specific ambiguity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "specific ambiguity" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a particular type of uncertainty or vagueness in a statement or situation. Example: "The contract contained specific ambiguity regarding the delivery dates, leading to confusion between the parties involved."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Hiding within this general haze, though, was a specific ambiguity, about Facebook's data policy.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

3) There are also some specific ambiguities with regard to Figure 4C and Figure 4D, specifically in the E-cadherin staining.

eLife

The common wisdom had been that television was dying, that it had lost its power to arrange a consensus or to identify a star, and then our democracy was upended by a figure who dwelled in the specific ambiguities of the medium: in which accidental celebrity collides with earned fame, and fact and fiction are intermixed.

The New Yorker

Detzner made attempts to explain away specific ambiguities, contradictions, and errors.

Wikipedia

(16 and 17), when applied to feature vectors based on the syllable-specific ambiguity spectra.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

In the second step, the syllable-specific ambiguity spectra are estimated, and the corresponding SVDs are calculated in the third step.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

All item-specific ambiguities were clarified by investigators' consultation.

Plosone

Group-specific sequencing primers were used when necessary to resolve allele-specific ambiguities.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

Goal specificity is important because specific goals reduce ambiguity in thought and variability in performance".

Huffington Post

In order to minimize misunderstanding and ambiguity, specific explanations were added for each sub-item, and examples of 'good reporting' were included.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

No differences were found between those in the first and the sixth academic years, although we did observe gender-specific differences in ambiguity tolerance.

BMC Family Practice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "specific ambiguity" when you want to highlight a particular area or instance where clarity is lacking, rather than a general sense of uncertainty.

Common error

Avoid using "specific ambiguity" when a general term like "uncertainty" or "vagueness" would suffice. It's best reserved for instances where you can pinpoint the source or type of ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "specific ambiguity" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "specific" modifies the noun "ambiguity". Ludwig AI shows it's used to pinpoint a particular area of uncertainty or lack of clarity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

47%

News & Media

44%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "specific ambiguity" is grammatically correct and usable in written English, though it's relatively rare. Ludwig AI indicates its primarily used in news, media, science and wiki contexts. It is best used to emphasize the fact that is not a general uncertainty but a very punctual one. When using "specific ambiguity", remember it highlights a defined instance of uncertainty. While alternatives like "particular vagueness" or "defined uncertainty" exist, "specific ambiguity" has its place when pinpointing the source or nature of the ambiguity is important.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

particular uncertainty

Replaces "ambiguity" with "uncertainty", focusing on the lack of sureness.

defined vagueness

Uses "vagueness" instead of "ambiguity", emphasizing a lack of clarity.

precise imprecision

Highlights the contradiction of being exact in inexactness.

distinct equivocation

Emphasizes the act of avoiding commitment in a clear manner.

clear indistinctness

Highlights the apparent contradiction of clarity and lack of definition.

pointed ambiguity

Uses "pointed" to suggest the ambiguity is deliberate or noticeable.

concrete uncertainty

Replace "ambiguity" with "uncertainty" and "specific" with "concrete".

limited ambiguity

Uses "limited" to suggest the ambiguity has boundaries or constraints.

contained ambiguity

Emphasizes that the ambiguity is kept within certain parameters.

localized ambiguity

Emphasizes that the ambiguity is restricted to a certain area.

FAQs

How can I use "specific ambiguity" in a sentence?

You can use "specific ambiguity" to describe a situation where a particular aspect is unclear. For example, "The contract contained "specific ambiguity" regarding payment terms".

What does "specific ambiguity" mean?

"Specific ambiguity" refers to a particular instance or area where something is unclear or open to multiple interpretations. It's not a general uncertainty, but one that can be identified and potentially addressed.

Are there alternatives to using "specific ambiguity"?

Yes, depending on the context, you can use phrases like "particular vagueness", "defined uncertainty", or "precise imprecision".

Is "specific ambiguity" a common phrase in English?

While grammatically sound, "specific ambiguity" isn't extremely common. It's used when highlighting a particular area of uncertainty, but simpler terms are often preferred for general cases.