Hedging claims
May, appears to and suggests help match a claim to the strength of its evidence.
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Inversion for emphasis
After some initial negative expressions, including Never and Rarely, put the auxiliary before the subject.
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Cleft sentences
Use It was…that or What…is to focus attention on a particular element.
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Nominalisation
A verb can become a noun, such as decide → decision, for a compact formal style.
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Respectful critical evaluation
Evaluate the argument rather than the person.
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Synthesising sources
Synthesis is more than placing two summaries side by side.
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Adapting register
Formality and detail depend on audience and purpose.
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Precise qualification
To some extent, with the exception of and in principle can limit a generalisation.
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Handling challenging questions
Acknowledge the question, clarify what you can answer and respond with support.
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Writing a recommendation
Connect a recommendation to the problem, evidence and expected outcome.
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Interpreting survey findings · Limiting a claim to what the data supports
Limiting a claim to what the data supports in context, with bilingual examples and practice.
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Interpreting survey findings · Using suggest and appear
Using suggest and appear in context, with bilingual examples and practice.
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Explaining improved performance · Distinguishing association from causation
Distinguishing association from causation in context, with bilingual examples and practice.
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Explaining improved performance · Presenting an explanation as a possibility
Presenting an explanation as a possibility in context, with bilingual examples and practice.
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Offering a cautious forecast · Using likely and may without excessive repetition
Using likely and may without excessive repetition in context, with bilingual examples and practice.
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Offering a cautious forecast · Clarifying the assumptions behind a forecast
Clarifying the assumptions behind a forecast in context, with bilingual examples and practice.
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Phrasing a professional observation · Offering criticism without asserting motives
Offering criticism without asserting motives in context, with bilingual examples and practice.
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Phrasing a professional observation · Using seems to with specific evidence
Using seems to with specific evidence in context, with bilingual examples and practice.
Language learningOpen