All of the above features seem to cover the main functions
of hedging in the text. However, when it comes to the
actual analysis, the above definitions can hardly be of any
help, since the distinction between a hedge and non-hedge
becomes problematic. In this paper I adopt the most
plausible and technically most viable interpretation of the
term taken from Crompton (1997). He defines hedging as a
linguistic strategy allowing the author to avoid committing
to the truth of a proposition. This understanding does not
contradict many other definitions or functions attributed to
hedging, like establishing the writer’s reputation in the
discourse community (see, for example, Hyland 1996).
Crompton also suggests a technique which helps identify
hedges. He claims that a proposition is considered hedged
only if the unhedged version does not change the propositional
content. The definition does not limit hedging to a closed
set of elements; it does, however, help identify hedges in
the text.