Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Distance
Distance is a way of removing yourself from a strong - and possibly unjustified - claim. Compare
these sentences:
Consumers have less confidence in the economy.
Consumers seem to have less confidence in the economy.
Consumers appear to have less confidence in the economy.
It would seem/appear that consumers have less confidence in the economy.
An alternative strategy is to distance yourself from the data by showing in some way that it is
soft. For example:
The limited data available suggests that
fatalities.
In the view of some experts,
According to this preliminary study,
Based on informal observations made by police officers,
Weaker Verbs
Claims can be reduced in strength by choosing a weaker verb. Compare the following:
Deregulation caused the banking crisis.
Deregulation contributed to the banking crisis.
(stronger)
(weaker)
Combined Qualifications
Often, of course, several types of qualification are combined in order to construct a defensible
statement.
Here is an example, starting with a big claim:
The use of seat belts prevents physical injuries in car accidents.
Now see what happens when the following qualifications are added.
prevents reduces
reduces may reduce
+ in some circumstances
+ certain types of injury
+ According to simulation studies
(weaker verb)
(adding probability)
(weakening the generalisation)
(weakening the generalisation)
(adding distance)
So now we have:
According to simulation studies, in some circumstances the use of seat belts may reduce certain
types of physical injuries in car accidents.
This sentence is a nice example of the writer being confidently uncertain. (Of course you need
to be aware of excessive qualification since this may result in your saying almost nothing).
Qualifying Statements - Balancing Criticism with Praise
You can qualify your criticism by combining a positive and negative evaluation.
Tesdell
provides
a small
topic.
offers
minor
preliminary
interesting
relevant
important
Qualification
Probability Qualifications
There are several ways of expressing probability in written academic English.
1. Modals
Notice how the claim progressively weakens in these three sentences:
A reduced speed limit will result in fewer injuries.
A reduced speed limit may result in fewer injuries.
A reduced speed limit might/could result in fewer injuries.
2. Adverbs/Adjectives
In these examples, the phrases weaken in strength:
It
It
It
It
It
It
It
is
is
is
is
is
is
is
certain that/
very probable/likely that
almost certain that
probable/likely that
possible that
unlikely that
very unlikely/highly improbable that
There is
injuries.
There is
There is
There is
There is
A
A
A
A
reduced
reduced
reduced
reduced
limit
limit
limit
limit
Quantity Qualifications
A generalisation can be defended by qualifying the subject with quantity qualifications:
Generalisation - Consumers have less confidence in the economy.
Many consumers have less confidence in the economy.
A majority of consumers have less confidence in the economy.
In most parts of the country, consumers have less confidence in the economy.
A number of consumers have less confidence in the economy.
Frequency Qualifications
A generalisation can be defended by qualifying the subject with frequency qualifications:
Generalisation - Job prospects are worse for older workers.
Job prospects are generally worse for older workers.
Job prospects are often worse for older workers.
Job prospects are seldom worse for older workers.
The results indicate/establish that there is a link between smoking and lung
cancer.
2.
Table 9 suggests/shows that Venezuelan scientists may need help with writing
English.
3.
4.
The quantities displayed in the table have been assumed/shown to be about 98%
accurate.
5.
account.
Task - Weaker Verbs
Underline the verb making the weaker claim.
1.
The results indicate/establish that there is a link between smoking and lung
cancer.
2.
Table 9 suggests/shows that Venezuelan scientists may need help with writing
English.
3.
4.
The quantities displayed in the table have been assumed/shown to be about 98%
accurate.
5.
account.
Task - Weaker Verbs
Underline the verb making the weaker claim.
1.
The results indicate/establish that there is a link between smoking and lung
cancer.
2.
Table 9 suggests/shows that Venezuelan scientists may need help with writing
English.
3.
4.
The quantities displayed in the table have been assumed/shown to be about 98%
accurate.
5.
account.
The results indicate/establish that there is a link between smoking and lung
cancer.
2.
Table 9 suggests/shows that Venezuelan scientists may need help with writing
English.
3.
4.
The quantities displayed in the table have been assumed/shown to be about 98%
accurate.
5.
account.
Task - Weaker Verbs
Answer Key
1.
indicate
2.
suggests
3.
support
4.
assumed
5.
neglected
indicate
2.
suggests
3.
support
4.
assumed
5.
neglected
indicate
2.
suggests
3.
support
4.
assumed
5.
neglected
indicate
2.
suggests
3.
support
4.
assumed
5.
neglected