Three opinions, all a little careful:

• "People tend to overestimate how much others notice their mistakes."
• "The new pricing seems to be working — sign-ups are up this month."
• "It could be argued that the whole plan was rushed."

Before you check: none of these say "this is definitely true." What are they doing instead?

1. This particular printer keeps jamming with recycled paper — it's happened three times this month.

Warn a colleague: "This particular printer jam if you use recycled paper."

2. Sign-ups are up since the pricing changed, though you can't be fully sure why yet.

Update your team, careful not to overclaim: "Judging by the numbers so far, the new pricing be working."

3. You want to make a debatable claim about moving house, framed as a defensible opinion.

, the hardest part of moving house is dealing with all the admin, not the packing.

• "Apparently, the flight's been delayed again — that's what the departures board says, anyway." (reported)
• "Presumably they'll reschedule the meeting, though nobody's said so officially." (a reasonable guess)
• "As far as I know, the shop still opens at nine, but don't quote me on it." (limited to your own knowledge)

Say it before you check: what's different about the source of information in each one?

1. An announcement at the station just said the 8 o'clock train's been cancelled.

Pass on the news, flagging where it came from: ", the 8 o'clock train's been cancelled."

2. Your friends' coats are gone and the lights are off — you're working it out yourself, not repeating anything you heard.

Tell someone: "Their coats are gone and the lights are off, so they've already left for the party."

3. You haven't been to the office in a few days, so your information might be a bit old.

Answer carefully: "I haven't been in for a few days, but the printer on the third floor is still broken."

• "The new café's pricey. Mind you, the coffee's excellent, so maybe it's worth it."
• "It was a stressful week. That said, we got everything finished on time."
• "I wasn't keen on the film at first. Then again, I did watch the whole thing without checking my phone once."

What are these doing that a simple "but" wouldn't quite capture? Say your idea before you check.

1. People assumed shorter meetings would save time. In practice, being extra polite about the change has made things slower, because now two meetings are needed instead of one — the opposite of what was expected.

Correct the assumption: "People assumed the shorter meetings would save time. , they've made things slower."

2. You were about to text Leo about the tickets — then a memory suddenly surfaces mid-sentence.

"I was going to text Leo about the tickets. , didn't he say he couldn't make it anymore?"

3. You're torn about a decision — part of you wants to stay in, but you're weighing it against something else.

"Part of me wants to stay in tonight. , it's not every week a friend's in town."

Think of an opinion you've changed recently — about a person, a place, a film, a decision at work. (If nothing comes to mind, invent one.)

Tell the story out loud for one minute. Try to cover:

• What you thought at first, softened a little (tend to / seem to / arguably / I would say)
• Something you're not fully certain about (apparently / presumably / as far as I know)
• A qualifying thought that shifted your view (then again / admittedly / mind you / if anything)

Write a short message (3–5 sentences) about the same situation to a friend or colleague. Use at least one softening expression, one cautious-certainty expression, and one steering marker — the checker will tell you which categories it finds.

1. "This restaurant tend to be busy on weekends."

2. "It could be argue that social media has changed friendship completely."

3. "Apparent, they've already sold the house next door."

4. "If anything the situation getting worse, not better."

5. Everyone assumed the shorter meetings would save time. Being extra polite about the change has instead made things noticeably slower. "___, we now need two meetings instead of one."

6. You walk past the office at 7pm. It's dark inside and everyone's coats are gone. "___ they've all left for the day."

7. "I don't love his sense of humour. ___, he's always the first to help if you're stuck with something."

1. The simplest way you already know to sound less certain about the future — complete it: "I'm not promising anything, but I be a bit late tonight."

2. Say it out loud: what's a simple, everyday way to disagree with someone politely, without today's new expressions? Give one example sentence.

3. Reviews suggest the new app has fixed most of its bugs, though you're only going on what you've read so far.

"Based on the reviews so far, the new app have fixed most of the bugs from the last update."

4. The blinds are down and there's a note taped to the door — you're working it out from what you can see, not from being told.

"The blinds are down and there's a note on the door, so the shop's closed for the day."

5. You were against the new work schedule at first, but you're honestly admitting one clear upside now.

"I was against the new schedule at first. , it has made mornings a lot less rushed."

Which of today's tools did you find yourself reaching for without thinking hardest — softening an opinion, sounding cautiously certain, or steering with a marker like then again? Say why you think that one felt most natural.