C1
Grammar
Academic English
Thailand

Imagine reading a research report on Thailand’s rapid growth in artificial intelligence that states: “AI will transform every industry in the country by 2027.” Now compare that to: “AI appears likely to have a significant impact on many sectors.” The second sentence is more precise — and, paradoxically, more credible. Welcome to the world of hedging: the cautious, measured language that marks academic English at its best.

At C1 level, hedging is not a sign of weakness or indecision. It is a sign of intellectual rigour. This lesson will show you the key structures, common categories, and the exact mistakes that Spanish-speaking learners tend to make — with examples drawn from Thailand’s fascinating story in education and research.

What is Hedging?

The Rule: Hedging = Managing the Strength of a Claim
Hedging means using language to limit the force of a statement — to show that you are presenting an interpretation, not a certainty. Academic writers hedge to reflect the limits of their evidence, protect their argument from easy dismissal, and sound appropriately cautious rather than overconfident.

Compare these two sentences:

The second version signals that this is a view based on evidence and rankings, not an absolute fact the writer is personally guaranteeing.

The Four Main Categories of Hedging

1. Modal Verbs

Modal verbs are the most flexible hedging tool. They sit before the main verb and adjust the degree of certainty.

Modal Certainty level Example
will / would Prediction / hypothetical This development would suggest a shift in policy.
may Possible (neutral) The findings may reflect broader regional trends.
might Possible (slightly more tentative) Thai universities might benefit from increased funding.
could Possible (conditional, or weaker) This could indicate a significant change in priorities.
should Expected / logical These results should be interpreted with caution.

2. Tentative Verbs (Reporting and Thinking Verbs)

These verbs frame your claims as observed tendencies or interpretations rather than proven truths.

Verb / phrase How it hedges Example
seem / appear Personal observation, tentative Thailand’s AI strategy appears to be well-structured.
tend to Pattern, not always true Research output tends to increase with sustained funding.
suggest / indicate Evidence points toward (not proves) The data suggest a correlation between investment and enrollment.
argue / contend Academic opinion being advanced Some scholars argue that tertiary enrollment alone does not measure quality.

3. Adverbs and Adjectives of Probability

These words slot into sentences to fine-tune how certain you sound:

Word type Examples
Adverbs probably, possibly, perhaps, likely, generally, apparently, largely, often
Adjectives likely, possible, probable, uncertain, apparent, potential

Example: “It is probable that Thailand’s tertiary enrollment will continue to grow.” / “This is likely the result of sustained government investment.”

4. Impersonal It-Structures

These put distance between you (the writer) and the claim, and are especially common in formal academic writing:

Structure Example
It appears that It appears that greater funding correlates with improved research output.
It is likely that / It is possible that It is likely that this trend will continue beyond 2027.
It seems that It seems that English-medium instruction is expanding in Thai universities.
It would appear that It would appear that the national AI plan has bipartisan support.
It has been suggested that It has been suggested that rubber exporters may face new market pressures.

Thailand in Focus: Hedging in Academic Contexts

Thailand is a compelling case study for exploring careful, evidence-based writing. It is the only Southeast Asian country never colonised by a European power — a historical fact that scholars frequently note when analysing the country’s distinct educational and political trajectory. The nation was known as Siam until 1939; its current name is often interpreted as meaning “land of freedom” in the Thai language.

On the academic front, Thailand has nine designated national research universities, including Chulalongkorn University (ranked 221st globally in the QS 2026 rankings) and Mahidol University (ranked 358th), which focuses on medicine and healthcare. The country has 151 higher-education institutions with approximately 1.5 million students enrolled as of 2024 and a tertiary enrollment rate of around 41%.

Notice how carefully the paragraph above is written. I avoided saying “Thailand’s universities are excellent.” Instead I anchored the claim to an external ranking. This is hedging in practice: let the evidence do the heavy lifting.

Thailand’s government approved a National AI Strategy and Action Plan (2022–2027), signalling its intent to position the country as a technology hub. In January 2025, the cabinet allocated 160 billion THB (approximately €4.2 billion) for higher education and science for the 2026 fiscal year — a 6.5–6.9% increase from the previous year. Such budget figures appear to reflect genuine political commitment to the sector, though long-term outcomes remain to be seen. Thailand is also widely regarded as the world’s largest rubber exporter, contributing roughly a third of global supply — a sector where research into sustainable agriculture may play an increasingly important role in coming decades.

Every italicised phrase in that paragraph is a hedge. Read it back and feel how the register shifts — careful, measured, academic — without losing warmth or clarity.

Limiting and Scope Markers

Hedging is not only about softening strong claims. It also includes scope markers that restrict how widely a statement applies:

  • in some cases / in certain contexts
  • to some extent / to a degree
  • in general / broadly speaking
  • under certain conditions
  • among some researchers

Example: “Thai higher education has improved in some respects, though to some extent challenges of access and quality remain.” This sentence is more accurate and more trustworthy than a flat positive or negative verdict.

For deeper academic writing, linking hedges to linking words of contrast (such as although, despite and however) is a key C1 technique for presenting balanced, nuanced arguments.

⚠️ Common Mistakes for Spanish Speakers

❌ “The data demonstrates clearly that AI will replace all jobs.”
✅ “The data appear to suggest that AI may significantly disrupt some job sectors.”
Spanish speakers often over-claim in academic writing, translating a confident style from Spanish (‘demuestra claramente’). In English academic writing, strong verbs like demonstrate and prove require overwhelming evidence. Prefer suggest, indicate, appear to show.

❌ “It seems that Thailand has colonized before.” (Wrong use — no past meaning needed)
✅ “It appears that Thailand was never colonised by a European power.”
Learners sometimes confuse seem and appear with the tense of the main verb. The hedging verb itself stays in present; the clause inside carries the tense.

❌ “May be, this policy is effective.”
✅ “This policy may be effective.” / “Perhaps this policy is effective.”
In Spanish, quizás/tal vez often begin a sentence — learners carry this pattern into English and write “May be, …” (two words) at the start of a clause. In English, maybe (one word) works at the start informally, but in academic writing, prefer perhaps as a sentence-opener, or restructure with a modal verb inside the clause.

❌ “The results can suggest a link.” (wrong modal for this context)
✅ “The results may/might suggest a link.” / “The results appear to suggest a link.”
Can expresses general ability or possibility; it sounds odd combined with reporting verbs like suggest or indicate. Use may or might for epistemic possibility (i.e., uncertainty about facts), not can.

❌ “It is possible to that this increases enrollment.” (word order error)
✅ “It is possible that this will increase enrollment.”
Learners sometimes fuse the structures it is possible to + infinitive and it is possible that + clause. These are two separate patterns. Choose one: It is possible to improve… OR It is possible that this will improve…

Example Bank: Hedging with Thailand

  1. Thailand’s tertiary enrollment rate of around 41% appears to be growing steadily, though full data from 2026 may not yet be available.
  2. Chulalongkorn University is generally considered to be the most prestigious institution in Thailand.
  3. The National AI Strategy seems to reflect a longer-term commitment to technological development rather than a short-term political gesture.
  4. It is likely that sustained investment in research will lead to improved international rankings over the next decade.
  5. Thailand may be better placed than some of its neighbours to develop a competitive knowledge economy, given its relatively stable political environment.
  6. The 160 billion THB budget allocation could signal a genuine shift in government priorities toward education and innovation.
  7. Thailand’s rubber sector tends to be underappreciated in discussions of the country’s economic strengths.
  8. It has been suggested that English-medium instruction in Thai universities might accelerate integration into global research networks.
  9. The data appear to indicate that Mahidol University’s medical research output has grown considerably in recent years.
  10. There is some evidence to suggest that Thailand’s AI ecosystem is beginning to attract international collaboration.
  11. It would appear that the partnership between Infineon and Thailand’s science ministry represents a promising development, though outcomes remain uncertain.
  12. Thai culture, which is largely shaped by Theravada Buddhist traditions, appears to value community and continuity — factors that may influence attitudes toward institutional change.
  13. The fact that Thailand was never colonised is widely regarded as a significant factor in the development of its independent educational system.
  14. Some scholars argue that access to higher education in rural provinces remains an area where further progress is needed.
  15. It is possible that the Loy Krathong festival and similar cultural celebrations contribute to community cohesion in ways that may be difficult to quantify.
  16. This could be interpreted as evidence of an emerging research culture at the postgraduate level.

Quick Practice Quiz

🎯 Five Questions — Check Your Understanding

  1. Choose the more appropriate academic sentence:
    A. “Thailand is the most innovative country in Southeast Asia.”
    B. “Thailand may be among the more innovative countries in the region.”
  2. Correct the error: “May be, this strategy improves outcomes.”
  3. Which word completes the sentence most naturally? “The results ____ suggest a link between funding and research quality.” (can / may / must)
  4. Rewrite this sentence using an impersonal it-structure: “Researchers think that AI will transform the Thai economy.”
  5. Identify two hedging devices in this sentence: “It appears that Thailand’s rubber exports have, to some extent, been affected by changing global demand.”
Answer Key

  1. B — The hedged version (“may be among”) is more appropriate in academic writing. Option A is an unqualified superlative with no supporting evidence attached.
  2. Corrected: “Perhaps this strategy will improve outcomes.” (or: “This strategy may improve outcomes.”) — avoid “May be” as a sentence-opener in academic writing.
  3. may — Use may or might for epistemic possibility. Can sounds unnatural before reporting verbs like suggest.
  4. “It has been suggested that AI will transform the Thai economy.” (or: “It is thought that AI may transform…”)
  5. Hedge 1: “It appears that” (impersonal it-structure). Hedge 2: “to some extent” (scope limiter / restrictor).

📚 Related Lessons

Sources
Chulalongkorn University QS 2026 ranking: alluniversity.info ·
Thailand higher education statistics (151 institutions, 1.5 million students, 41% enrollment): AECC Global ·
Thailand AI Strategy 2022–2027 & 2026 budget 160 billion THB: Vietnam+ (VietnamPlus) ·
Thailand never colonised, land of freedom, rubber exports: Encyclopædia Britannica — Thailand ·
Hedging language framework: EAP Foundation