confusing idea

USAGE SUMMARY

"confusing idea" is correct and perfectly usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an idea that is not easy to understand. For example, "My professor's explanation of string theory was a confusing idea to me."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

D: Yes, it's a confusing idea!

The Guardian - Music

"It's a confusing idea, particularly for out-of-towners," Mr. Glamsch said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Somewhere there exists an arbiter with a completely confused idea of what the pre-teen mind can digest in paper form.

The New Yorker

For a long time I was playing at being a grown-up and it was a slightly confused idea of what that meant.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

It seems to me that the great difficulty of writing is to make the language of the educated mind express our confused ideas, half feelings, half thoughts, where we are little more than bundles of instinctive tendencies".

The New Yorker

Steve Carell's wrestling benefactor in Foxcatcher has confused ideas about the limits of the role of a coach, but the take-no-prisoners philosophy he instils in Channing Tatum is clearly the correct one.

The Guardian - Opinion

In this study, the unsatisfactory reliability might also have been caused by individuals' confused ideas about the nature of science.

Asia-Pacific Science Education

To the extent that we have confused ideas, we may indeed consciously pursue ends other than perseverance in being.

SEP

Arnauld's theory of clear and confused ideas implies that ideas, as they are given to us by nature, and thus by God, are clear and distinct, and therefore cannot be deceptive, or "materially false".

SEP

What if Dante were a female hobo who confused ideas with orgasms, saw Texas Chainsaw Massacre when she closed her eyes, and thought she was the devil's daughter?

Vice

In comments to officials that have not been openly published, Mr. Xi has warned against confusing his idea of reform with Western-inspired democratization.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "confusing idea", provide context or examples to clarify what specifically makes the idea confusing. This helps the reader understand the source of the confusion.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that an idea is a "confusing idea" without providing further detail. Instead, explain why the idea is confusing or what aspects of it are unclear. This provides more value to the reader and avoids vagueness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "confusing idea" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "confusing" modifies the noun "idea". It serves to describe a concept or thought that is difficult to understand or lacking in clarity. Ludwig provides several examples where this phrase is used to express perplexity or lack of comprehension.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "confusing idea" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe a concept that lacks clarity or is difficult to understand. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's perfectly acceptable in written English. While frequently found in news and media, as well as scientific publications, it maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse contexts. When employing this phrase, remember to provide context explaining why the idea is confusing to enhance clarity for your audience. Alternatives such as "perplexing concept" or "vague idea" can offer nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

perplexing concept

Replaces "idea" with "concept", emphasizing the abstract nature of the confusing thing.

bewildering notion

Substitutes "confusing" with "bewildering" and "idea" with "notion", highlighting the feeling of being lost or puzzled.

incomprehensible thought

Uses "incomprehensible" instead of "confusing", suggesting a complete inability to understand the thought.

obscure concept

Replaces "confusing" with "obscure", focusing on the lack of clarity or visibility of the concept.

vague idea

Replaces "confusing" with "vague", suggesting a lack of specific detail rather than difficulty in understanding.

complicated idea

Replaces "confusing" with "complicated", highlighting the intricate and complex nature of the idea.

fuzzy idea

Replaces "confusing" with "fuzzy", indicating a lack of clarity and precision.

muddled concept

Uses "muddled" instead of "confusing", suggesting that the idea is mixed up and disorganized.

unclear notion

Replaces "confusing" with "unclear", simply stating a lack of clarity.

disconcerting idea

Uses "disconcerting" instead of "confusing", highlighting the unsettling or disturbing aspect of the idea.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "confusing idea"?

You can use alternatives like "perplexing concept", "bewildering notion", or "unclear idea" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How do I effectively use "confusing idea" in a sentence?

To effectively use "confusing idea", provide context. For example, instead of saying "That's a confusing idea", say "The concept of quantum entanglement is a confusing idea because it defies classical intuition".

What's the difference between "confusing idea" and "complicated idea"?

"Confusing idea" suggests a lack of clarity or understanding, while "complicated idea" implies intricacy and complexity. An idea can be complicated without necessarily being confusing, and vice versa.

Is it appropriate to describe someone's opinion as a "confusing idea"?

While grammatically correct, describing an opinion as a "confusing idea" can sound dismissive. Consider rephrasing to focus on the reasoning behind the opinion, rather than labeling the opinion itself as confusing.