Sufficiently ambiguous

USAGE SUMMARY

"sufficiently ambiguous" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when describing something that has enough ambiguity to allow for multiple interpretations. Example: "The instructions were sufficiently ambiguous, leading to confusion among the team." Alternative expressions include "adequately vague" and "reasonably unclear."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

The clause is sufficiently ambiguous to leave doubts over how the stalemate will be resolved.

The Guardian - Sport

There are, he assures us, still plenty of governments sufficiently ambiguous about the distinction between prestige and notoriety to want to invest in his kind of promotion.

The Guardian - Sport

Such payments, if presented here in sufficiently ambiguous terms, might give the Chinese leaders a face-saving way to release the plane.

The New York Times

But Marc Owens, a lawyer who works to tackle dark money, says the proposed rules are sufficiently ambiguous not to shut down the big partisan players.

The Economist

The design, Rabbi Howard L. Jaffe said, is "sufficiently ambiguous as to evoke a variety of feelings and senses, yet sufficiently concrete to clearly represent several Jewish images at the same time".

The New York Times

Earlier laws had left the regulation issue sufficiently ambiguous, worrying Wall Street, the Clinton administration and lawmakers of both parties, who argued that too many restrictions would hurt financial activity and spur traders to take their business overseas.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

But his wording was sufficiently broad and ambiguous to deflect an outright rejection by Washington and to encourage exploration at the negotiating table.

The New York Times

Moreover, if the pan-sexual strain could be drifted to extinction, so could the mating types, but in fact we have never obtained ambiguous outcomes: sufficiently long replicate simulations always yield the same result.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

"It was broad and ambiguous and not sufficiently well-defined," he said.

The New York Times

Outside, billboards by Joanne Masding comprise images that are amorphous, ambiguous and, hopefully, sufficiently intriguing to tempt in any passersby still unaware of this significant artist-run site.

The Guardian - Arts

Studies of lexical ambiguity resolution in sentential contexts have not sufficiently considered the relatedness among an ambiguous word's meanings as a predicting factor for semantic activation.

Lingua Sinica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sufficiently ambiguous" when you want to express that something's lack of clarity is adequate for a specific purpose, such as allowing flexibility in interpretation or avoiding direct commitment.

Common error

Avoid using "sufficiently ambiguous" in contexts where clarity is essential. Overusing it can lead to confusion and undermine the credibility of your writing. Ensure the level of ambiguity is truly beneficial and not detrimental to understanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sufficiently ambiguous" primarily functions as an adverb-adjective combination, modifying a noun or concept to indicate the degree of ambiguity. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is generally used to describe something that is ambiguous to a satisfactory or adequate extent.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "sufficiently ambiguous" functions as an adverb-adjective combination used to describe something with an adequate level of ambiguity. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and common in various contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Academia. While alternatives like "adequately vague" or "reasonably unclear" exist, the specific choice depends on the desired nuance. It's essential to use "sufficiently ambiguous" judiciously, ensuring that the level of ambiguity is beneficial and doesn't compromise understanding. Ultimately, mastering the use of this phrase can improve the precision and effectiveness of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

adequately vague

Replaces 'ambiguous' with 'vague', emphasizing a lack of clarity rather than multiple interpretations. And also replace 'sufficiently' with 'adequately', indicating the presence of quality.

reasonably unclear

Substitutes 'ambiguous' with 'unclear', focusing on the lack of clarity. Also replace 'sufficiently' with 'reasonably', indicating the presence of quality.

somewhat indefinite

Replaces 'ambiguous' with 'indefinite', suggesting a lack of precise boundaries or definition. And also replace 'sufficiently' with 'somewhat', indicating the presence of degree.

noticeably uncertain

Substitutes 'ambiguous' with 'uncertain', highlighting the lack of certainty or predictability. And also replace 'sufficiently' with 'noticeably', indicating the presence of degree.

appreciably dubious

Replaces 'ambiguous' with 'dubious', focusing on the questionability or doubtfulness. And also replace 'sufficiently' with 'appreciably', indicating the presence of degree.

distinctly equivocal

Substitutes 'ambiguous' with 'equivocal', emphasizing the possibility of multiple meanings or interpretations. And also replace 'sufficiently' with 'distinctly', indicating the presence of quality.

markedly indistinct

Replaces 'ambiguous' with 'indistinct', suggesting a lack of clear definition or boundaries. And also replace 'sufficiently' with 'markedly', indicating the presence of degree.

considerably obscure

Substitutes 'ambiguous' with 'obscure', highlighting the difficulty in understanding or perceiving. And also replace 'sufficiently' with 'considerably', indicating the presence of degree.

palpably vague

Replaces 'ambiguous' with 'vague', emphasizing a lack of clarity or precision. And also replace 'sufficiently' with 'palpably', indicating the presence of degree.

evidently puzzling

Substitutes 'ambiguous' with 'puzzling', focusing on the quality of causing confusion or difficulty in understanding. And also replace 'sufficiently' with 'evidently', indicating the presence of quality.

FAQs

How can I use "sufficiently ambiguous" in a sentence?

Use "sufficiently ambiguous" to describe something that has enough ambiguity to allow for multiple interpretations. For example, "The contract's wording was "sufficiently ambiguous", leading to different understandings among the parties involved."

What are some alternatives to "sufficiently ambiguous"?

You can use alternatives like "adequately vague", "reasonably unclear", or "somewhat indefinite" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to be "sufficiently ambiguous" or completely clear?

It depends on the context. Sometimes, being "sufficiently ambiguous" can allow for flexibility and avoid unnecessary restrictions. However, in legal or technical contexts, clarity is usually preferred to prevent misunderstandings.

When is ambiguity acceptable in writing?

Ambiguity can be acceptable when you want to leave room for interpretation, create a sense of mystery, or avoid making a direct statement. However, it's essential to ensure that the level of ambiguity doesn't lead to confusion or misinterpretation.