ambiguous description

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ambiguous description" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a description that is unclear or open to multiple interpretations. Example: "The report contained an ambiguous description of the project's objectives, leading to confusion among team members."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

For those with long enough memories, the ambiguous description of a "dark-skinned male" suspect brought to mind the 1989 Charles Stuart case — itself a case study in collective suspicion and guilt in the city of Boston.

The New Yorker

The column goes on to say, "He has, after all, been a veteran Brooklyn Democrat and such a good clubhouse loyalist that last year he gave a high-paying job of ambiguous description to Howard Golden".

The New York Times

The dispute centered on an ambiguous description in the original notice to The A.P., which an employee of the news organization said was sent as an attachment to an e-mail on May 10 from Jonathan M. Malis, a federal prosecutor, to several A.P. employees.

The New York Times

It resolves ambiguous description of service functionality and external interface.

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

Fuzzy functions and rules are designed for the ambiguous description of human states.

Communications in Nonlinear Science and Numerical Simulation

The specification gives a precise and non ambiguous description of this architecture which is validated through the automatic generation of traces and interesting properties are proven.

Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

One way of doing this is by directly comparing neural activity across ambiguous descriptions of object concepts when different contexts are provided.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

The original neuroimaging report was reviewed by a neuroradiologist, who was blinded to whether the patient received any IA therapies, to confirm the official interpretations and to clarify any ambiguous descriptions to ensure uniform classification of proximal occlusion for study purposes.

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

Yet, it can still be difficult to cull through the vague explanations and ambiguous descriptions.

Vice

The second task involved listening to ambiguous descriptions of worry-related events that were resolved in a benign manner (cf. Mathews & Mackintosh, 2000).

Behaviour Research and Therapy

Also evidence for syntactic production-to-comprehension priming has been reported: production of a particular syntactic structure influenced subsequent picture matching for ambiguous descriptions (Branigan et al. 2005).

Cerebral Cortex

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "ambiguous description", ensure that the context makes it clear what is being described and why its ambiguity is relevant. Consider providing specific examples of the ambiguity to strengthen your point.

Common error

Avoid pairing "ambiguous description" with other vague terms. Instead, strive for clarity by offering concrete details or examples to illustrate the ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ambiguous description" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "ambiguous" modifies the noun "description". This phrase is often used to identify a lack of clarity or precision in how something is presented. As Ludwig indicates, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

28%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ambiguous description" is a grammatically sound phrase used to denote a description lacking clarity and open to interpretation. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It appears most frequently in scientific and news-related contexts, suggesting a neutral to formal register. While the phrase is not exceptionally common, understanding its usage helps writers identify and address potential misunderstandings by clarifying vague language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

vague account

Emphasizes a lack of detail, making it difficult to understand fully.

unclear portrayal

Highlights the lack of clarity in the way something is represented.

indistinct representation

Suggests a blurred or poorly defined image or account.

imprecise characterization

Indicates a lack of accuracy or exactness in the way something is described.

equivocal explanation

Implies that the explanation is open to more than one interpretation and possibly misleading.

dubious depiction

Suggests that the description is questionable or unreliable.

obscure specification

Highlights the description being difficult to understand due to its complexity or lack of transparency.

nebulous account

Suggests a cloudy or hazy account lacking concrete details.

tenuous representation

Emphasizes the description being weak or poorly supported.

murky portrayal

Indicates a description that is unclear and difficult to see through, either literally or figuratively.

FAQs

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

You can use "ambiguous description" to describe something that is unclear or has multiple interpretations. For instance, "The contract contained an "ambiguous description" of the payment terms, leading to disputes."

What are some alternatives to "ambiguous description"?

Alternatives include "vague account", "unclear portrayal", or "imprecise characterization", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "ambiguous description" or "vague description"?

Both "ambiguous description" and "vague description" are acceptable, but "ambiguous" suggests multiple possible interpretations, while "vague" indicates a lack of detail. Choose the word that best fits the specific situation.

What does it mean when something is described as an "ambiguous description"?

An "ambiguous description" means the information is not clear and could be understood in more than one way. It lacks precision and leaves room for interpretation, potentially causing confusion.