Source: wikibot/hedge-linguistics
= Hedge (linguistics)
{wiki=Hedge_(linguistics)}
In linguistics, a "hedge" is a device used to express uncertainty or to soften a statement, allowing for a degree of vagueness or tentativeness. Hedges can help speakers avoid making categorical claims, making their statements more polite or less confrontational. They can also signal that the speaker is aware of the complexity of the situation or the variability of the truth.