Question

All of the following are hedge words except _____________.

1) certain
2) sort of
3) sometimes
4) kind of

Answer 1

The word 'certain' is not a hedge word, unlike 'sort of', 'sometimes', and 'kind of' which are used to express uncertainty or variability in statements, thus making them less assertive.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the context of English language and writing, hedge words or phrases are used to soften statements, making them less direct or assertive. They are often employed to introduce ambiguity or to express uncertainty. Among the options provided:

• sort of
• sometimes
• kind of

are all considered hedge words. They are used to make a statement less definitive and to indicate that the speaker is unsure, or that there could be variability in the response. The word 'certain' is not a hedge word; on the contrary, it denotes assurance and a lack of ambiguity. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is '1) certain'.