ambiguous guidelines

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ambiguous guidelines" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to instructions or rules that are unclear or open to multiple interpretations. Example: "The project was delayed due to the ambiguous guidelines provided by the management, leaving the team unsure of how to proceed."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

As well, modifying subjective criteria to incorporate less ambiguous guidelines or parameters might further improve reviewer agreement.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

When coding practice was scrutinised some differences between the institutions were discovered, possibly due to somewhat ambiguous guidelines.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Under that ambiguous guideline, some transgender LDS members, including Claren, have been able to remain active in wards with tolerant bishops.

The Guardian

The administration proposed the Clean Air Act, which set more-ambiguous guidelines and a more generous time line for meeting emissions goals, as an alternative for dealing with climate change.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Another identified barrier is the presence of ambiguous referral guidelines to clinical genetics and other medical specialists for patients with a possible high risk at familial disease, such as cancer[9].

Clinical and Translational Medicine

The views posed by the primary care professionals seem to reflect the ambiguous practical guidelines that are in place.

BMC Family Practice

Ericka Persson, an advocate with Survived and Punished, called the guidelines "ambiguous and arbitrary" and said they could be changed. .

Huffington Post

Where accounting guidelines are ambiguous, opportunities abound for masking bad news.

The New York Times

Employers also often contend that the labor guidelines are ambiguous and largely obsolete for today's rapidly changing workforce.

The New York Times

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a known complication after spine surgery, but prophylaxis guidelines are ambiguous for patients undergoing elective spine surgery.

The Spine Journal

With respect to testing indications, we included all patients with fever because national malaria guidelines are ambiguous and do not specify criteria defining other obvious causes of fever.

BMC Public Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "ambiguous guidelines", provide specific examples of what makes the guidelines unclear to strengthen your argument or explanation.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that guidelines are "ambiguous" without explaining the specific points of confusion or different possible interpretations. Provide concrete examples to support your claim.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ambiguous guidelines" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "ambiguous" modifies the noun "guidelines". As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is used to describe rules or instructions lacking clarity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

19%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ambiguous guidelines" is a grammatically sound and usable expression, commonly found across diverse professional domains like science, news, and business. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the term serves to denote rules or instructions that lack clarity and are open to multiple interpretations. To enhance clarity in your writing, it's recommended to provide specific instances of the perceived ambiguity, rather than merely labeling the guidelines as such. This targeted approach can avert overgeneralization and strengthen your argument by offering tangible evidence of the confusion stemming from the guidelines. Using synonyms like "vague directives" or "unclear instructions" can provide nuanced alternatives depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

vague directives

Replaces "ambiguous" with "vague" and "guidelines" with "directives", emphasizing the lack of clarity and direction.

unclear instructions

Replaces "ambiguous" with "unclear", focusing on the difficulty in understanding the instructions.

ill-defined rules

Uses "ill-defined" to highlight the lack of clear definition in the rules, suggesting a problem with their formulation.

poorly specified criteria

Replaces "guidelines" with "criteria" and uses "poorly specified" to indicate a lack of detailed specification.

imprecise regulations

Emphasizes the lack of precision in the regulations, suggesting a lack of exactness.

nebulous policies

Uses "nebulous" to convey a sense of vagueness and lack of distinct form in the policies.

undefined parameters

Focuses on the lack of definition for specific parameters, making them open to interpretation.

equivocal guidance

Highlights the uncertainty and open-endedness of the provided guidance.

confusing protocols

Emphasizes the confusing nature of the protocols, suggesting they are difficult to follow or understand.

open to interpretation standards

Highlights the subjective nature of the standards, indicating they can be understood in multiple ways.

FAQs

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

You can use "ambiguous guidelines" to describe situations where instructions or rules are unclear and open to interpretation. For example, "The project was delayed due to the ambiguous guidelines provided by the management."

What are some alternatives to saying "ambiguous guidelines"?

You can use alternatives like "vague directives", "unclear instructions", or "ill-defined rules" depending on the specific context.

What does it mean when guidelines are described as "ambiguous"?

When guidelines are described as "ambiguous", it means they are not clear or precise, and can be understood in more than one way. This lack of clarity can lead to confusion and inconsistency.

Why is it important to avoid "ambiguous guidelines"?

Avoiding "ambiguous guidelines" is crucial for ensuring consistency, reducing errors, and promoting clear understanding. Clear guidelines lead to more efficient and effective outcomes.