Hedging

You have probably heard the phrase “hedge your bets.” Hedging is what you do when you want to play it safe, and this goes for your essay-writing as well. However, playing it safe is rarely the right tact in an essay. In fact, when badly mishandled, hedging can devolve into a logical fallacy and destroy your paper.

Hedging Definition

In writing, hedges are words or phrases that express uncertainty.

“Probably” undercuts the much stronger claim that “it will rain today.” The word “probably” expresses uncertainty about the claim.

Although hedges are not strictly wrong, they are not strong arguments because they are uncertain. This is why they make sense for casual claims about the future, but they do not make much sense for formal claims in an essay.

Hedging Words List

Hedging language is cautious. Too much caution can weaken your point, making your writing vague and less impactful. Here is a list of hedges commonly employed:

• Believe

• Conceivably

• Presumably

• Perhaps

• Probably

• Possibly

• Maybe

• Seem

• Likely

• Suggest

• Think

These words weaken your argument, so consider whether it is truly important to include before you use one.

Hedging Expressions

As with single words, there are several expressions you can use to hedge your point. Anything that suggests either you don't know, or there is a possibility of doubt, is going to reduce the impact of your statement. Some hedging phrases include it looks like, it appears to be, it could be that, there is a chance that, and so on.

A few common hedging expressions are, according to recent studies, based on limited data, and in the view of many experts. These expressions all distance the writer from the actual claim.

Hedging Examples in an Essay

Your essay comes in three parts: the introduction, body paragraphs, and the conclusion. Here is how hedging should and should not be used in each area.

Hedging in your essay introduction

You should never hedge in your thesis statement. A thesis statement must be provable and disprovable. If it contains a hedge, it becomes a moving target. Here’s an example:

This is weak, because how does one prove what "one would think?" This is also very general. Here is a better thesis:

This thesis clearly explains that no books should be banned, not by anyone, not at any time.

Your thesis statement should be as specific as possible. Hedged phrases are always less specific than unhedged phrases because hedges create ambiguity.

Hedging in your essay body paragraphs

Hedges should not feature in the body paragraphs of your essay. Hedging in your body paragraphs is often a sign that your evidence is weak.

What does “probably” prove? Probably not much. If you are not confident enough in your evidence to include it without hedges, then you shouldn’t include it.

There's a time and place for everything

Although for many students, the opposite problem is true. Many students will present perfectly good evidence, and then hedge it just to be on the safe side. Don’t do this! Let your evidence speak for itself. You want to be confident in your essay.

Hedging in your essay conclusion

This is the one time for you to pull out your sheers and get to work on those hedges! In your conclusion, you will discuss other avenues for study and chance at future developments surrounding your topic. In this capacity, you will likely employ hedges to extrapolate how such things might affect your conclusion.

Your goal here is not to hedge your entire essay because you missed a lot. Your goal here is to explain in good faith how your conclusions might change, based on future research and developments. Ideally, this “future research” is not something you could have studied at the time you wrote your essay.

In a timed essay, use hedges in your conclusion to fill holes. There is no way you can cover an entire topic in 40 minutes, so use hedges to acknowledge any potential shortcomings in your arguments. Again, don’t employ hedges as an excuse to write a weak essay. Employ hedges to explore how a topic can be larger than one small essay.

Hedging as a Logical Fallacy

Hedging your essay is usually weak. However, it can tip into the territory of logical fallacy, especially when employed in your body paragraphs, which you should avoid at all costs. Using hedge words in a hedging fallacy can implode your essay.

Here’s how hedging can become fallacious:

In other words, hedge words can be used to make something appear like a concession when it is actually not. There are steps to this logical fallacy.

Hedging fallacy example

In the following example, follow the highlight. The pink highlight is the hedged answer (it features a bold hedge word), and the purple highlight is the key dismissal.

The hedged answer is a revised claim that the fallacious party makes. It features a hedge word or phrase to soften the original argument. This hedged answer is not sincere, however. The key dismissal is the indicator that the fallacious party is hedging. It is a phrase that dismisses the hedged argument and refers the other party back to the original argument, despite the fallacious party having conceded it already.

Hedged answers are easy to dismiss in this way because they are not strong and definitive. Middling claims are easier to shove aside than bold ones.

In the following example, Person A will be the fallacious party, while Person B will be the other party, their interlocutor.

“So at the highest level there might be some skill involved” is the hedged answer. It is a revised claim. “Might be some” is the hedge phrase that seems to shrink Person A’s stance.

At this point, all seems to be on track. It seems like the argument is continuing logically. However, that all changes when Person A introduces the key dismissal, the utter classic: but still. “But still” is short and unassuming, but the hedging fallacy impinges upon it. “But still” indicates that Person B should refer to Person A’s original argument, despite the fact that Person A has conceded their original argument.

There are some obvious problems with Person A’s logic.

The problem with the hedging fallacy

Here’s how hedging is illogical:

To concede an argument is to surrender that argument. Thus, to concede an argument and then to use that argument without surrender is fallacious.

In our example, if Person A had ended the discussion before adding “but still,” that would not have been a logical fallacy. In this event, Person A would have lost the original argument, but left the door open for further arguments.

Here is a way that Person A could have responded to Person B while remaining logical:

This argument probably won’t hold up, either, but at least Person A is trying to be logical. However, since the definition of “skill” is subjective, this argument will likely conclude with both parties agreeing that the skill it takes to play soccer is a matter of opinion.

Know when it's a fact and when it's your opinion