English for Writing Research Papers

9  Hedging and Criticising ............................................................................  133
  9.1  Why and when to hedge # ................................................................  135
  9.2  Highlighting and hedging ................................................................  137
  9.3  Toning down verbs ...........................................................................  138
  9.4  Toning down adjectives and adverbs................................................  138
  9.5  Toning down strong claims by inserting adverbs .............................  139
  9.6  Toning down the level of probability ...............................................  140
  9.7  Anticipating alternative interpretations of your data .......................  141
  9.8  Telling the reader from what standpoint you  
wish them to view your data ............................................................  142
  9.9  Dealing with the limitations of your research ..................................  143
9.10  Saving your own face: revealing and obscuring  
your identity as the author in humanist subjects ..............................  144
9.11  Saving other author’s faces: put their research  
in a positive light ..............................................................................  145
9.12  Saving other author’s faces: say their findings  
are open to another interpretation ....................................................  146
9.13  Don’t overhedge ...............................................................................  146
9.14  Hedging: An extended example from a Discussion section ............  147
9.15  Summary ..........................................................................................  149

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