Hedge filter

Words that soften certainty (maybe, somewhat) — trim when they dull tension. Prose craft operates at the sentence — rhythm, image, and distance shape feel on every page.

As a technique, it is a deliberate move — judge it by effect in context, not by blanket ban.

This term narrows the broader idea of **filter word** — keep parent and child roles distinct in outlines.

In revision, ask whether the move earns its place in this scene — techniques work when they change reader understanding or feeling.