Qualifiers are words or group of words that limit or modify the meaning of another word. They may come to qualify quantity, time, relative quality, or certainty.
Examples and purpose of qualifiers in grammar and writing
Some qualifiers include the words: rather, somewhat, possibly, quite, probably, some, sometimes, now, , I guess, I think, and many others. Qualifiers communicate a person?s commitment to a statement. For example, absolute qualifiers such as “all” leave no room for doubt, emphasizing the point made by the person. In the same way, a relative qualifier leaves a distinct possibility for the opposite. In short, qualifiers are the ones that communicate the degree of the word it qualifies.
Pros and Cons of using qualifiers
Qualifiers are capable of making you sound decisive as well as uncertain. This would mean that with the right qualifier you could make yourself sound confident and certain, while the wrong ones will incite doubts from the reader.
Using qualifiers, especially the relative ones, can be detrimental when you are aiming to convince a reader. For personal statements, “sometimes” and “somewhat” lessen the impact of your claims, while absolute qualifiers can intensify the impact of the statement.
Tips in effectively using the right qualifiers
When using qualifiers for personal statement, you should always avoid using the ones that limit your statement. Some of these words are quite, possibly, rather, somewhat, and sometimes. Limiting qualifiers give the impression that you are not sure about what you are saying and would therefore need a “safety net” in the event someone challenges your statement.
As opposed to limiting qualifiers, absolute qualifiers communicate certainty. Words such as all, none, never, and always establish your position on a statement and convey confidence as well as a positive attitude.
When forming essays, be very aware of your choice of qualifiers. Read your composition several times and ascertain that you are giving off a positive attitude.
Related links:
Improving personal statements – All about improving your personal statement
Common essay mistakes – All about mistakes to avoid in personal statements
Scolarship and essays – All about polishing your personal statement for a scolarship
Unnecessary qualifiers – Guide to using qualifiers and avoiding common mistakes
Improving your writing – How to improve your writing skills
