Hedged modal register

Article excerpt · target grammar marked

A heuristic may well feel like a rational decision from the inside, but it is a cognitive bias waiting to fire. The anchor — a random number — had silently colonised their judgement. One must surely pause at that finding.

Grammar Reference · Hedged modal register

may well / might

This heuristic may well explain most pricing errors. — hedged probability, academic register

could arguably / must

Loss aversion could arguably be the most studied bias. — invited reader agreement, journalistic hedge

cannot reasonably be

That objection cannot reasonably be said to lack merit. — diplomatic negation in formal writing

Common error

This must surely proves the theory. ✗ → This must surely prove ✓ — modal + bare infinitive only

01Exercise 1 — Form · Write the Correct Form

Hedged modal register

1.Loss aversion explain why people hold failing investments far too long.

2.Nudge theory be the most influential policy idea of the last two decades.

3.Anyone familiar with Kahneman's research be surprised by how irrational experts can be.

4.The framing effect have influenced the committee's final recommendation without anyone noticing.

5.That objection be dismissed as trivial, given the volume of supporting evidence.

6.Anchoring bias be more powerful in high-stakes negotiations than in everyday shopping decisions.

02Exercise 2 — Find and Correct the Error

find the error · rewrite the sentence

1.Bounded rationality must surely proves that humans are entirely predictable.

2.The nudge effect might conceivably being stronger in cultures with high conformity.

3.This finding cannot reasonably said to be a minor contribution to the field.

4.Kahneman may well have changes the way economists model human behaviour.

03Exercise 3 — About You

in your notebook

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

Hedged modal register01EnglishPlans.com