Hedging: Navigating Uncertainty in Academic Writing

Hedging in Academic Writing

Navigating uncertainty and expressing caution in scholarly writing

Multiple Choice

What is hedging in academic writing?

• The use of strong and assertive language to make definitive statements.
• The use of cautious language to express uncertainty or to qualify statements.
• The practice of plagiarizing other people's work without proper citation.
• The act of summarizing and paraphrasing information from various sources.

Modal Verbs in Academic Writing

Modal verbs are used in academic writing to acknowledge limitations and demonstrate critical thinking. They help writers express in statements, emphasize the importance of the topic, and provide evidence and support for arguments.

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of using modal verbs in academic writing?

• To express certainty and confidence in statements

• To acknowledge limitations and demonstrate critical thinking

• To emphasize the importance of the topic

• To provide evidence and support for arguments

Adverbs and adjectives

Hedging with adverbs and adjectives in academic writing helps emphasize the importance of research findings. They provide a balanced perspective and enhance the credibility of the writer's claims. They are not used to make the writing more engaging or interesting.

Multiple Select

What is the purpose of using adverbs and adjectives to express uncertainty and caution in academic writing?

• To enhance the credibility of the writer's claims

• To make the writing more engaging and interesting

• To provide an unbalanced perspective on the topic

• To emphasize the importance of the research findings

Multiple Choice

Which adjectives are hedges?

• definitely, certainly

• potential, probable, possible

• maybe, possibly, probably,

• similar, clear, impossible

Multiple Choice

Which adverbs are hedges?

• potential, clear, straightforward

• definitive, probable, highly

• incredibly, amazingly, poorly

• likely, probably, possibly

Hedging with Nominalizations

• Nominalizations are nouns derived from verbs or adjectives.
• They can be used to hedging in academic writing by making statements less assertive.
• Examples: There is evidence instead of Evidence shows.
• Use nominalizations to express caution and uncertainty.

Multiple Select

What are nominalizations used for in academic writing?

• To express caution and uncertainty

• To make statements less assertive

• To navigate uncertainty in academic writing

• To generate evidence in academic writing

Nominalizations in Academic Writing

Nominalizations are used in academic writing to make statements less assertive. They help to soften the tone and express caution. By turning verbs into nouns, writers can create a more objective and scholarly tone. However, excessive use of nominalizations can make writing less engaging and harder to understand.

Multiple Choice

What verbs express tentativeness?

• suggest, include, claim

• indicate, seem, suggest

• can, will, shall
• indicate, foresee, acknowledge

Multiple Choice

What verbs express limited causality?

• cause, create, initiate
• prevent, stop, hinder
• appear, seem

• should, would

Draw

Underline the hedging expression in this sentence

Explanation Slide...

Answer: "may be necessary"

Draw

Underline the hedging expression in this sentence

Explanation Slide...

Answer: "often indicate"

Draw

Underline the hedging expression in this sentence

Explanation Slide...

Answers: "may not be" / "probably"

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