We use certain types of expressions, called hedges, to show that we are concerned about following the maxims while being co-operative participants in conversation. Hedges can be defined as words or phrases used to indicate that we’re not really sure that what we’re saying is sufficiently correct or complete. We can use sort of or kind of as hedges on the accuracy of our statements, as in descriptions such as His hair was kind of long or The book cover is sort of yellow (rather than It is yellow). These are examples of hedges on the Quality maxim. Other examples would include the expressions listed below that people sometimes put at the beginning of their conversational contributions.

We also take care to indicate that what we report is something we think orfeel(not know), is possible or likely (not certain), and may or could (not must) happen. Hence the difference between saying Jackson is guilty and I think it’s possible that Jackson may be guilty. In the first version, we will be assumed to have very good evidence for the statement.