ambiguous documents

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ambiguous documents" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe documents that are unclear or open to multiple interpretations. Example: "The contract was filled with ambiguous documents, leading to confusion about the terms of the agreement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Adding to the confusion, many of the memos use code names to refer to Venezuelan military and political officials; some of the Colombian government's accusations, including the claim that Chávez was personally involved in the decision to channel funds to the Farc, are largely based on Bogotá's interpretation of coded and seemingly ambiguous documents.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

However, the Court eventually ruled that the misreading of an ambiguous document did not amount to the "actual malice" necessary to prove libel of Mr. Pape, a public official.

The New York Times

The Charter is a sometimes ambiguous document, and, rather as the United States Supreme Court ultimately decides what the Constitution means, the Security Council decides what qualifies as a threat to "international peace and security" -- the threshold that justifies the use of force.

The New York Times

Modified from References [ 28] and [ 29]. *This is the only case of ambiguous genitalia documented in a child with 46,XX karyotype who also harbored a heterozygous mutation of the 21-hydroxylase gene.

BMC Endocrine Disorders

If an operational definition of measure is imprecise, ambiguous or poorly documented, probably different people will understand the measure in different ways.

Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society

Detailed annotation guidelines were prepared based on those for the GENIA and BioNLP Shared Task guidelines and refined throughout annotation to clarify ambiguous cases and document specific decisions made in annotation.

Bioinformatics

During this process, frequent discussions among annotators to resolve and document ambiguous cases and repeated verification of the annotated data against the guidelines are performed, to ensure annotation quality.

Database : the journal of biological databases and curation

The original agreement between Spain and France had not explicitly specified the borders of Louisiana, and the descriptions in the documents were ambiguous and contradictory.

Wikipedia

On the contrary, the "ambiguous" alias produced only documents that were not related to FADS1.

BMC Genomics

(Because of an ambiguous comma in a document Greene signed on his deathbed, other scholars were forbidden to quote from unpublished material until Sherry's project was complete).

The New Yorker

But the document was ambiguous and, because it dated from the 1980's, the price no longer reflected the company's true worth, David Sklar said, and the family could not agree on a re-evaluation.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "ambiguous documents", ensure that the context clarifies the specific type of ambiguity. For example, specify whether the ambiguity arises from vague language, conflicting information, or a lack of detail.

Common error

Avoid using "ambiguous documents" without providing further context. Simply stating that documents are ambiguous can be unhelpful. Instead, specify the nature and consequences of the ambiguity to provide more meaningful information.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ambiguous documents" functions as an adjective-noun combination. As confirmed by Ludwig, it describes documents that are not clear or have multiple possible meanings. This combination serves to modify the noun "documents" by specifying their quality of being open to interpretation.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ambiguous documents" effectively describes written materials that are unclear or open to multiple interpretations. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and appears in various reputable sources, including news media, scientific publications, and academic papers. While the term is widely used, it's crucial to provide context regarding the nature and implications of the ambiguity. Alternatives such as "unclear documents" or "vague documents" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. When using this phrase, clarify the source of the ambiguity—whether it stems from imprecise language, conflicting information, or a lack of detail—to ensure effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unclear documents

Replaces "ambiguous" with a synonym, focusing on the lack of clarity in the documents.

vague documents

Similar to "unclear documents", emphasizing the lack of precise detail.

equivocal documents

A more formal synonym for "ambiguous", suggesting the possibility of multiple interpretations.

dubious documents

Shifts the focus to the trustworthiness or reliability of the documents.

questionable documents

Similar to "dubious documents", highlighting the uncertain validity of the documents.

poorly defined documents

Emphasizes the lack of clear definitions or boundaries within the documents.

imprecise documents

Focuses on the lack of accuracy and exactness in the documents.

ill-defined documents

Similar to "poorly defined documents", suggesting a lack of structure or clarity.

inconclusive documents

Highlights the inability of the documents to provide a definitive answer or outcome.

nebulous documents

Suggests that the documents are hazy or indistinct.

FAQs

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

You can use "ambiguous documents" to describe situations where the meaning or interpretation of written materials is unclear or open to multiple understandings. For example: "The legal dispute arose due to the "ambiguous documents" related to the property rights."

What are some alternatives to saying "ambiguous documents"?

Alternatives include "unclear documents", "vague documents", or "poorly defined documents", depending on the specific aspect of ambiguity you want to emphasize.

What makes a document "ambiguous"?

A document can be considered "ambiguous" if its language is open to multiple interpretations, lacks specific details, contains conflicting information, or uses terms that are not clearly defined.

Why is it important to identify "ambiguous documents"?

Identifying "ambiguous documents" is crucial because they can lead to misunderstandings, disputes, legal challenges, and flawed decision-making. Recognizing and clarifying ambiguity ensures accurate comprehension and prevents potential negative consequences.