Caution and hedging
Language for probability, limitation, uncertainty, qualification and appropriately cautious claims.
Areas within Caution and hedging
Academic writing
Vocabulary for analysis, argument, evidence and scholarly communication.
25 wordsAnalysis and evaluation
Words used to analyse evidence, evaluate quality, distinguish concepts and make critical judgements.
457 wordsEvidence and research
Vocabulary for evidence, sources, findings, methods, data and research claims.
299 wordsArgument and reasoning
Words for claims, premises, inference, justification, counterarguments and conclusions.
134 wordsCause, effect and change
Language for causal relationships, mechanisms, consequences, trends and change over time.
220 wordsComparison and contrast
Vocabulary for similarity, difference, classification, comparison and contrast.
129 wordsCaution and hedging
Language for probability, limitation, uncertainty, qualification and appropriately cautious claims.
141 wordsReporting verbs
Verbs used to introduce, attribute, challenge, support and interpret scholarly claims.
220 wordsEssay and argument structure
Vocabulary for introductions, development, synthesis, transitions and conclusions.
118 wordsQuantitative academic language
Words used to describe magnitude, frequency, distribution, association and statistical evidence.
181 wordsCritical thinking
Vocabulary for assumptions, validity, reliability, bias, interpretation, critique and judgement.
292 words120 featured terms
The database can contain more terms than shown here; this page prioritises the strongest mappings.
(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct; "lasted approximately an hour"; "in just about a minute"; "he's about 30 years old"; "I'v…
Apparentlyadverbunmistakably (‘plain’ is often used informally for ‘plainly’); "the answer is obviously wrong"; "she was in bed and evidently in great pain"; "h…
Apparentlyadverbfrom appearances alone; "irrigation often produces bumper crops from apparently desert land"; "the child is seemingly healthy but the doctor is…
Approximatelyadverb(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct; "lasted approximately an hour"; "in just about a minute"; "he's about 30 years old"; "I'v…
Aroundadverb(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct; "lasted approximately an hour"; "in just about a minute"; "he's about 30 years old"; "I'v…
At timesadverbsporadically and infrequently; "he was arrogant and occasionally callous"; "open areas are only occasionally interrupted by clumps of trees"; "t…
Believablyadverbeasy to believe on the basis of available evidence; "he talked plausibly before the committee"; "he will probably win the election"
Belikeadverbwith considerable certainty; without much doubt; "He is probably out of the country"; "in all likelihood we are headed for war"
Broadlyadverbwithout regard to specific details or exceptions; "he interprets the law broadly"
Broadly speakingadverbwithout regard to specific details or exceptions; "he interprets the law broadly"
By and largeadverbusually; as a rule; "by and large it doesn't rain much here"
Carefullyadverbas if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact; "she ventured cautiously downstairs"; "they handled the incident with kid gloves"
Carefulnessnounthe trait of being cautious; being attentive to possible danger; "a man of caution"
Cautionnounthe trait of being cautious; being attentive to possible danger; "a man of caution"
Cautiouslyadverbas if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact; "she ventured cautiously downstairs"; "they handled the incident with kid gloves"
Cautiousnessnounthe trait of being cautious; being attentive to possible danger; "a man of caution"
Caveatnoun(law) a formal notice filed with a court or officer to suspend a proceeding until filer is given a hearing; "a caveat filed against the probate…
Close toadverb(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct; "lasted approximately an hour"; "in just about a minute"; "he's about 30 years old"; "I'v…
Commonlyadverbunder normal conditions; "usually she was late"
Comparativelyadverbin a relative manner; by comparison to something else; "the situation is relatively calm now"
Constraintnounthe act of constraining; the threat or use of force to control the thoughts or behavior of others
Crediblyadverbeasy to believe on the basis of available evidence; "he talked plausibly before the committee"; "he will probably win the election"
Evidentlyadverbunmistakably (‘plain’ is often used informally for ‘plainly’); "the answer is obviously wrong"; "she was in bed and evidently in great pain"; "h…
From time to timeadverbsporadically and infrequently; "he was arrogant and occasionally callous"; "open areas are only occasionally interrupted by clumps of trees"; "t…
Generallyadverbusually; as a rule; "by and large it doesn't rain much here"
Generallyadverbwithout regard to specific details or exceptions; "he interprets the law broadly"
In all likelihoodadverbwith considerable certainty; without much doubt; "He is probably out of the country"; "in all likelihood we are headed for war"
In all probabilityadverbwith considerable certainty; without much doubt; "He is probably out of the country"; "in all likelihood we are headed for war"
In partadverbto some extent; in some degree; not wholly; "I felt partly to blame"; "He was partially paralyzed"
Just aboutadverb(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct; "lasted approximately an hour"; "in just about a minute"; "he's about 30 years old"; "I'v…
Likelyadverbwith considerable certainty; without much doubt; "He is probably out of the country"; "in all likelihood we are headed for war"
Limitnounthe greatest amount of something that is possible or allowed; "there are limits on the amount you can bet"; "it is growing rapidly with no limit…
Limitationnounthe greatest amount of something that is possible or allowed; "there are limits on the amount you can bet"; "it is growing rapidly with no limit…
Looselyadverbwithout regard to specific details or exceptions; "he interprets the law broadly"
Makingnounan attribute that must be met or complied with and that fits a person for something; "her qualifications for the job are excellent"; "one of the…
Manifestlyadverbunmistakably (‘plain’ is often used informally for ‘plainly’); "the answer is obviously wrong"; "she was in bed and evidently in great pain"; "h…
More often than notadverbusually; as a rule; "by and large it doesn't rain much here"
More or lessadverb(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct; "lasted approximately an hour"; "in just about a minute"; "he's about 30 years old"; "I'v…
Mostlyadverbusually; as a rule; "by and large it doesn't rain much here"
Normallyadverbunder normal conditions; "usually she was late"
Now and againadverbsporadically and infrequently; "he was arrogant and occasionally callous"; "open areas are only occasionally interrupted by clumps of trees"; "t…
Now and thenadverbsporadically and infrequently; "he was arrogant and occasionally callous"; "open areas are only occasionally interrupted by clumps of trees"; "t…
Obviouslyadverbunmistakably (‘plain’ is often used informally for ‘plainly’); "the answer is obviously wrong"; "she was in bed and evidently in great pain"; "h…
Occasionallyadverbsporadically and infrequently; "he was arrogant and occasionally callous"; "open areas are only occasionally interrupted by clumps of trees"; "t…
On occasionadverbsporadically and infrequently; "he was arrogant and occasionally callous"; "open areas are only occasionally interrupted by clumps of trees"; "t…
On the face of itadverbfrom appearances alone; "irrigation often produces bumper crops from apparently desert land"; "the child is seemingly healthy but the doctor is…
Once in a whileadverbsporadically and infrequently; "he was arrogant and occasionally callous"; "open areas are only occasionally interrupted by clumps of trees"; "t…
Or soadverb(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct; "lasted approximately an hour"; "in just about a minute"; "he's about 30 years old"; "I'v…
Ordinarilyadverbunder normal conditions; "usually she was late"
Ostensiblyadverbfrom appearances alone; "irrigation often produces bumper crops from apparently desert land"; "the child is seemingly healthy but the doctor is…
Partadverbto some extent; in some degree; not wholly; "I felt partly to blame"; "He was partially paralyzed"
Partiallyadverbto some extent; in some degree; not wholly; "I felt partly to blame"; "He was partially paralyzed"
Partlyadverbto some extent; in some degree; not wholly; "I felt partly to blame"; "He was partially paralyzed"
Patentlyadverbunmistakably (‘plain’ is often used informally for ‘plainly’); "the answer is obviously wrong"; "she was in bed and evidently in great pain"; "h…
Plainadverbunmistakably (‘plain’ is often used informally for ‘plainly’); "the answer is obviously wrong"; "she was in bed and evidently in great pain"; "h…
Plainlyadverbunmistakably (‘plain’ is often used informally for ‘plainly’); "the answer is obviously wrong"; "she was in bed and evidently in great pain"; "h…
Plausiblyadverbeasy to believe on the basis of available evidence; "he talked plausibly before the committee"; "he will probably win the election"
Possiblyadverbto a degree possible of achievement or by possible means; "they can't possibly get here in time for the funeral?"
Potentiallyadverbwith a possibility of becoming actual; "he is potentially dangerous"; "potentially useful"
Precariousnessnounbeing unsettled or in doubt or dependent on chance; "the uncertainty of the outcome"; "the precariousness of his income"
Predominantlyadverbmuch greater in number or influence; "the patients are predominantly indigenous"
Preponderantlyadverbmuch greater in number or influence; "the patients are predominantly indigenous"
Presumablyadverbby reasonable assumption; "presumably, he missed the train"
Presumptivelyadverbby reasonable assumption; "presumably, he missed the train"
Probablyadverbwith considerable certainty; without much doubt; "He is probably out of the country"; "in all likelihood we are headed for war"
Probablyadverbeasy to believe on the basis of available evidence; "he talked plausibly before the committee"; "he will probably win the election"
Provisionallyadverbtemporarily and conditionally; "they have agreed provisionally"; "was appointed provisionally"
Qualificationnounan attribute that must be met or complied with and that fits a person for something; "her qualifications for the job are excellent"; "one of the…
Rarelyadverbnot often; "we rarely met"
Relativelyadverbin a relative manner; by comparison to something else; "the situation is relatively calm now"
Roughadverbwith roughness or violence (‘rough’ is an informal variant for ‘roughly’); "he was pushed roughly aside"; "they treated him rough"
Roughlyadverb(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct; "lasted approximately an hour"; "in just about a minute"; "he's about 30 years old"; "I'v…
Roughlyadverbwith roughness or violence (‘rough’ is an informal variant for ‘roughly’); "he was pushed roughly aside"; "they treated him rough"
Seeminglyadverbfrom appearances alone; "irrigation often produces bumper crops from apparently desert land"; "the child is seemingly healthy but the doctor is…
Seldomadverbnot often; "we rarely met"
Someadverb(of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct; "lasted approximately an hour"; "in just about a minute"; "he's about 30 years old"; "I'v…
Tentativelyadverbin a tentative manner; "we agreed tentatively on a dinner date"
Typicallyadverbin a typical manner; "Tom was typically hostile"
Uncertainadjectivenot established beyond doubt; still undecided or unknown; "an uncertain future"; "a manuscript of uncertain origin"; "plans are still uncertain"…
Uncertainnessnounbeing unsettled or in doubt or dependent on chance; "the uncertainty of the outcome"; "the precariousness of his income"
Uncertaintynounbeing unsettled or in doubt or dependent on chance; "the uncertainty of the outcome"; "the precariousness of his income"
Unremarkablyadverbunder normal conditions; "usually she was late"
Usuallyadverbunder normal conditions; "usually she was late"
With kid glovesadverbas if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact; "she ventured cautiously downstairs"; "they handled the incident with kid gloves"
Apparentadjectiveappearing as such but not necessarily so; "for all his apparent wealth, he had no money to pay the rent"; "the committee investigated some appar…
Appearverbcome into being or existence, or appear on the scene; "Then the computer came along and changed our lives"; "Homo sapiens appeared millions of y…
Appraisalnouna document appraising the value of something (as for insurance or taxation)
Approximateverbbe close or similar; "Her results approximate my own"
Arguablyadverbas can be shown by argument; "she is arguably the best"
Argueverbgive evidence of; "The evidence argues for your claim"; "The results indicate the need for more work"
Come alongverbcome into being or existence, or appear on the scene; "Then the computer came along and changed our lives"; "Homo sapiens appeared millions of y…
Come closeverbbe close or similar; "Her results approximate my own"
Estimatenouna document appraising the value of something (as for insurance or taxation)
Estimationnouna document appraising the value of something (as for insurance or taxation)
Frequentlyadverbmany times at short intervals; "we often met over a cup of coffee"
Indicateverbgive evidence of; "The evidence argues for your claim"; "The results indicate the need for more work"
Intimateverbimply as a possibility; "The evidence suggests a need for more clarification"
Likelyadjectivehas a good chance of being the case or of coming about; "these services are likely to be available to us all before long"; "she is likely to for…
Maynounthe month following April and preceding June
Mightnounphysical strength
Mightinessnounphysical strength
Oftadverbmany times at short intervals; "we often met over a cup of coffee"
Oftenadverbmany times at short intervals; "we often met over a cup of coffee"
Oftentimesadverbmany times at short intervals; "we often met over a cup of coffee"
Ofttimesadverbmany times at short intervals; "we often met over a cup of coffee"
Ostensibleadjectiveappearing as such but not necessarily so; "for all his apparent wealth, he had no money to pay the rent"; "the committee investigated some appar…
Plausibleadjectiveapparently reasonable and credible, and therefore convincing; "a plausible excuse"
Possiblenounsomething that can be done; "politics is the art of the possible"
Potencynounthe inherent capacity for coming into being
Potentialnounthe inherent capacity for coming into being
Potentialitynounthe inherent capacity for coming into being
Powernounphysical strength
Probableadjectiveapparently destined; "the probable consequences of going ahead with the scheme"
Probationaryadjectiveunder terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon; "probationary employees"; "a provisional government"; "just a tentative schedule"
Provisionaladjectiveunder terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon; "probationary employees"; "a provisional government"; "just a tentative schedule"
Provisionaryadjectiveunder terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon; "probationary employees"; "a provisional government"; "just a tentative schedule"
Seemingadjectiveappearing as such but not necessarily so; "for all his apparent wealth, he had no money to pay the rent"; "the committee investigated some appar…
Sometimesadverbon certain occasions or in certain cases but not always; "sometimes she wished she were back in England"; "sometimes her photography is breathta…
Suggestverbimply as a possibility; "The evidence suggests a need for more clarification"
Tentativeadjectiveunder terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon; "probationary employees"; "a provisional government"; "just a tentative schedule"
