C2 — MasteryRegister

Hedging and Emphasis

At C2 level, the challenge is no longer what to say but how strongly to say it. These words let you soften a claim, attach a careful condition, or commit to a position with full force. This control of register is what separates advanced English from truly precise English — in negotiations, academic writing, and difficult conversations.

14 words

Word List

Word	Phonetic	Part of Speech	Definition	Example
ostensibly	/ɒˈstɛnsəbli/	adverb	According to what appears or is claimed to be true, though probably not the real reason	He attended the conference, ostensibly for research, though everyone knew he was job-hunting.
purportedly	/pərˈpɔːrtɪdli/	adverb	As claimed by some people, without confirmation that the claim is true	The email was purportedly written by the CEO, but the awkward phrasing raised suspicions.
arguably	/ˈɑːrɡjuəbli/	adverb	Used to state that a claim can be supported with good reasons, while acknowledging that others may disagree	She is arguably the most influential economist of her generation.
tantamount	/ˈtæntəmaʊnt/	adjective	Equivalent in effect to something, usually something bad (used in the phrase 'tantamount to')	Ignoring the safety report was tantamount to accepting the risk deliberately.
unequivocal	/ˌʌnɪˈkwɪvəkəl/	adjective	Leaving no doubt; completely clear and without any ambiguity	The board's answer was unequivocal: the merger would not proceed.
categorically	/ˌkætəˈɡɒrɪkli/	adverb	In an absolute and direct way that allows no doubt or exception	The minister categorically denied that the figures had been altered.
caveat	/ˈkæviæt/	noun	A warning or condition that limits a statement or agreement	The study supports the treatment, with one important caveat: the sample was very small.
qualify	/ˈkwɒlɪfaɪ/	verb	To add conditions or limits to a statement so that it is less absolute	Let me qualify what I said earlier — the plan works, but only with adequate funding.
connotation	/ˌkɒnəˈteɪʃən/	noun	An idea or feeling that a word carries beyond its literal meaning	'Cheap' and 'affordable' describe the same price, but their connotations are very different.
deferential	/ˌdɛfəˈrɛnʃəl/	adjective	Showing polite respect for someone's authority or opinion, sometimes excessively	His deferential tone with the auditors bordered on the apologetic.
emphatic	/ɪmˈfætɪk/	adjective	Expressed with force and certainty, leaving no room for doubt	Her denial was emphatic: under no circumstances would she resign.
downplay	/ˈdaʊnpleɪ/	verb	To make something seem less important or serious than it really is	The company downplayed the data breach, calling it a 'minor technical incident.'
overstate	/ˌoʊvərˈsteɪt/	verb	To describe something as larger or more important than it really is	It is hard to overstate how much the new bridge changed the neighbourhood.
understatement	/ˈʌndərsteɪtmənt/	noun	A statement that deliberately makes something seem less significant than it is, often for polite or ironic effect	Calling the negotiation 'somewhat difficult' was quite an understatement.

Flashcards

adverb

ostensibly

/ɒˈstɛnsəbli/

Click card to flip

Definition

According to what appears or is claimed to be true, though probably not the real reason

“He attended the conference, ostensibly for research, though everyone knew he was job-hunting.”

Click to flip back

Card 1 of 14

Practice Exercises

1 / 7

If evidence is 'unequivocal', it is...