Which phrase signals hedging in a results statement?

Which phrase signals hedging in a results statement?

• A. May indicate
• B. Proves conclusively
• C. Demonstrates definitively
• D. Shows are certain

Answer: (A)

Hedging in results statements uses language that softens the claim, signaling uncertainty rather than certainty. The phrase that signals this best is the one with may, which shows the result as a possibility rather than a proven fact. “May indicate” suggests the data lean toward a conclusion but do not prove it beyond doubt. The other options push the claim into certainty—words like proves conclusively or demonstrates definitively state a definitive outcome, while a phrase that asserts certainty leaves little room for nuance or replication.

Hedging in results statements uses language that softens the claim, signaling uncertainty rather than certainty. The phrase that signals this best is the one with may, which shows the result as a possibility rather than a proven fact. “May indicate” suggests the data lean toward a conclusion but do not prove it beyond doubt. The other options push the claim into certainty—words like proves conclusively or demonstrates definitively state a definitive outcome, while a phrase that asserts certainty leaves little room for nuance or replication.