This literature review focuses on presenting an overview of research on language and gender. An introduction to the factors influencing language use will first be made. Second, a brief discussion on sex and gender will be made to clarify the terminology used in the literature. Third, physical differences between men and women will also be pointed out. Next, commonly held beliefs about the differences in male and female speech styles will also be presented. Additionally, some salient works in the field will be indicated. Fourth, some testable claims about men's and women's language use will be pointed out. Fifth, discrepancies in major areas such as grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation between women's and men's language use will be addressed, with an emphasis on the use of hedging. Specifically, a few studies investigating the use of hedges among women and men will be looked at. In addition, research on gender differences in the classroom will be mentioned. Finally, based on the review of the literature, a tentative conclusion will be drawn.