confusing sentence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "confusing sentence" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a sentence that is unclear or difficult to understand. Example: "The author often uses complex language, resulting in a confusing sentence that leaves readers puzzled."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

I meant that confusing sentence up there with all the forward slashes in it.

Vice

There are many such confusing sentence elements: complex objects that consist of and-, or-, or comma-separated elements; quotations; prepositions and articles; proper names; punctuation marks.

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

That's a strange and confusing sentence, but it's what happened, and it's potentially important.

HuffPost

We apologize for this confusing sentence.

eLife

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Be sure there are no major grammatical errors, confusing sentences, or otherwise hard-to-understand parts of the story.

WikiHow

So then Facebook launched full-text post search, but that made Graph Searching even tougher since Facebook would confuse sentences for keywords.

TechCrunch

The site, which appeared to be dedicated to honey sales and beekeeping, was covered in confusing random characters and sentence fragments.

Wikipedia

This sentence is confusing and I would recommend the authors deleting the part which says "to avoid unplanned readmissions".

F1000Research

This sentence is confusing as it implies that 'oriented conduits' are required for the Ft/Ds comparison process, although my understanding is that the oriented conduits are proposed to result from the Ft/Ds comparison.

eLife

I'm guessing he'd turn it into a piece of Hitchcockian "pure cinema" in a manner not dissimilar to Dostoevsky's pure fiction, in which the old revolutionary enjoyed depicting madness with meandering, disorientating prose full of half-finished sentences and confusing leaps of (il)logic.

The Guardian - Film

Did that last sentence confuse you?

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When encountering a "confusing sentence", break it down into smaller parts to identify the source of confusion, such as complex clauses or ambiguous pronouns.

Common error

Avoid adding too many subordinate clauses or unnecessary jargon within a sentence, as this can increase the likelihood of creating a "confusing sentence". Aim for clarity and conciseness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "confusing sentence" functions primarily as a noun phrase acting as a subject or object complement. It describes a sentence that causes bewilderment or difficulty in understanding. As Ludwig AI suggests, this phrase is usable in written English and denotes a sentence that is unclear.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "confusing sentence" effectively describes a sentence that is difficult to understand, as Ludwig AI confirms. While grammatically correct, writing guidance emphasizes the importance of avoiding complex structures that lead to confusion. The phrase appears across various contexts, including news, science, and wiki sources, reflecting its broad applicability. To improve clarity, consider alternative phrases like "unclear sentence" or "ambiguous statement". Keep in mind that sentences should be checked carefully to remove any possible grammar error.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unclear sentence

Focuses on the lack of clarity in the sentence.

ambiguous statement

Highlights the sentence having multiple possible interpretations.

vague sentence

Emphasizes the lack of precision or detail in the sentence.

incomprehensible sentence

Stresses the inability to understand the sentence.

obscure sentence

Suggests the sentence is hidden or not easily apparent in meaning.

perplexing statement

Highlights the confusing or puzzling nature of the sentence.

muddled wording

Focuses on the lack of clarity due to poor wording.

poorly worded sentence

Highlights the inadequate construction of the sentence.

difficult to follow sentence

Emphasizes the challenge in understanding the sequence of thought.

unintelligible sentence

Suggests that the sentence cannot be understood.

FAQs

How can I identify a "confusing sentence"?

A "confusing sentence" is often characterized by convoluted wording, ambiguous terms, or complex structures that make it difficult for the reader to grasp the intended meaning quickly. If you have to reread a sentence multiple times to understand it, it's likely confusing.

What are some alternatives to the phrase "confusing sentence"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "unclear sentence", "ambiguous statement", or "vague sentence" to describe a sentence that is difficult to understand.

How can I rewrite a "confusing sentence" to make it clearer?

To rewrite a "confusing sentence", simplify the sentence structure, define any ambiguous terms, and ensure that the relationships between ideas are clearly stated. Break long sentences into shorter ones if necessary.

What's the difference between a "confusing sentence" and an "obscure sentence"?

While both terms describe sentences that are difficult to understand, a "confusing sentence" may simply be poorly constructed or worded, whereas an "obscure sentence" is often intentionally vague or uses specialized language that is not easily accessible to the average reader.