Hedge and weasel words

Words that soften, inflate or blur a claim, sorted by what they do.

These words change how firmly you say something. Each entry is tagged with what it does:

Hedges soften a claim: arguably, somewhat, it seems that. A careful hedge is honest when the evidence is uncertain. A reflexive one makes every claim sound unsure.
Weasel words make a claim sound supported without saying who supports it: some people say, it is believed that, studies show. Either name the source or own the claim.
Intensifiers try to add force and usually remove it: very, really, extremely, totally. “Very important” is weaker than “essential”.
Fillers add nothing: basically, actually, literally, just.

The list holds 141 entries, each with a short note. The editor marks them with a dashed purple underline.

Not every match is a mistake. In scientific and legal writing, a measured hedge (“the data suggest”) is often exactly right, and “very” is fine in speech and casual writing. The point is to notice each one and keep it on purpose. The guide Hedges and weasel words shows the difference with examples.

The list (141 entries)

a bithedgevague degree

a growing number ofweaselhow many? give the number

a little bithedgevague degree; usually removable

absolutelyintensifierusually unnecessary emphasis

according to someweaselaccording to whom?

actuallyfillerusually adds nothing

allegedlyweaselfine in legal reporting; otherwise vague

an increasing number ofweaselhow many? give the number

anywayfillerusually adds nothing

apparentlyhedgedistances you from the claim

arguablyhedgesay who argues it, or argue it

as a matter of factfillerwordy; cut it

as it werefillerapologizes for the wording; reword

as we all knowweaselunsupported claim of consensus

awfullyintensifierinformal emphasis; cut it

basicallyfillerusually adds nothing

believe it or notfillerspoken filler

certainlyintensifiercertainty marker that adds little

clearlyintensifierasserts clarity instead of showing it

comparativelyhedgecompared with what?

completelyintensifieroften redundant with the verb

critics sayweaselwhich critics? name them

deeplyintensifieroften unnecessary emphasis

definitelyintensifiercertainty marker that adds little

enormouslyintensifiervague; quantify instead

essentiallyfillerusually adds nothing

everyone knowsweaselunsupported claim of consensus

exceptionallyintensifiertells instead of shows

experts agreeweaselwhich experts? name them

experts believeweaselwhich experts? name them

experts sayweaselwhich experts? name them

extremelyintensifieroften overstates; let the facts speak

fairlyhedgevague degree; be specific

for what it's worthfillerundercuts your point

franklyfillerusually adds nothing

generally speakinghedgevague; give the exceptions

highlyintensifieroften vague; quantify instead

honestlyfillerimplies you lie otherwise

hugelyintensifiervague; quantify instead

i believehedgeusually implied; state the point

i feelhedgeusually implied; state the point

i guesshedgesounds unsure; commit or explain

i meanfillerspoken filler

i supposehedgesounds unsure; commit or explain

i thinkhedgeusually implied; state the point

if you willfillerapologizes for the wording; reword

in a sensehedgevague qualifier

in essencefillerusually adds nothing

in factfilleroften removable

in my humble opinionhedgeusually implied; false modesty

in my opinionhedgeusually implied

in some wayshedgevague; say which ways

incrediblyintensifieroverused; rarely literal

indeedfillerusually adds nothing

it could be argued thathedgesay who argues it, or argue it

it has been saidweaselwho said it?

it has been suggested thatweaselwho suggested it?

it is believed thatweaselwho believes it?

it is commonly believedweaselby whom? cite it

it is generally acceptedweaselby whom? cite it

it is generally agreedweaselby whom? cite it

it is often saidweaselwho says it?

it is reported thatweaselwho reported it?

it is said thatweaselwho says it?

it is thought thatweaselwho thinks it?

it is well known thatweaselknown by whom? cite it

it is widely believedweaselby whom? cite it

it may be thathedgewordy hedge; say perhaps or commit

it might be thathedgewordy hedge; say perhaps or commit

it seemshedgeweak; state it or give the evidence

it would seemhedgeweak; state it or give the evidence

justfilleroften removable

kind ofhedgevague; say what it is

literallyintensifieroften misused for figuratively

many believeweaselwho believes it?

many people believeweaselwho believes it?

many sayweaselwho says it?

many would argueweaselwho argues it?

may or may nothedgesays nothing; commit or explain

maybehedgeweakens the claim; commit or explain doubt

mistakes were madeweaselhides who made them

more or lesshedgevague; be specific

most people agreeweaselunsupported claim of consensus

observers sayweaselwhich observers?

obviouslyintensifiermay talk down to readers

of coursefillermay talk down to readers

particularlyintensifieroften removable

per sefilleroften misused; usually removable

perhapshedgeweakens the claim; commit or explain doubt

possiblyhedgeweakens the claim

practicallyhedgevague; say what is missing

presumablyhedgeweak claim; give the reason

pretty muchhedgeinformal hedge; be specific

probablyhedgefine if you mean it; otherwise cut

quitehedgevague degree; be specific

ratherhedgesoftens without saying how much

reallyintensifierusually filler; cut or use a precise word

relativelyhedgerelative to what?

remarkablyintensifiertells instead of shows

reportedlyweaselreported by whom?

research showsweaselwhich research? cite it

research suggestsweaselwhich research? cite it

scientists sayweaselwhich scientists? name them

seeminglyhedgedistances you from the claim

seriouslyintensifierinformal emphasis

simplyfilleroften removable; may talk down

so muchintensifiervague emphasis

so to speakfillerapologizes for the wording; reword

some argueweaselwho argues it?

some people sayweaselwho says it?

some sayweaselwho says it?

some would argueweaselwho argues it?

somehowhedgevague; explain how

somewhathedgevague degree; be specific

sort ofhedgevague; say what it is

sources sayweaselwhich sources?

studies have shownweaselwhich studies? cite them

studies showweaselwhich studies? cite them

superintensifierinformal emphasis

supposedlyhedgedistances you from the claim

tend tohedgefine if true; otherwise vague

tends tohedgefine if true; otherwise vague

terriblyintensifierinformal emphasis; cut it

the thing isfillerspoken filler; start with the point

there is evidence thatweaselwhat evidence? cite it

they sayweaselwho says it?

to a certain extenthedgevague; say how much

to be honestfillerimplies you lie otherwise

to some degreehedgevague; say how much

to some extenthedgevague; say how much

to tell the truthfillerimplies you lie otherwise

totallyintensifierusually unnecessary emphasis

tremendouslyintensifieroverstates; quantify instead

trulyintensifiersincerity marker that adds little

truth be toldfillerimplies you lie otherwise

undoubtedlyintensifierasserts certainty without evidence

utterlyintensifierusually unnecessary emphasis

veryintensifierrarely adds meaning; pick a stronger word

virtuallyhedgevague; say what is missing

whatsoeverfillerusually unnecessary emphasis

you knowfillerspoken filler