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Hedging — "It Seems That..." vs "It Is Obvious That..."
The problem with certainty
French business culture values strong positions: il est évident que, il faut, c'est certain. English business culture is different — stating something as absolute fact when it's debatable makes you sound arrogant or naive. Hedging shows intellectual rigour, not weakness.
Hedging verbs
The data points in a direction — you're not claiming absolute proof.
Based on what you've seen — leaves room for other interpretations.
Hedging adverbs
Ceci est probablement dû à...
You have a strong hypothesis but acknowledge it's not proven.
Cela pourrait potentiellement impacter...
Flags a risk without overstating it.
Hedging frames
Limits your claim to what you know right now. If data changes, your position can change.
Acknowledges the limits of your knowledge. Sounds confident AND honest.
When NOT to hedge
Hedge claims and predictions. Don't hedge facts or commitments. "Revenue grew 15% this quarter" — no hedge needed, it's a fact. "We will deliver by Friday" — no hedge, it's a commitment. Hedging facts sounds evasive. Hedging commitments sounds unreliable.
Common mistake
French speakers often say "It is obvious that the market is growing" — too strong for a business presentation. If it were truly obvious, you wouldn't need to say it. Say "The data suggests the market is growing" or "All indicators point to market growth."