causing ambiguity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "causing ambiguity" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are discussing a statement that has more than one possible meaning. For example, "The ambiguous statement was causing confusion, so we determined that it was likely causing ambiguity."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

"This is a situation that's causing ambiguity.

The New York Times

However, several benign or non-neoplastic conditions avidly accumulate (18) F-FDG, causing ambiguity in interpretation of results.

Stanford University

To designate midnight without causing ambiguity, the two dates between which it falls should be given unless the 24-hour notation is used.

Britannica

However, kf is the effective fluid phase thermal conductivity, a dimensional parameter that appears without an asterisk subscript without causing ambiguity.

Nanoscale Research Letters

While the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business AACSBB) has called for increased focus on non-technical skills, particularly critical thinking (CT), it was found that business school faculty members differ on their perception of what CT and other non-technical skills measure, causing ambiguity across the various curricula (Desai et al. 2016).

Journal for Labour Market Research

The role of information overload causing ambiguity in investment decision-making has been well documented.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

This method allows input lexemes (i.e., character sequences) from the base language to also appear in the extension language without causing ambiguities, which would otherwise result in parsing errors.

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

When the research team met to evaluate the resulting themes and issues, they were forced to conclude that the first draft of the model (the framework guiding the discussions) was overly simplistic, causing ambiguities in coding and occasionally precluding coding altogether.

Advances in Health Sciences Education

Any reads that starts in the SSC and ends in the repeat region would be ambiguously placed in either of the repeat copy and would cause ambiguity in the placement of repeats and thus the orientation of the SSC.

BMC Plant Biology

The use of am and pm to designate either noon or midnight can cause ambiguity.

Britannica

Indels were often associated with short tandem repeats sequences, which caused ambiguity in sequence alignments.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "causing ambiguity", ensure that the context clearly identifies what is creating the ambiguity. This helps maintain clarity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "causing ambiguity" in sentences that are already convoluted. Simplify the sentence structure first to ensure the phrase adds clarity rather than contributing to further confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "causing ambiguity" functions as a gerund phrase, typically acting as a noun or adjective within a sentence. It describes the action of something bringing about a state of uncertainty or a lack of clarity. Ludwig AI indicates that this is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "causing ambiguity" is a grammatically sound gerund phrase that describes the act of creating a lack of clarity or precision. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. Although relatively rare in overall usage, it frequently appears in scientific and news-related contexts where identifying sources of confusion is important. To enhance clarity in writing, it's best used in straightforward sentences to avoid contributing to further complexity. Alternative phrases, such as "generating uncertainty" or "fostering confusion", can be used to convey similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

generating uncertainty

This alternative focuses on the creation of doubt or lack of clarity, instead of something that causes it.

inducing vagueness

This phrase emphasizes the act of bringing about a state of lacking clear definition.

fostering confusion

This highlights the promotion of a state of being bewildered or unclear.

creating obscurity

This alternative suggests the making of something unclear and difficult to understand.

leading to ambivalence

This phrase focuses on how the ambiguity can lead to mixed feelings or contradictory ideas.

resulting in indistinctness

This focuses on the outcome of something not being sharply defined or clear.

breeding doubt

This alternative indicates the fostering of uncertainty or skepticism.

prompting equivocation

This emphasizes the encouragement of the use of ambiguous language to conceal the truth or avoid commitment.

sowing seeds of doubt

This alternative uses a metaphor to describe the act of introducing elements that create uncertainty.

introducing imprecision

This phrase highlights the action of making something inaccurate or inexact.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "causing ambiguity" in a sentence?

You can replace "causing ambiguity" with phrases like "generating uncertainty", "inducing vagueness", or "fostering confusion" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

What does it mean when something is "causing ambiguity"?

When something is "causing ambiguity", it means it is leading to a lack of clarity or precision, resulting in multiple possible interpretations or understandings. This can lead to confusion or miscommunication.

Is there a difference between "causing ambiguity" and "resulting ambiguity"?

"Causing ambiguity" describes the act of creating a lack of clarity, whereas "resulting ambiguity" refers to the state of unclear interpretation that arises as a consequence. One is the cause, and the other is the effect.

What are some common situations where something might be described as "causing ambiguity"?

Situations where information is incomplete, definitions are vague, or language is imprecise can all be described as "causing ambiguity". This often occurs in legal documents, technical specifications, and everyday communication where assumptions are made.