arouse confusion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "arouse confusion" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a situation or statement that causes uncertainty or misunderstanding among people. Example: "The contradictory statements made by the spokesperson seemed to arouse confusion among the audience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

These strong crossmodal associations did not have a significant effect on participants' hedonic appraisal of the crisps, but did arouse confusion.

Appetite

Players can woo a potential love interest by randomly presenting them with an egg everyday, a gesture that would likely arouse confusion if you tried it for real with your latest crush.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

At first, Finnegan — wearing an immaculate Army uniform, his chest covered in ribbons and medals — aroused confusion: he was taken for an actor and was asked by someone what time his "call" was.

The New Yorker

He added that "dangerous bureaucratic moods" might appear and that the "consequences of poorly thought out actions would immediately affect the economy and arouse political confusion".

The Guardian

The agency cautioned parents and health workers to watch for symptoms of overdose, like unusual sleepiness, difficulty being aroused or awakened, confusion or noisy and difficult breathing.

The New York Times - Health

In Mr. Rivera's play -- produced by the MCC Theater under Lisa Peterson's direction -- the audience is caught in the dream, in which a parade of bondage, rape, torture, mutilation, murder, treason and civil war, accompanied by the music and rhythms of flamenco, arouses the uneasy laughter of confusion.

The New York Times

But has there ever been a linguistic phenomenon that has aroused such curiosity, suspicion, fear, confusion, antagonism, fascination, excitement and enthusiasm all at once as texting?

The Guardian - Books

And this confusion could arouse a little fear, and with that come the questions and the phobias.

The New York Times

"The use of the word Allah by non-Muslims may arouse sensitivity and create confusion among Muslims in the country," the newspaper The Star quoted him as saying.

The New York Times

News coverage related to a disaster may elicit fear and confusion and arouse anxiety in children.

WikiHow

Confusion is piled upon confusion.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, consider synonyms like "engender perplexity" or "generate ambiguity" for a more sophisticated tone.

Common error

A common mistake is to use a plural verb with "confusion". Remember, "confusion" is a singular noun. For example, avoid saying "These policies arouse confusions"; instead, use "These policies arouse confusion".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "arouse confusion" functions as a verb phrase where "arouse" is a transitive verb and "confusion" is the direct object. It describes the act of causing a state of bewilderment or lack of clarity. Ludwig examples illustrate this usage in diverse contexts such as flavor perception, political discourse, and social interactions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Wiki

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "arouse confusion" effectively conveys the act of causing uncertainty or misunderstanding. As Ludwig AI highlights, it is grammatically correct and usable in written English. While not as common as alternatives like "cause confusion", "arouse confusion" carries a formal tone suitable for news, media, and professional contexts. The analyzed data indicates its prevalence in news and media, followed by scientific domains. To ensure clarity in writing, always identify the subject causing the confusion. For more formal settings, synonyms like "engender perplexity" or "generate ambiguity" might be preferable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

induce misunderstanding

Replaces "arouse" with "induce" and "confusion" with "misunderstanding", emphasizing the result of incorrect comprehension.

cause bewilderment

Replaces "arouse" with "cause" and "confusion" with "bewilderment", maintaining a similar meaning of creating a state of perplexity.

give rise to bewilderment

Replaces "arouse" with "give rise to" and "confusion" with "bewilderment", creating a more verbose alternative.

create uncertainty

Shifts the focus to the creation of "uncertainty" rather than directly "confusion", suggesting a related but slightly different nuance.

prompt disorientation

Uses "prompt" instead of "arouse" and "disorientation" rather than "confusion", highlighting a sense of being lost or bewildered.

generate perplexity

Uses "generate" in place of "arouse" and "perplexity" instead of "confusion", offering a more formal tone.

spark incomprehension

Employs "spark" to replace "arouse" and "incomprehension" for "confusion", suggesting a sudden lack of understanding.

stir up doubt

Employs "stir up" to replace "arouse" and "doubt" for "confusion", indicating a more active instigation of uncertainty.

beget puzzlement

Substitutes "arouse" with "beget" and "confusion" with "puzzlement", offering a more archaic and formal tone.

foster ambiguity

Substitutes "arouse" with "foster" and "confusion" with "ambiguity", implying the encouragement of a lack of clarity.

FAQs

How can I use "arouse confusion" in a sentence?

You can use "arouse confusion" to describe something that causes uncertainty or misunderstanding. For example, "The politician's vague statements aroused confusion among voters."

What can I say instead of "arouse confusion"?

You can use alternatives like "cause bewilderment", "create uncertainty", or "generate perplexity" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "arouse confusion" or "cause confusion"?

"Arouse confusion" and "cause confusion" are both correct, but "cause confusion" is more common in contemporary usage. "Arouse" can sound more formal or literary.

What's the difference between "arouse confusion" and "incite panic"?

"Arouse confusion" means to cause uncertainty or misunderstanding, while "incite panic" means to cause sudden uncontrollable fear or anxiety. They describe different emotional responses.