Band 7+ 的 essay 有個共同特質——不說絕對話。
Everyone agrees that technology is good. Technology always helps students. No one believes that governments alone can solve this.
絕對化陳述聽起來有力，但 academic 英文覺得你沒查證——扣 Task Response。
解方：hedging language（緩和語言）。
Hedging 是什麼
在陳述前加不確定性標記——表示你知道這不是 100% 真理，但大方向如此。
學術寫作全部都在 hedging——studies suggest, this may indicate, it is generally accepted that。
5 個安全短語
背這 5 個，夠應付大部分 hedging 情境：
1. Tends to / is likely to
❌ Technology makes children lazy.
✅ Technology tends to reduce children's motivation for independent problem-solving.
2. In many cases / for many people
❌ Students find online learning effective.
✅ *For many students**, online learning proves effective.*
3. Generally / Broadly / Typically
❌ Urban children sleep less than rural children.
✅ *Generally speaking**, urban children sleep less than their rural counterparts.*
4. It is widely believed / It is generally accepted
❌ Everyone knows that exercise is important.
✅ It is widely accepted that regular exercise contributes to both physical and mental health.
5. May / might / could
❌ This will solve the problem.
✅ This may significantly reduce the problem, though other factors will also play a role.
Hedging ≠ 沒立場
重點誤區：很多學生怕 hedge 變成「沒立場」——不會。
- Hedge = 「大方向這樣、承認例外」
- 沒立場 = 「不知道 / 兩邊都對 / 沒意見」
對比：
- ❌ Maybe technology is good maybe not. （沒立場）
- ✅ Technology is, on balance, beneficial for learning, though not uniformly so. （Hedge 的立場）
什麼時候不要 hedge
一篇 essay 裡 intro 表態不 hedge——要強：
In my view, ___ is fully justified...
I firmly believe that ___...
body 裡的具體陳述才 hedge：
This approach tends to benefit ___, particularly in cases where ___.
Conclusion 也不 hedge——重申強立場。
範例對照
❌ 絕對版
Technology always helps students. Every child benefits from it. Parents who restrict screen time never get good results.
絕對詞彙多（always, every, never）——像廣告口號、不像 essay。
✅ Hedge 版
Technology tends to support learning, particularly when integrated thoughtfully. Most children benefit from it, although the degree varies significantly by age and usage pattern. Parents who impose strict screen-time limits may, in some cases, find their children disengaging from useful educational resources — suggesting that outright restriction is rarely the most effective approach.
一樣的立場，但客觀、細緻、Band 7+。
試試看
找你最近一篇 Writing。Ctrl+F 搜尋：
- everyone / everybody / all people
- always / never
- no one
每個出現的地方 → 換成 hedge 版：
- everyone → most people / a majority
- always → tends to / generally
- never → rarely / seldom
30 秒檢查，直接加 Lexical Resource 分。