deliberately uncertain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "deliberately uncertain" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation, statement, or action that is intentionally vague or ambiguous. Example: "The politician's response was deliberately uncertain, leaving the public guessing about his true intentions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Chronology is deliberately uncertain, the sequence fragmented.

The Guardian - Books

It is also unknown whether Henry intended Geoffrey to have any future claim on England or Normandy, and he was probably keeping Geoffrey's status deliberately uncertain.

Wikipedia

It is unknown whether Henry intended Geoffrey to have any future claim on England or Normandy, and he was probably keeping his son-in-law's status deliberately uncertain.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"Whether you're just looking to thrive in uncertain times or deliberately amplifying uncertainty in the name of creating better things and experiences," argues Fields, "you can train your mind to not only handle the unease that comes from having to consistently act without having all the answers, but embrace and invite it as a signpost that what you're doing matters.

The Guardian

For a while, Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, regained their lead in the opinion polls as the team best able to run the British economy, but by the spring of 2009 Osborne and Cameron were once again ahead, despite being deliberately vague (because of the uncertain outlook for the economy) about what they would do if they came to power.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Half of the voting public thinks the dossier was deliberately embellished; another quarter declares itself uncertain; and only the remaining 24% believes Mr Campbell's assertions that there was no deliberate embellishment of the case at all.

The Guardian

It is also uncertain whether or not Caerphilly Castle was deliberately slighted by Parliament to prevent its future use as a fortification.

Wikipedia

Eastwood deliberately left the ending of the film ambiguous to reflect the uncertain fates of several characters in the history.

Wikipedia

It is uncertain if the thieves targeted the collector's car deliberately, or if they made off with the multi-million-dollar haul by pure chance, the source added.

Huffington Post

Never once, however, has he equalled Maxinquaye on which, deliberately, his lungs pumped full of weed, Tricky muttered threats couched in no uncertain terms over punch-drunk beats for which there were no precedents.

The Guardian - Music

Among the Republicans running to replace him, it is a truism that Obama is weak—"weak and uncertain" (Jeb Bush), a "feckless weakling" (Chris Christie), whose "unbelievable weakness" (Ted Cruz) has "deliberately weakened America".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "deliberately uncertain" to indicate a strategic choice to avoid clarity, often to maintain flexibility or optionality in a situation.

Common error

While "deliberately uncertain" is acceptable, avoid using it excessively in formal documents. Opt for more nuanced language to convey the intent behind the ambiguity, such as "intentionally vague" or "strategically ambiguous".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "deliberately uncertain" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, modifying a noun or situation to indicate a state of intentional vagueness. Examples provided by Ludwig show it describing timelines, statuses, and outcomes.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

33%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "deliberately uncertain" is a grammatically correct expression used to indicate intentional ambiguity. Ludwig's analysis shows it's most frequently found in news and media contexts. While its usage isn't widespread, it's effective in conveying a calculated lack of clarity. Related phrases include "intentionally ambiguous" and "purposely vague". When using this phrase, be mindful of the level of formality required in your writing, as more nuanced alternatives might be suitable for certain contexts. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's acceptability and provides real-world examples of its application.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intentionally ambiguous

Replaces 'deliberately' with 'intentionally', highlighting the purpose behind the uncertainty.

purposely vague

Uses 'purposely' instead of 'deliberately', emphasizing the intended lack of clarity.

calculatedly imprecise

Substitutes 'deliberately' with 'calculatedly' and 'uncertain' with 'imprecise', suggesting a strategic lack of exactness.

artfully ambiguous

Replaces 'deliberately' with 'artfully', implying a skillful creation of ambiguity.

strategically indefinite

Emphasizes the strategic aspect of making something indefinite rather than certain.

designedly unclear

Uses 'designedly' to stress the planned nature of the lack of clarity.

consciously ambivalent

Highlights the awareness and intention behind expressing mixed feelings or ideas.

studiedly equivocal

Implies a careful and deliberate choice to be ambiguous or evasive.

on purpose obscure

Uses a more informal tone, highlighting that the lack of clarity is not accidental.

with calculated ambiguity

Rephrases the original, focusing on the act of using ambiguity as a calculated tactic.

FAQs

How can I use "deliberately uncertain" in a sentence?

You can use "deliberately uncertain" to describe situations where ambiguity is intentionally created, such as "The company's projections were "deliberately uncertain" to avoid committing to specific targets".

What does "deliberately uncertain" mean?

The phrase "deliberately uncertain" means something is intentionally kept vague or ambiguous, often for a specific purpose, such as maintaining flexibility or avoiding commitment.

Are there synonyms for "deliberately uncertain"?

Yes, synonyms include "intentionally ambiguous", "purposely vague", and "strategically indefinite".

Is it correct to use "deliberately uncertain" in formal writing?

Yes, it is grammatically correct, but consider if a more precise term like "calculatedly imprecise" might be more appropriate depending on the context.