Choose the words that best reflect how certain you are. If you are certain that something is true, you can probably state the facts in just a simple sentence following the basic pattern of subject + verb + object.
If you think something is true but cannot prove it beyond all doubt, your words need to reflect this.
If you have an idea about which you are uncertain, use an expression similar to one of the following.
Nevertheless, establish as much certainty as possible. For more examples of hedging as well as explanations of why it is best kept to a minimum, see Do not hedge to excess.
 | Specimen A never grows as quickly as specimen B. |
If you think something is true but cannot prove it beyond all doubt, your words need to reflect this.
| It is almost certain that specimen A can never grow as quickly as specimen B. This evidence indicates that specimen A will never grow as quickly as specimen B. It appears that specimen A will never grow as quickly as specimen B. |
If you have an idea about which you are uncertain, use an expression similar to one of the following.
| It is possible that specimen A will never grow as quickly as specimen B. It may be that specimen A will never grow as quickly as specimen B. |
Nevertheless, establish as much certainty as possible. For more examples of hedging as well as explanations of why it is best kept to a minimum, see Do not hedge to excess.
Universitat de Barcelona. Serveis Lingüístics
Darrera actualització: 6-4-2022
Recommended citation:
«Certainty and hedging» [en línia]. A: Llibre d’estil de la Universitat de Barcelona. Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona. Serveis Lingüístics. <https://www.ub.edu/llibre-estil/criteri.php?id=3379> [consulta: 23 novembre 2024].
