statement is unclear

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "statement is unclear" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that a particular statement lacks clarity or is difficult to understand. Example: "The report was difficult to follow because the statement is unclear regarding the project's objectives."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Although he "welcomed" the planned release, he said, "Unfortunately, the statement is unclear on whether it will be all documents, or only highly selective ones".

The New York Times

Mr. Salem's company may have then resold the gas to Israel at a substantial mark-up, thus enriching himself at the public expense, although the prosecutors' statement is unclear on those details.

The New York Times

His statement is unclear about whether he hopes to stay at the university, but parts of the text suggest he does not.

Science Magazine

This statement is unclear.

eLife

13) The following statement is unclear: "Although it is clear, from the parameter values of the centroids of each class, that most parameters do not follow a similar evolution during development (CVISI decreases monophasically while AP rise slope and AP amplitude present biphasic changes)." Please clarify the meaning of this.

eLife

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The statement was unclear.

Huffington Post

However, several comments were made by parents of children with food allergy regarding the statement, "A peanut-allergic child can have an allergic reaction from the smell of peanut butter (T/F/IDK)." Parents disputed the correct response ("false") and it was agreed that, at the very least, the statement was unclear and the reliability of the data was questionable.

BMC Health Services Research

Why this bit of testimony was not later shared with Sanders, especially when Tunstall was called to the stand in the Dekraai case and disavowed his earlier statements, is unclear.

Huffington Post

The impact of the statements was unclear.

The New York Times

Opinions differed on the difficulty level of the knowledge statements in the questionnaire, but most respondents did not think the statements were unclear or too difficult; they sometimes even thought they were (too) easy.

European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

If, for example, I am asked if I stole the money, and I reply in an ironic tone, "Yeah, right, of course I did," when I did steal the money, intending that I be believed to have not stolen the money, and if I am believed, then I have deceived using a truthful statement (it is unclear if such cases of "telling the truth falsely" (Frank 2009, 57) are to be considered as cases of paltering).

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, follow the statement with a specific question or suggestion for clarification, prompting a more precise response or explanation.

Common error

Avoid simply stating "the statement is unclear" without providing any supporting details. This offers no constructive feedback and leaves the recipient without guidance on how to improve the statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "statement is unclear" functions as a subject complement, describing the state or quality of the noun "statement". It asserts a lack of clarity, indicating that the information presented is difficult to understand. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "statement is unclear" is a grammatically correct and usable expression for indicating a lack of clarity or understanding. It is commonly used in news, media, and scientific contexts, according to Ludwig. When using this phrase, it's best to provide specific reasons for the lack of clarity to guide further explanation. Alternatives like "statement lacks clarity" or "statement is ambiguous" can offer a more professional tone. The Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's validity and provides helpful context for its application.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

statement lacks clarity

Focuses on the absence of clarity, which is the core issue.

statement is ambiguous

Highlights that the statement has multiple possible interpretations.

meaning is not evident

Shifts the focus from the statement itself to the lack of evident meaning.

it's difficult to understand the statement

Emphasizes the difficulty in comprehending the statement.

statement is open to interpretation

Indicates that the statement's meaning is subjective.

statement is not well-defined

Highlights the lack of precise definition in the statement.

the intention of the statement is obscure

Focuses on the obscurity of the statement's purpose.

statement's implications are uncertain

Emphasizes the uncertainty surrounding the statement's consequences.

statement defies easy comprehension

Indicates that the statement is resistant to straightforward understanding.

statement's significance is dubious

Highlights the questionable importance or relevance of the statement.

FAQs

What does it mean when a statement is described as unclear?

When a "statement is unclear", it means that the meaning is ambiguous, vague, or difficult to understand. It suggests that further clarification is needed to fully grasp the intended message.

How can I rephrase "statement is unclear" in a more professional way?

You can use alternatives like "statement lacks clarity", "statement is ambiguous", or "meaning is not evident" to convey the same idea in a more professional tone.

What are some common reasons why a statement might be unclear?

A statement might be unclear due to poor wording, lack of context, the use of jargon without explanation, or conflicting information within the statement itself.

How do I ask for clarification when a statement is unclear?

You can ask for clarification by saying, "Could you please elaborate on...?", "I'm not sure I understand...", or "Can you provide more context for...?" Make sure your question is specific to help guide the speaker or writer.