Which term is used for the category of deception responses that includes stand-alone hedging or qualifying phrases such as 'An estimation phrase'?

• A. Evasion cue
• B. Lying by referral
• C. An estimation phrase
• D. Response latency

Answer: (C)

Stand-alone hedging through estimation minimizes commitment and introduces uncertainty in a statement. This tactic uses qualifiers that soften or approximate what’s being claimed, making the information feel less definitive while still appearing cooperative. The term used to label this family of deceptive responses is exactly “an estimation phrase,” which describes that specific device of adding an estimation or qualifier to the reply. That makes it the best fit because it names the strategy you’re observing—the use of an estimation-style hedge as a stand-alone element of the response.

Evasion cues refer to broader attempts to avoid giving information or to be noncommittal in general terms, rather than specifically labeling the hedging device. Lying by referral involves directing you to someone else for the information, not a hedging statement. Response latency is about the timing of the reply itself, not the linguistic technique used to soften or qualify the information.