rather vague to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather vague to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing something that lacks clarity or precision in relation to a specific subject or context. Example: "The instructions provided were rather vague to the point of confusion, leaving many team members unsure of their tasks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Today new CEO Steve Huffman announced a new slate of moderation policies and is now holding an AMA to discuss them, which is important considering they're rather vague to begin with.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Burns never "came out" in the contemporary sense to family, friends or the public, occasionally alluding rather vaguely to girlfriends and potential marriage partners, to the bewilderment of his acquaintances, who could plainly tell that he was not that way inclined.

The New York Times - Books

That point was hard to ignore when the explanation in the article referred rather vaguely to having "delayed publication for a year". To me, this language means the article was fully confirmed and ready to publish a year ago -- after perhaps weeks of reporting on the initial tip -- and then was delayed.

The New York Times

RF methodologies are commonly claimed, often in rather vague terms, to be able to handle interactions [ 24 29], although, by construction, the predictor defining the first split of a tree is selected as the one with the strongest main effect on the response variable [ 30].

Briefings in Bioinformatics

I began to think that following my rather vague ambition to try working for myself would be more rewarding than staying in academia.

Science Magazine

"The FARC reiterates its willingness to use only words as a weapon to build toward the future," Timochenko told the network later in his first, rather vague, response to the result.

Vice

The latter owns most of the cable-television network through which most viewers receive their programmes (see chart), but has neither the skills nor the content necessary for its ambitious (but rather vague) plans to set up as a broadcaster.Against this background, the attempt by Germany's public-sector broadcasters to leap on to the digital wagon looks likely to falter.

The Economist

In fact, his most likely path to victory lies in mobilising conservatives who neither like nor trust him very much, and making rather vague appeals to Americans unhappy with Mr Obama.Parties can hardly be stopped from seeking supporters' support.

The Economist

The Sustainable Development Commission, although modelled on the unpromising format of the UN Commission on Human Rights, also carries a rather vague obligation to submit national environmental reports.Another legacy is the growing importance of the Global Environment Facility.

The Economist

Main Street is the story of Carol Kennicott, who graduates from a small women's college in the first chapter of the novel with rather vague aspirations to achieve something or reform something.

The Guardian - Books

This leaves Bandy with a rather vague principle to collect work that "tells you about the times you live in".

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rather vague to" when you want to politely point out a lack of clarity without being overly critical. It's suitable for professional and academic contexts where nuance is appreciated.

Common error

Avoid using "rather vague to" in casual conversations. Opt for simpler alternatives like "unclear" or "fuzzy" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather vague to" functions as an intensifier (rather) modifying an adjective (vague), followed by the preposition to, indicating the recipient or subject affected by the vagueness. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

23%

Academia

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "rather vague to" is a grammatically correct expression used to describe something lacking clarity or precision for a specific purpose. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It's considered relatively rare but appears more frequently in news and media, science, and academic contexts. Alternative phrases include "somewhat unclear to" and "fairly ambiguous to". When using "rather vague to", be mindful of the context, avoiding overuse in informal settings, and aiming for clarity in professional and academic communications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat unclear to

Replaces "rather vague" with a more direct term for lack of clarity.

fairly ambiguous to

Substitutes "rather vague" with a term highlighting the open-ended nature of the subject.

quite imprecise for

Focuses on the lack of exactness.

somewhat indefinite for

Emphasizes the lack of defined limits or boundaries.

a bit nebulous for

Implies a cloudy or hazy quality.

rather ill-defined for

Highlights the lack of clear definition.

somewhat blurred for

Suggests a lack of distinction or sharpness.

a little hazy for

Implies uncertainty and lack of clarity, using a more informal tone.

kind of murky for

Indicates obscurity and difficulty in understanding.

slightly obscure to

Replaces "rather vague" with "obscure", suggesting a lack of explicit expression.

FAQs

What does "rather vague to" mean?

It means something lacks clarity or precision for a specific purpose or understanding. It suggests something is not clearly defined or easily grasped.

How can I use "rather vague to" in a sentence?

Example: "The instructions were "rather vague to" the point that no one knew what to do."

Which is more formal, "somewhat unclear to" or "rather vague to"?

"Rather vague to" is generally considered more formal. "Somewhat unclear to" is suitable for both professional and casual settings.

What can I say instead of "rather vague to"?

You can use alternatives like "somewhat unclear to", "fairly ambiguous to", or "quite imprecise for" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.