a vague description

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a vague description" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a description that lacks detail or clarity. Example: "The witness provided a vague description of the suspect, making it difficult for the police to create a composite sketch."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

Officer Gobin gave only a vague description of his attacker.

The New York Times

Police say they only have a vague description of a suspect and are investigating what led up to the shooting.

The New York Times

But there are no maps that show its location, no images to show what it might have looked like, and only a vague description of it.

Independent

Investigators said they have only a vague description of the gunman's car and no idea about a motive for the shooting.

The New York Times

The Domino's delivery man, speaking in broken English, was able to give only a vague description of his attacker before he died.

The New York Times

When you see a vague description of this kind, you should assume that the vast majority of the purchase price came in stock, not cash.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

Sign up for the best of VICE, deLooking to your inbox datly.

Vice

Perhaps, Mr. Epstein suggests, the philosopher George Santayana put it best when he said that to call someone a snob "is a very vague description but a very clear insult".

The New York Times - Books

The company's site currently just has a landing page, with a relatively vague description that says DeepMind is "a cutting edge artificial intelligence company" to build general-purpose learning algorithms for simulations, e-commerce, and games.

TechCrunch

This is a rather vague description because the end of a school term does not refer to a particular month.

Large-scale Assessments in Education

He says that describing Celestiial's music as folk is a bad idea, as folk is such a broad, vague description as to make it meaningless.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a vague description", follow it with an explanation of why the description is vague and what details are missing to provide context for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "a vague description" without providing any specific information at all. If possible, offer some concrete details, even if incomplete, to give the reader a better understanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a vague description" functions as a noun phrase, where "vague" modifies the noun "description". It denotes a lack of precision or clarity in how something is represented. Ludwig AI shows numerous examples of its use in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a vague description" is a common phrase used to indicate a lack of clarity or detail in an account or representation. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it appears frequently in News & Media, Science, and Wiki sources. When employing this phrase, it's best practice to provide context or elaboration to clarify the nature of the vagueness. Related alternatives include "an imprecise account" and "a sketchy outline". While grammatically correct, over-reliance on vague language without further explanation is a common pitfall to avoid.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an imprecise account

Focuses on the lack of precision in the recounting of events or details.

an indefinite portrayal

Emphasizes the lack of defined characteristics in the depiction.

a sketchy outline

Highlights the incomplete and superficial nature of the description.

an ambiguous representation

Indicates the description is open to multiple interpretations.

a general overview

Suggests a broad and non-specific summary.

a rough approximation

Conveys that the description is not exact or refined.

a blurred image

Uses a visual metaphor to describe lack of clarity.

a hazy recollection

Highlights the unclear nature of a memory or recollection.

an ill-defined summary

Emphasizes the lack of clear boundaries or details in the summary.

a loose interpretation

Focuses on the flexibility and potential inaccuracy of the interpretation.

FAQs

How can I use "a vague description" in a sentence?

You can use "a vague description" to indicate that a portrayal or account lacks detail or clarity. For example, "The witness provided "a vague description" of the suspect, hindering the investigation".

What can I say instead of "a vague description"?

You can use alternatives like "an imprecise account", "a sketchy outline", or "a general overview", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "a vague description" or "an unspecific description"?

"A vague description" is the more common and natural-sounding phrase. While "an unspecific description" is grammatically correct, it's less frequently used and may sound awkward.

What's the difference between "a vague description" and "a broad description"?

"A vague description" lacks detail and clarity, while "a broad description" covers many aspects but might not delve into specifics. A broad description can still be clear, whereas a vague one is inherently unclear.