Meaning & use
hedge language
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountabletechnical
Words or phrases that make a statement less direct or less certain.
Grammar: Uncountable: use hedge language without an or an. For one item, say a hedge or a hedging phrase.
Patterns
- use hedge language
- hedge language in something
Academic writers often use hedge language to avoid sounding too sure.
The teacher explained that hedge language includes phrases like 'it seems' and 'perhaps'.
Too much hedge language can make your argument weak.
Common combinations
- use hedge language
- Good writers use hedge language when the evidence is not complete.
- avoid hedge language
- In a strong conclusion, avoid hedge language.
- a piece of hedge language
- 'Sort of' is a common piece of hedge language in speech.
Synonyms and how they differ
- hedging
- The more common everyday term for the same idea; hedge language is more formal and technical.
- vague language
- Focuses on being unclear; hedge language specifically softens or limits a claim.
- cautious wording
- A general phrase, not a technical term, for careful, non-committal language.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: hedge language or hedge fund?
hedge language vs hedge fund
A type of investment fund, not related to language. The word hedge appears in both but means different things.
Practice
In which sentence is hedge language used correctly?
Choose one answer.
Hedge language is an uncountable noun meaning cautious wording, so it fits in B. An and D treat it as a countable object or a spoken language, and C uses it as a verb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “hedge language”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.