Lesson 57 – Hedging

Though NOT this kind of hedge!!   to hedge is to express something with reservation, not be too direct.

Let’s begin with some tips and advice

 

1. Hedging is used in both writing and speaking – it is a common feature of #academic’ language and means that we do not express our ideas too directly.
2. To hedge you will need to re-visit modal verbs as might, may, could etc.. are great ways of expressing ideas in a more indirect way They can be used to do this is speaking and writing.
3. In writing your don’t always have to hedge, you can make bold statements especially if you are arguing a point.
4. Sometimes it is better to use hedging language especially in cause and effect as you do not really know what an actual outcome might be – here is an example non-hedged "If we implement these measure then people will stop smoking". We can’t really know if this will actually happen so we hedge the idea – "If we implement these measures then many people may eventually stop smoking". Sometimes we don’t want to be too sweeping where we cannot really know the outcome.
5. When hedging you will want to avoid these type of words: undoubtedly, obviously, without a doubt, certainly, absolutely etc.. I am NOT saying don’t use these – you WILL NEED to use them in some sentences but not when you are being less direct.
6. You will need to use things like – it seems that… can be.., may/might be .., it is possible that…, there is a possibility…
7. You may also use words like arguably, to some extent
8. The reason you sometimes need to do this is that you may not be able to justify or prove the points you are making and the examiner might be looking for this proof in your writing or speaking – hedging simply presents the ideas or information as suggestions and you don’t need to provide the proof.
9. G.

 

If you don’t use English every day then consider finding a speaking partner here on Gapfillers. I asked you all at the beginning if you wanted to share Skype names but only 2 people stepped forward – this is an opportunity there are people on this programme who could be a speaking partner. Let me know and I can circulate Skype names (in this group only)

 

Key skills to develop:

 

Here is an example of an unhedged and then a hedged piece of writing about the same topic – the difference here is very obvious and somewhat exaggerated but it gives a good picture:

 

http://www2.elc.polyu.edu.hk/cill/eap/hedging.htm

 

Practise

 

• Look at IELTS reading passages and see if you can find examples of hedging – be aware of these in the reading questions – especially Y,N,NG and T,F,NG as heading language can often be the clue to the answer

 

• Practice softening statements using the words above in both your speaking and writing and see what the difference is

 

Here’s a little more about it with some examples of language to use:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/87208848/11/Hedging

 

Don’t forget, if there is anything you don’t understand or can’t find send a message via Contact us

 

---

Now let’s try some exercises

 

Here is a hedging exercise:

 

Just for fun – here’s another spelling bee!

 

http://www.gapfillers.com/spelling-bee-writing_1563_1566

 

Make sure that you find someone to practise speaking with THIS WEEK!

 

Tomorrow is catch up day – time to go over the lessons you’ve missed or relax and do something enjoyable in English!

 

Don’t forget, if there is anything you don’t understand or can’t find send a message via Contact us

Now you’re done!

Good luck and let’s make great progress with IELTS!