Take your IELTS answers to the next level with this technique!<\/strong><\/p>“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!<\/p>
1. Add introductory phrases to make statements sound less certain.<\/strong><\/p>Before your statement, you can use phrases like:<\/p>
- I believe that…<\/span><\/li>
- Some people consider…<\/span><\/li>
- It is generally agreed…<\/span><\/li>
- It is often assumed that…<\/span><\/li><\/ul>
i.e. Fast food makes you fat.
<\/em>\u27a1\ufe0f It is generally agreed that <\/span>fast food makes you fat.<\/em><\/p>
2. Use hedging verbs<\/strong><\/p>We often use \u201ctend to<\/span>\u201d, \u201cseem to<\/span>\u201d and \u201cappear to<\/span>\u201d to hedge our language.<\/p>ie. British people complain regularly.
<\/em>\u27a1\ufe0f British people tend to <\/span>complain regularly.<\/em><\/p>
3. Use modal verbs<\/strong> like can<\/span>, could<\/span>, may<\/span>, or might<\/span>.<\/p>i.e. Elderly people prefer relaxing at home instead of travelling to new places.
<\/em>\u27a1\ufe0f Elderly people might <\/span>prefer relaxing at home instead of travelling to new places.<\/em><\/p>
4. Use adverbs<\/strong><\/p>Avoid using adverbs like \u201calways\u201d and \u201cnever\u201d.
Instead, we can use: probably<\/span>, possibly<\/span>, generally<\/span>, usually<\/span>, frequently<\/span>, often<\/span>, occasionally<\/span>, hardly ever<\/span>, rarely<\/span><\/p>i.e. Teenagers complain about homework.
<\/em>\u27a1\ufe0f Teenagers frequently <\/span>complain about homework.<\/em><\/p>
5. Use quantifiers<\/strong><\/p>Another useful way to hedge our language is to use quantifiers, like the majority of<\/span>, many of<\/span>…<\/p>i.e. Teenagers spend a lot of money on clothes.
<\/em>\u27a1\ufe0f Many of the<\/span> teenagers that I know<\/span> spend a lot of money on clothes.<\/em><\/p><\/p>
<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t