在學術寫作中，每當闡述研究成果時，應該細心斟酌，使用“適度力道”表達觀點。這種軟化觀點的語言被稱為模糊限制語(hedging)。
一、模糊限制語在學術寫作中的作用
學術論文中，需要在現(xiàn)有文獻的基礎上闡釋研究成果。如果表達的觀點過于強勢，可能會招來他人的懷疑或攻擊。與之相反，過于軟弱無力的觀點毫無意義。因為，你的觀點受限于可獲得的數(shù)據(jù)量和研究范圍。
學術寫作中，基于證據(jù)提出的觀點，使用模糊限制語有助于提高其可信度。本文將節(jié)選一篇論文的不同部分作為實例，討論如何使用模糊限制語。
注：不同學科之間存在差異，自然科學的研究人員能夠根據(jù)實驗結(jié)果提出言之鑿鑿的觀點，而社會科學的研究人員則較難做到這一點。因此，為更好地展示模糊限制語的用法，本文以一篇社會科學論文為例(論文鏈接)。
二、在引言部分使用模糊限制語
(在引言的文獻綜述部分)回顧前人研究時可以使用模糊限制語。請注意下列論文節(jié)選段落中高亮顯示的單詞，以了解模糊限制語的用法：
The concept of perceived threat occupies a key role in the study of authoritarianism (Cohrs et al., 2005a, 2005b; Doty et al., 1991; Kossowska et al., 2011; Rickert, 1998; Roccato et al., 2014). One of the central issues in the literature concerns what kinds of threats are involved in authoritarianism (Duckitt, 2013, p. 2). While several studies contend(認為) that threats to normative social order activate authoritarian pre-dispositions (Doty et al., 1991; Feldman, 2003; Feldman & Stenner, 1997; Rickert, 1998; Roccato et al., 2014), others suggest(表明) that perceived threats to personal health or well-being are more consequential (Asbrock & Fritsche, 2013; Hartman et al., 2021; Hetherington & Suhay, 2011; …
三、在結(jié)果部分使用模糊限制語
在報告研究結(jié)果時也可以使用模糊限制語。在節(jié)選自同一篇論文的其他段落中，請注意高亮顯示的模糊限制語示例：
… There was some support for the conditional effect…
… but the conditional effects of primes were generally stronger for Republicans than for Democrats...
四、在討論/結(jié)論部分使用模糊限制語
在指出研究結(jié)果的重要意義時，模糊限制語的重要性不言而喻。因此，在闡述研究結(jié)果的廣泛影響時，可以在討論和/或結(jié)論部分使用模糊限制語。
請注意節(jié)選自同一篇論文的討論部分如何使用模糊限制語：
In addition, no moderating effect of threat primes on anti-immigration attitudes in the AZ-FL-TX sample was observed. There is some evidence from previous studies showing that public opinion on immigration or refugees remained unchanged in the aftermath of some terror attacks, suggesting that there may be limits to the influence of traumatic events, especially concerning attitudes that are already relatively stabilized (Silva, 2018; Van Asscheh & Dierck, 2019). In addition, high salience of threats observed among respondents in the sample may also be the reason for the lack of empirical support for the moderating effect of threat on anti-immigration attitudes (but also see Hartman et al., 2021).
以下為結(jié)論部分使用模糊限制語的示例：
The results contribute to the literature that underlines the importance of the authoritarian dynamic and threat perceptions in predicting support for extraordinary policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also present empirical evidence that both high and low authoritarians may be likely(可能) to support tough law and order policies and to some extent (在某種程度上)harsh punishments toward noncompliers depending on what types of threat are most salient to them.
模糊限制語常用詞
模糊限制語通常用到某些單詞和短語，以下是部分示例。
小結(jié)
論文的各個部分都可以使用模糊限制語。主要問題在于作者對其所表達觀點的確信程度。在表達觀點時盡量做到恰如其分，既不能過于武斷(尤其是在缺乏強有力證據(jù)的情況下)，也不能過于牽強。
