{"id":3307,"date":"2016-09-01T08:55:34","date_gmt":"2016-09-01T02:55:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/academy\/?p=3307"},"modified":"2023-12-26T19:36:58","modified_gmt":"2023-12-26T13:36:58","slug":"hedging-in-academic-writing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/academy\/hedging-in-academic-writing\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Hedging in Academic Writing?"},"content":{"rendered":"

In academic writing, precision and clarity in language is important. Ensuring a nuanced balance between certainty and caution can only be achieved by the strategic use of language; also called as hedging.<\/p>\n

What is Hedging<\/h2>\n

Hedging is the use of linguistic devices to express hesitation or uncertainty as well as to demonstrate politeness and indirectness. It holds significance in academic writing because it is prudent to be cautious in one\u2019s statements so as to distinguish between facts and claims.<\/p>\n

What is the Use of Hedging<\/h2>\n

People use hedged language for several different purposes but perhaps the most fundamental are the following:<\/p>\n

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  1. To minimize the possibility of another academic opposing the claims that are being made<\/li>\n
  2. To conform to the currently accepted style of academic writing<\/li>\n
  3. To enable the author to devise a politeness strategy where they are able to acknowledge that there may be flaws in their claims<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n