is not clearly stated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is not clearly stated" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to express that a statement or information is unclear or ambiguous. Example: In the instructions, it is not clearly stated whether customers need to sign the contract before or after making the payment.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

In her book, Ms. Szymanski counsels parents that if it is not clearly stated how a certain list was compiled, "be suspicious".

The New York Times

However, in a third (33.3%) of RCTs, whether industry sponsorship was involved is not clearly stated.

Progress in Orthodontics

The choice of graft is not clearly stated in the literature [21].

Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology

A similar architecture is used in [10, 16] but the issue of decoding pipeline is not clearly stated there.

EURASIP Journal on Embedded Systems

Averroes claimed that they did so in order for there to be a place in which God temporally creates the atoms and accidents, although such a claim is not clearly stated by the theologians themselves.

SEP

The word is intended to mean two different things; connection between sentences in the organization scale and 'logical connection between ideas' in the content scale, however, this is not clearly stated and therefore may create ambiguity for raters.

Language Testing in Asia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

The chain of command is murky; the goals and the guiding philosophy are not clearly stated.

The New Yorker

The outcomes are not clearly stated.

Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology

Documentation was poor and in 48.4% of orders for platelets, the indication for the platelet transfusion was not clearly stated.

Transfusion and Apheresis Science

Although the writer attempts to provide a summary from the two sources, some key points are not clearly stated.

Language Testing in Asia

Whilst the four studies reported that all operations were acute, the duration from injury to surgical reconstruction was not clearly stated in the papers of Galphin et al. [26] or Taft et al. [9].

Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "is not clearly stated", ensure the surrounding context provides enough information to understand what is lacking clarity. Avoid ambiguity by briefly indicating what should have been stated more clearly.

Common error

Avoid using "is not clearly stated" without specifying what exactly lacks clarity. Provide context or suggest what should have been stated to avoid leaving the reader guessing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is not clearly stated" functions as a qualifier, indicating a deficiency in the clarity or explicitness of a statement. It's often used to highlight ambiguity or omissions in written or spoken communication. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness and common usage of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

72%

News & Media

16%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is not clearly stated" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate a lack of clarity or explicitness in a statement. As confirmed by Ludwig, its primary function is to highlight ambiguity or omissions, often prompting further clarification. Its usage spans from formal academic and scientific contexts to neutral news reporting, although it is most prevalent in scientific writing. When using the phrase, ensure you provide enough context to identify what exactly lacks clarity to avoid confusion. Common alternatives include "is not explicitly mentioned" and "is not plainly articulated".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is not explicitly mentioned

Focuses on the lack of direct mention, implying the information is absent.

is not plainly articulated

Emphasizes the absence of a straightforward expression of the idea.

is not unambiguously expressed

Highlights the lack of a single, clear interpretation.

is not definitively outlined

Focuses on the lack of clear boundaries or structure.

is not precisely defined

Highlights the lack of accurate and specific definition.

is not distinctly specified

Emphasizes that specific details have not been provided.

lacks clear articulation

Highlights a general absence of clarity in expression.

remains vague

Indicates a general lack of specificity and detail.

is open to interpretation

Highlights ambiguity, implying multiple possible understandings.

is left unsaid

Focuses on the idea that something has been omitted or not voiced.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "is not clearly stated" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you can use alternatives such as "is not explicitly mentioned", "is not plainly articulated", or "is not unambiguously expressed".

What does it mean when something "is not clearly stated"?

It means that the information is presented in a way that is vague, ambiguous, or lacking specific details, making it difficult to understand or interpret.

Is there a difference between "is not clearly stated" and "is not explicitly stated"?

While similar, "is not clearly stated" suggests a lack of clarity in how something is expressed, whereas "is not explicitly stated" implies a complete absence of direct mention. Both phrases can be used interchangeably but, depending on the context, one might be more appropriate than the other.

How to use "is not clearly stated" in a sentence?

You can use it to point out a lack of clarity in documents, instructions, or explanations, such as: "The procedure for requesting a refund "is not clearly stated" in the policy."