Take your IELTS answers to the next level with this technique!

“Hedging” is something that higher-level English users do naturally. Hedging language helps us express certainty or uncertainty. Still confused? Here’s what you do!

1. Add introductory phrases to make statements sound less certain.

Before your statement, you can use phrases like:

• I believe that…
• Some people consider…
• It is generally agreed…
• It is often assumed that…

i.e. Fast food makes you fat.
➡️ It is generally agreed that fast food makes you fat.

2. Use hedging verbs

We often use “tend to”, “seem to” and “appear to” to hedge our language.

ie. British people complain regularly.
➡️ British people tend to complain regularly.

3. Use modal verbs like can, could, may, or might.

i.e. Elderly people prefer relaxing at home instead of travelling to new places.
➡️ Elderly people might prefer relaxing at home instead of travelling to new places.

4. Use adverbs

Avoid using adverbs like “always” and “never”.
Instead, we can use: probably, possibly, generally, usually, frequently, often, occasionally, hardly ever, rarely

i.e. Teenagers complain about homework.
➡️ Teenagers frequently complain about homework.

5. Use quantifiers

Another useful way to hedge our language is to use quantifiers, like the majority of, many of…

i.e. Teenagers spend a lot of money on clothes.
➡️ Many of the teenagers that I know spend a lot of money on clothes.