Cautious+Language+and+Generalisation

It is often believed that academic writing, particularly scientific writing, is factual, simply to convey facts and information. However it is now recognised that an important feature of academic writing is the concept of cautious language, often called "hedging" or "vague language". In other words, it is necessary to make decisions about your stance on a particular subject, or the strength of the claims you are making. Different subjects prefer to do this in different ways. [|(http://www.uefap.com/writing/feature/hedge.htm])
 * //__GENERALISATION AND CAUTION LANGUAGE __//**

// True in most cases // To tend (not) to do … (This is very common pattern in both written and spoken style) To have a tendency to do …(mainly used about people, rather than things. More common in written style than in spoken style) To be incline to do…(this is probably more often used to make critical comments) (Lecture notes, Couresepack number 2) // Uncertain generalizattions // I think but I am not sure – seem to do (unchanging habits) -seem to be doing (changing habits) -appear to do (unchanging habits) -appear to be doing (changing habits) -perhaps (Lecture notes, Couresepack number 2) //Phrases showing in how cases a generalization is true // a) In the vast majority of cases … In a large number of cases … In most cases … Generally (speaking) … + Sentense In some cases … In one or two cases … In quite a number of cases …

b) Only in a few cases … + sentence (Only) in very few cases… (with inversion of subject and operator) (Lecture notes, Couresepack number 2) // Modal verbs // Another way of appearing ‘confidently uncertain’ is to use modal verbs such as **may**, **might**, **could** and **can**. // Example //
 * In the case of younger relatives (e.g. cousins), it is possible that they have no knowledge of Cantonese, while older relatives (e.g. uncles, aunts) **may** feel more comfortable using their adopted language.

//Adverbs //
The following adverbs are often used when a writer wishes to express caution. || ** possibly ** || ** perhaps ** || ** maybe ** || || ** seemingly ** || ** presumably ** || ** conceivably ** || // Example //
 * ** probably **
 * ** apparently **
 * This finding is **perhaps** not surprising as census data indicate that the overwhelming majority of people in Hong Kong speak Cantonese (Cheung et al., 2003).

Adjectives
Another technique is to use an adjective. || ** possible ** || ** uncertain ** || ** unlikely ** || // Example // One **possible** factor behind the use of English in this situation is that their relatives live in an English-speaking country.
 * ** probable **

The following nouns are often used in academic writing: || ** possibility ** || ** assumption ** || ** evidence ** || ** likelihood ** || ** claim ** || // Example //
 * ** probability **
 * The **evidence** suggests that undergraduates rarely communicate with their parents or grandparents in English.

You can use an adverb such as: || ** largely ** || ** primarily ** || ** for the most part ** || || ** mainly ** || ** usually ** || ** to a great extent ** ||
 * ** generally **
 * ** predominantly **

// Example // You can use a qualifying expression such as **most** or **the majority of**.  // Example // You can identify exceptions by using expressions such as **apart from, except for** or **with the exception of**.  // Example // [|(http://elc.polyu.edu.hk/CiLL/eap/hedging.htm])  // Examples: // > The commitment to some of the social and economic concepts was less strong than it is now. > The lives they chose seem overly ascetic and self-denying to most women today. > Weismann proved that animals become old because, if they did not, there could be no successive replacement of individuals and hence no evolution. > Yet a recalcitrant trustee did not remain in possession of the property entrusted to him. [|(http://www.uefap.com/writing/feature/hedge.htm])
 * This **largely** stems from the fact that the provision of English-medium secondary education was limited in the 1940s and 1950s (Li, 2000).
 * ** The majority of ** citizens in the 60-70 age group are likely to have received only a Chinese-medium primary education (So, 1992).
 * In the intimate family domain, young people understandably have little need or desire to speak English, **apart from** special circumstances such as preparing for English language examinations.
 * 1) It may be said that the commitment to some of the social and economic concepts was less strong than it is now.
 * 1) The lives they chose may seem overly ascetic and self-denying to most women today.
 * 1) Weismann suggested that animals become old because, if they did not, there could be no successive replacement of individuals and hence no evolution.
 * 1) Yet often it cannot have been the case that a recalcitrant trustee remained in possession of the property entrusted to him.