Hedging language refers to how a writer expresses certainty or uncertainty. Often in academic writing, a writer may not be sure of the claims that are being made in their subject area, or perhaps the ideas are good but the evidence is not very strong. It is common, therefore, to use language of caution or uncertainty (known as hedging language).

Hedging verbs

The verbs appear and seem may be used to express uncertainty. Appear and seem can be used with existential clauses (the verb to be) to indicate caution.

• appear/seem to + verb
  • There appears to be a correlation between social class and likelihood of getting to university, 
• seem to + verb
  
  • It seems to be the case that non-native speakers of English rely more on the mother tongue.

The verbs appear and seem may also be followed by the subordinating conjunction

• appears as if/though + clause
  • It appears as if/though they had been working together
• seems as if/though + clause
  • It seems as if/though expeditions to Mars will be possible in the future.

Appear and seem can also be used with that + clause

• It seems that the scope of the native speaker in Korea is narrow and limited in the sense that the Americans are believed to be an absolute image of a native speaker.

A writer may also use reporting verbs to express uncertainty about a claim:

• Other studies suggest that using L1 supports the development of language acquisition. 
• Larsen-Freeman and Long (1991) argue that input alone is not enough for language acquisition.
• Liu et al. (2004) claim that around a number of students are expected to drop out of their  course early. 

Modal Verbs

A writer can also hedge their claims by using modals of uncertainty (may/might, could, can):

• Advocacy groups may ask an institution such as judges, politicians or scientists, to take on, highlight or, in the best case, show support towards their particular stance.
• A policy image might be fit into one venue better than another.
• In the 1950s, the American Government put forward a positive image of nuclear power as a new source of cheap and endless energy that could help reduce the dependence on imported oils.
• Policy actors can make use of scientific evidence to increase the legitimacy for their stance.

That Clauses

Writers may also express uncertainty using a number of that clauses. For example:

• It is clear that ...
• It is apparent that ...
• It may be perceived that ...
• It has been suggested/argued/claimed that ...
• It seems evident that ...

Adverbs

Adverbs may be used to express uncertainty. Note that these adverbs often go just before the main verb in a sentence. For example:

• All teachers were fully aware of the class being recorded, so they probably spoke more English than they usually would. 
• She argues that strategies of expansion do not necessarily have to involve authoritative institutions only. 
• There are always a number of issues which could potentially get onto the agenda.

A writer may also use a combination of structures:

• Research on the experiences of university students appears to indicate that social class is a determiner of participation in student societies.
  
• Early reports seem to suggest that a deal between the US and Iran may be signed before midnight.
• It appears that it may not be possible for all participants to be interviewed.