Hedging Language in IELTS Writing Task 2

In academic writing, especially in IELTS Writing Task 2, clarity and precision are essential. To express your opinion in a refined way while maintaining an objective tone, you should use hedging language effectively. This is a powerful tool to make your arguments more persuasive and credible to examiners.

In this article, IDP will walk you through what hedging language is, why it matters, and how to apply it to your IELTS essays.

Hedging language refers to cautious expressions that show uncertainty or avoid making absolute statements. In academic writing, being objective is crucial. Rather than stating something as an undeniable fact, hedging allows you to present ideas more reasonably and critically.

Example:

Absolute statement: Adults spend a lot of time reading books in their free time.

This generalization may not be true for all adults.

Hedged version: It seems that many adults spend a significant amount of time reading books in their free time.

This version sounds more balanced and credible.

Below are commonly used hedging words and structures:

• Verbs: believe, assume, suggest, imply, tend, argue

• Adverbs: possibly, perhaps, conceivably

• Modal verbs: can, could, may, might

• Determiners: many, a lot of, some, most

• That-clauses: it could be the case that, it might be suggested that, there is every hope that

Examples: Hedging vs. Absolute Language

Verbs

• Absolute: Urbanisation increases environmental degradation.

• Hedged: Many researchers believe that urbanisation contributes to environmental degradation.

Adverbs

• Absolute: Everyone agrees that social media negatively impacts mental health.

• Hedged: There is general agreement that social media possibly has a negative impact on mental health.

Modal Verbs

• Absolute: Climate change is the primary cause of extreme weather events.

• Hedged: Climate change might be a significant factor contributing to extreme weather events.

Determiners

• Absolute: Old people are not good at using technology.

• Hedged: Many older people appear to have difficulties using technology.

That-clauses

• Absolute: The new vaccine eliminates the risk of infection.

• Hedged: It could be the case that the new vaccine significantly reduces the risk of infection.

The key difference lies in certainty. Absolute language uses words like “will,” “always,” or “everyone,” which can seem overly confident or inaccurate. Hedging language, on the other hand, softens your claims and encourages a more analytical tone.

In IELTS Writing Task 2, hedging language plays a crucial role in meeting the Task Response criteria. Overgeneralizations or overly confident statements may limit your score to below Band 7. Using hedging helps you avoid this issue and shows better academic style.

Sample IELTS Essay Using Hedging Language

Question: Explain some of the ways in which humans are damaging the environment. What can governments do to address these problems? What can individuals do?

Sample Answer:

Humans are responsible for a variety of environmental problems, but it could be the case that we can also take steps to reduce the damage we are causing to the planet. This essay will discuss environmental problems and the measures that governments and individuals might take to address these issues.

Two of the biggest threats to the environment seem to be air pollution and waste. Gas emissions from factories and vehicles appear to contribute to global warming, which might have a devastating effect in the future. As the population grows, we are also producing more waste, which could possibly pollute rivers and oceans.

Governments could certainly make more effort to reduce air pollution. They might introduce laws to limit emissions or encourage the use of renewable energy. They could also impose green taxes. In this way, it might be suggested that people would be more likely to use public transport and reduce travel emissions.

Individuals should also be responsible for their environmental impact. They could use public transport, reduce packaging waste, and recycle. Most supermarkets now offer reusable bags and recycling points, making this more convenient. It is hoped that these actions will reduce waste in the long term.

Conclusion: National governments and individuals both have a role to play in protecting the environment.

Hedging Phrases Used:

• Verbs: seem, appear

• Adverbs: possibly

• Modals: might, could

• That-clauses: it could be the case that, it might be suggested that

Exercise 1: Rewrite the sentences using hedging language

1. Feedback from teachers boosts students' academic performance. ➡️ It is perceived that feedback from teachers can improve academic performance.

2. Most students find online learning more flexible. ➡️ Online learning seems more flexible for most students.

3. Cultural exchange programs improve students' understanding of diversity. ➡️ Cultural exchange programs are believed to improve understanding of diversity.

4. Many students prefer face-to-face interactions. ➡️ It is evident that many students tend to prefer face-to-face interactions.

5. Practice tests are essential for IELTS preparation. ➡️ It is generally believed that practice tests may play an important role in IELTS preparation.

Exercise 2: Identify the hedging language

1. Many researchers believe that climate change might have long-term effects. → believe, might

2. It could be the case that students perform better in groups. → it could be the case that

3. There is some evidence to suggest that online learning improves access. → there is some evidence to suggest

4. It seems likely that physical activity supports mental health. → seems likely

5. Some experts argue that AI may not create more jobs. → argue, may not

Master Hedging Language to Score Higher in IELTS Writing Task 2

Using hedging language allows you to avoid overgeneralizations and express ideas more professionally. This strengthens your academic writing style and directly supports a higher score in the Task Response and Coherence and Cohesion criteria.

Whether you’re taking the IELTS Academic or General Training, mastering hedging will make your essays more convincing. At IDP, you can practice with real computer-delivered mock tests to build confidence and refine your writing under exam conditions.

Register for your IELTS test at IDP today and unlock exclusive, limited-time offers. Let us help you reach your IELTS goals with confidence.