Hedging & Discourse Markers

Article excerpt · target grammar marked

The round system tends to produce resentment. In theory, it operates as a mutual credit arrangement; in practice, someone always nurses a lager on their turn. As Austin-Williams puts it, agreeing the system before ordering removes the ambiguity.

Grammar Reference · Hedging & Discourse Markers

Hedging with 'tend to'

Use tend to to soften generalisations. These conversations tend to produce resentment. Avoids over-claiming.

Attribution: 'as X

Distance yourself from a claim by attributing it. As Holder puts it, money sits at the intersection of identity and value.

'In theory / in

Classic concession pair. In theory it is elegant; in practice, it breeds resentment. Sets up a real-world contrast.

Fronted stance

Ultimately, the conflict is about reciprocity. Fronted adverbials signal the writer's judgement or a concluding point.

01Exercise 1 — Form · Write the Correct Form

Hedging & Discourse Markers

1.These arguments feel like conflicts about money when they are really about fairness.

2. the round system is elegant; ... it creates resentment.

3. Larsgaard puts it, cheapness is saving money at someone else's expense.

4., what all these situations share is a question of trust.

5.She avoid the topic of money when dining with colleagues.

6. this is a simple matter of etiquette; ..., people find it deeply uncomfortable.

02Exercise 2 — Transform

rewrite with the new structure

1.These situations often feel like conflicts about money.

2.It is a simple rule, but people find it hard to follow.

3.Holder says money is connected to identity.

4.The most important thing is honesty with friends about budgets.

03Exercise 3 — About You

in your notebook

Personalise: complete five sentences about yourself using the target grammar.

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