puzzling sentence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "puzzling sentence" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a sentence that is confusing or difficult to understand. Example: "The author included a puzzling sentence that left readers scratching their heads, trying to decipher its meaning."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The puzzle is usually named 'the Liar paradox', though this really names a family of paradoxes that are associated with our type of puzzling sentence.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Richard's identity is uncertain, but he is known to be the author of a collection of logically puzzling sentences, sometimes called "sophisms", entitled Abstractiones.

SEP

That some Cretan has said so winds up in no less a source than New Testament![1] Lying is a complicated matter, but what's puzzling about sentences like the first one of this essay isn't essentially tied to intentions, social norms, or anything like that.

SEP

In this context, we should note that is potentially puzzling that sentence-level tasks, sometimes with complex syntax, were found to recruit only VPC regions in this meta-analysis.

Cerebral Cortex

Actually, what I found more puzzling was this sentence, "While setbacks and failures can cost the stability operations industry millions of dollars and sometimes the lives of their employees, avoidable problems also cost the international community time, resources and ultimately human lives on a far more catastrophic scale".

Huffington Post

Rott, an Austrian who died at 25, rates only a brief entry in The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, which includes a sentence of puzzling shorthand: "On 17 September 1880 he visited Brahms to seek his advice, but, like Wolf, he was rebuffed; within a month he had become insane".

The New York Times

Some sentences do not seem puzzling in themselves at all, but become puzzling only within a certain "context" that is set up within which arguments proving and disproving the sophism must be developed.

SEP

But as the successive states of the world after S in relation to T* can be described by means of the infinite sequence of sets of sentences …, an(S), …, a3(S), a2(S), a1(S), some philosophers think it puzzling and unacceptable that the initial set of sentences in that sequence cannot be specified.

SEP

In addition, the positive AG activation for number-fact retrieval or sentence-level processes is also puzzling for this approach unless one assumes that these domains utilize the same short-term buffer.

Cerebral Cortex

This claim is puzzling: why should a a theory which issues T-sentences, but makes no explicit claims about meaning or content, count as a semantic theory?

SEP

It's puzzling that we have here two theories of when a sentence is true, and the theories are not equivalent if the axiom of choice fails.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "puzzling sentence", ensure that the context provides enough information for the reader to understand what makes the sentence puzzling. Be specific about the source of confusion or ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "puzzling sentence" as a vague placeholder. Instead of simply labeling a sentence as puzzling, explain why it is puzzling or what specific elements contribute to the confusion. Without context, it offers little value to the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "puzzling sentence" functions as an adjective-noun combination. The adjective "puzzling" modifies the noun "sentence", indicating that the sentence in question is confusing or difficult to understand. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "puzzling sentence" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to describe a sentence that is difficult to understand. As indicated by Ludwig, it is correct and usable in English. Its usage spans various contexts, including news media, science, and encyclopedias. To enhance clarity, it's advisable to provide specific details about why the sentence is considered puzzling. Alternatives such as "confusing statement" or "unclear sentence" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

confusing statement

Replaces "sentence" with "statement" focusing on the message being unclear.

unclear sentence

Uses a more direct adjective to describe the sentence's lack of clarity.

difficult sentence

A simpler way of saying it is hard to understand.

ambiguous sentence

Highlights the sentence having multiple possible interpretations.

enigmatic sentence

Emphasizes the mysterious and difficult-to-understand nature of the sentence.

perplexing sentence

Highlights the sentence's ability to cause confusion and uncertainty.

incomprehensible sentence

Focuses on the sentence being impossible to understand.

obscure sentence

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

cryptic sentence

Suggests the sentence contains a hidden message or meaning.

bewildering phrase

Replaces both "puzzling" and "sentence" to offer a more dramatic sense of confusion.

FAQs

How can I use "puzzling sentence" in a sentence?

You can use "puzzling sentence" to describe a statement that is confusing or difficult to understand. For example: "The author included a "puzzling sentence" that left readers scratching their heads, trying to decipher its meaning."

What can I say instead of "puzzling sentence"?

You can use alternatives like "confusing statement", "unclear sentence", or "ambiguous sentence" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What makes a sentence "puzzling"?

A sentence can be considered "puzzling" if it contains ambiguous language, contradictory information, or complex syntax that makes it difficult for the reader to grasp its intended meaning. The context in which the sentence appears also plays a significant role.

Is it always negative to describe a sentence as "puzzling"?

Not necessarily. While it often implies confusion, describing a sentence as "puzzling" can also suggest intrigue or intellectual stimulation, especially when discussing riddles, paradoxes, or complex philosophical concepts. It depends on the context and the intended effect.