Hedging Language: When to Use It, and When to Avoid It

We all use hedging language, but we’re often not aware of doing it or even what it is! In this blog post, we look at what hedging language is, how to use it, and when to avoid it.

What Is Hedging Language?

Hedging language is language that is vague or cautious. We use it when we’re not sure of the accuracy of what we’re saying, or if we want to soften our words, make them less direct, or limit or qualify our statements and claims. We may even use it because we think it makes us sound more polite. In reality, it often makes us sound unsure.

Hedging Language Examples

There are some words and phrases that signpost hedging language. These are:

• Modal verbs: can, could, may, might, should, would
• Adjectives: possible, probable, likely, unlikely
• Adverbs: conceivably, perhaps, possibly, probably, usually, apparently
• Nouns: assumption, likelihood, possibility, probability
• Verbs: assume, believe, indicate, interpret, seem, suggest, suppose
• Introductory phrases: it appears that, it can be argued that, I assume, it’s probable that
• Vague language: about, kind of, sort of, feel, seems like

How to Use Hedging Language

There are certain subjects and types of media that use hedging language more frequently than others. For example, you’ve probably heard journalists making liberal use of the word allegedly.

Academic writing also widely uses hedging because it’s considered good academic practice. It allows researchers to be clear about what is fact and what is interpretation or hypothesis.

It’s likely that mass consumption is contributing to global warming.

The above sentence shows the researcher has made a connection between mass consumption and global warming, but they don’t have enough evidence to say that mass consumption is definitely contributing to global warming.

While hedging language is much more common in journalism and academia, creative writers are not immune to it. However, some writers use hedging language to show that one of their character’s traits is uncertainty. In this case, it’s actually useful.

How to Use Hedging Language in Blog Posts

When it comes to blog and article writing, consider the context. As highlighted above, there are some situations where it’s appropriate to convey uncertainty. These are as follows:

• You’re writing about a speculative topic or a topic where there is no definite answer. For example, if you’re writing a blog post about AI, it would be appropriate to say:

It’s unclear exactly how AI will impact the freelance writing industry. However, it’s likely that it will play a role in increasing the efficiency of professionals by allowing the automation of some tasks.

• You’re discussing different viewpoints on a topic where neither one is superior. For example:

While many people argue that editors should never work for free, others say that offering free sample edits is a great way to attract and secure new clients.

• You are writing about inconclusive data or research findings. For example:

The data suggests that getting less than seven hours of sleep per night reduces cognitive performance, although further research is needed to determine the true extent of this effect.

• You want to provide advice but respect the reader’s autonomy to make a final decision. For example:

Ultimately, you should choose the course that feels right for you. Consider your budget, your preferred learning environment, and how much time you can dedicate to learning.

When to Avoid Hedging Language

Hedging language words in themselves are not bad words. The problem occurs when we overuse them or use them to manipulate. Hedging language makes you look uncertain, unconfident, and sometimes even untrustworthy. Some people use hedging to hide their true intent, so we become suspicious if we hear people using a lot of hedging language.

Removing the hedging words/phrases will make your writing stronger. For example:

Hedged: I think we can do that by the deadline.

Un-hedged: We can do that by the deadline. 

The second example sounds far more confident!

When to Avoid Hedging Language in Blog Posts

Be careful when using hedging language in blog posts. When you introduce uncertainty into your writing, you reduce the likelihood of the reader trusting and engaging with your content. Clear, confident writing will reassure them of the validity and accuracy of what you’re saying.

By cutting out such language, you will make your writing more concise and easier to digest – ensuring you get your message across and keep the reader’s attention for as long as possible!

And it’s not just your reader you need to think about! Search engines favor content that demonstrates experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness (or E-E-A-T). If you use a lot of hedging language, you could negatively impact your search rankings, and, therefore, your (or your clients) marketing efforts. So, it’s a good idea to look at your writing and check for the words mentioned above. Think about how you can strengthen your writing by removing these words or rephrasing the sentence.

Becoming a Freelance Writer

Do you want to pursue a career in writing but don’t know where to start? Our Becoming a Freelance Writer course teaches you everything you need to know about writing professional blog posts and articles, including how to avoid hedging, overuse of jargon, and ambiguity. Try it for free today!