English for Specific Purposes, Vol. 16, No. 4, pp. 271-287,1997 Pergamon 0 1997 The American University. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd All rights reserved. Printed in Great Britain 0889.4906/97 $17.00+0.00 PII: SOSSS-4906(97)00007-O Hedging in Academic Writing: Theoretical Problems Peter Crompton Some Abstract-Recent studies of hedging in academic writing have argued for the inclusion of hedging in EAF’ syllabi but have not, unfortunately, worked from a common understanding of the concept. This paper reviews and evaluates some of the different ways in which the term hedge has been understood and defined in the literature. Although the use of hedges as a politeness strategy offers the fullest functional account of hedging in academic writing, there has been a tendency to extend the reference of zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSR hedge to politeness-related features of academic writing, such as impersonal constructions, the use of the passive, and lexis-projecting emotions. It is suggested that hedge is more usefully reserved for expressions of epistemic modality, or markers of provisional&y, as attached to new knowledge claims. It is further argued that it is not possible to designate certain kinds of lexis as epistemically modal and that authors can only be held responsible for modalizing, or hedging, their own propositions. A new definition of hedge, closely related to the ordinary definition, is suggested, together with a taxonomy of the hedges which would fit this definition so far identified in academic writing. 0 1997 The American University. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd Introduction Most recent researchers on the subject are keen for hedging to be included in EAF’ programmes (Hyland 1994; Salager-Meyer 1994; Skelton 1988a). However, as Hyland’s recent review of the literature puts it, “it is important to acknowledge differences between what is actually being measured” (p. 243). Unless or until a definition and a clear description can be achieved there seems little hope of studying or teaching the phenomenon consistently. Hedge as a linguistic concept was introduced by G. Lakoff (1972). As this concept is far from being clear, however, I would like to begin by reconsidering the ordinary use of hedge. Without having to concern them- Address correspondence to: Peter Crompton, The Barn, Castle Farm, Castle Bytham, Grantham NG33 4Rl, England. 271