emails and requests

I was wondering if you could send the report by Thursday.
There seems to be a small error in the last invoice.
Would it be possible to move our call to 3 p.m.?

4. In academic and exam writing

In essays, strong claims need evidence. Hedging shows you are careful and fair. This is useful in IELTS and CELPIP writing tasks, university essays and reports.

Social media can have a negative effect on sleep.
It could be argued that public transport should be free.
Young people tend to change jobs more often than older people.
The results suggest that the new method is likely to save time.

You can also use the impersonal passive to hedge: "It is thought that ..." / "The house is said to be haunted."

Direct statements vs hedged statements

Direct (strong)	Hedged (careful)
This plan will fail.	This plan may not work.
Online courses are cheaper.	Online courses tend to be cheaper.
Everyone prefers flexible hours.	Most people seem to prefer flexible hours.
Prices will rise.	Prices are likely to rise.
You are wrong.	I'm not sure I agree.
203 people came.	Around 200 people came.

Direct statements are fine for clear facts: "Canada has ten provinces." Hedge when the claim is an opinion, a prediction or a general statement about people.

Common mistakes

1. Hedging too much

Wrong: ~~It may possibly perhaps be somewhat true that prices might rise.~~
Correct: Prices may rise.
One or two hedges are enough. Too many make you sound unsure or unclear.

2. Using -ing after tend to, seem to or appear to

Wrong: ~~Prices tend to rising in winter.~~
Correct: Prices tend to rise in winter.
"To" here is part of the infinitive, so use the base form.

3. Mixing up "likely" patterns

Wrong: It is likely prices to increase.
Correct: It is likely that prices will increase. / Prices are likely to increase.
Use "It is likely that + clause" or "subject + is likely to + base form".

4. Confusing "maybe" and "may be"

Wrong: ~~The train maybe late.~~
Correct: The train may be late. / Maybe the train is late.
"Maybe" is one adverb. "May be" is a modal + verb.

5. Mixing up "possible" and "possibly"

Wrong: It is possibly that the flight will be cancelled.
Correct: It is possible that the flight will be cancelled. / The flight will possibly be cancelled.
After "It is", use the adjective "possible". "Possibly" is the adverb.

6. Hedging clear facts

Wrong: ~~Ottawa may be the capital of Canada.~~
Correct: Ottawa is the capital of Canada.
Do not hedge facts that are certain; it makes your writing sound unsure.

Quick reference

Tool	Example
may / might / could	This could cause delays.
would	I would say it's too expensive.
tend to	People tend to spend more in December.
seem / appear to	He seems to be busy.
It is likely that	It is likely that we'll need more staff.
be likely to	We are likely to need more staff.
arguably	Arguably, it's the best option.
to some extent	I agree to some extent.
approximately / around	around 50 people
I was wondering if	I was wondering if you could help.

Common questions

Is hedging the same as being unsure?

Not exactly. Hedging shows that you are careful and polite. You can hedge even when you are fairly confident, to sound fair and open to other views.

Is "I think" a hedge?

Yes. "I think" and "in my opinion" are simple hedges. In formal writing, phrases like "it could be argued that" or "this suggests that" are often preferred.

What is the difference between "may" and "might" when hedging?

They are very similar. "Might" can sound a little less certain than "may", but in many sentences both are fine.

Practise next

Modal Verbs — may, might, could and would in detail
Modals of Deduction — how sure you are about the present and past
Impersonal Passive: It Is Said That — formal ways to report beliefs
Register: Formal and Informal Grammar — matching your style to the situation
Quiz: Modal Verbs — review the modals you use to hedge

Hedging Language