Hedging & Weasel Word Checker

Confident writing states what the evidence supports, no more and no less. Two opposite problems get in the way. Too much hedging (“it might perhaps seem somewhat likely”) makes an author sound unsure even when the evidence is strong. Weasel phrases (“studies show”, “experts agree”) borrow authority without naming it. Intensifiers and vague words add volume without precision. This checker highlights all four so you can calibrate your tone.

Hedges

Hedges soften a claim: might, may, could, perhaps, possibly, seems, appears to, somewhat, rather, I think, likely, tends to. Used well, they signal honest uncertainty, and academic writing needs them. Used by habit, they pile up — “this may possibly suggest” — and undermine findings that deserve to be stated plainly. Look for stacks of hedges in one sentence first.

Weasel phrases

A weasel phrase makes a claim sound supported while leaving it vague: “studies show”, “research suggests”, “many people say”, “experts agree”, “it is widely believed”, “up to 90 %”. Wikipedia’s editors flag them for the same reason. The fix is to name the study, the expert or the number, or to remove the claim if you cannot. These phrases are matched before single words, so “it is believed” appears as one finding.

Intensifiers and vague words

Very, really, extremely, totally and literally try to add force but usually signal that a more exact word is missing. Vague words — things, stuff, various, several, basically, actually, just — fill gaps where specifics belong. Both are common in speech and drafts, and cutting them is one of the quickest ways to tighten a text.

Reading the counts

Each category has a count in the summary and its own colour in the text. Switch categories off to focus on one at a time. The rate per 100 words helps compare a draft before and after revision, and the findings table, downloadable as CSV, lists every phrase with its count.

A worked example

The sample — “Studies show that remote work might perhaps improve productivity in some ways. Many experts agree that it is really very effective…” — lights up in every colour. A revision such as “A 2024 study in Nature of 1,612 employees at Trip.com found that hybrid work did not lower performance and cut resignations by a third” replaces the weasel phrases with a source, drops the stacked hedges and lets the number speak.

Context matters

A legal disclaimer, a scientific limitation section or a diplomatic email may need careful hedging. Marketing copy needs precise numbers more than intensifiers. Use the highlights to check each phrase is doing a job.

A quick revision routine

First handle weasel phrases: add a source or remove the claim. Then look for sentences with more than one hedge and keep only the one that matches your evidence. Next, delete intensifiers or swap them for a stronger word. Finally, replace vague words with the specific thing, person or number you mean.

Private

The text you check stays in your browser and is never uploaded, so drafts of reports, grant applications and unpublished papers can be checked safely.

Related tools

Strip clichés and buzzwords with the Cliché Finder, find passive sentences with the Weak Verb Checker, check wording in job adverts with the Inclusive Language Checker, or measure difficulty with the Readability Checker.