this document is unclear

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence 'this document is unclear' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this sentence whenever the content of a document is unclear, for example: "After reading this document, it is clear that some sections are confusing and unclear."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Other lawyers involved in the case said on Thursday that the impact of the document was unclear.

The New York Times

The precise authorship of the aforementioned document is unclear, and so is the origin of the composition of the Junta.

Wikipedia

The precise review process that led to the posting of the nuclear and chemical-weapons documents is unclear.

The New York Times

How Senate investigators were able to reach that conclusion without White House documents is unclear.

Huffington Post

However, how the diagnosis was documented is unclear.

European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

(The Census Bureau's own documents are unclear on this).

The New York Times

Contemporary documents are unclear about her birthplace, which is also listed as Curaçao, but she was most likely born in Cabo Rojo to Dutch parents.

Wikipedia

Some of the CBE curricula documents were unclear about the learning outcomes or desired competences, so it was unclear if the actualized curriculum included them.

BMC Medical Education

Concerning the use of patient choice as an instrument or precondition, the policy documents were unclear about whether patients were expected to take costs into account when choosing a healthcare provider.

BMC Health Services Research

(6E, Community Nurse) Participants also mentioned that physicians' documents were unclear and their assessment was incomplete: "Sometimes, we want to contact the physician but he has rotated to another hospital... or he does not have enough information due to an incomplete assessment".

BMC Health Services Research

The review of these cases where discrepancies existed revealed that all cases had some indications of risk documented in the records, though the documentation was unclear regarding whether maltreatment was evident, hence affecting the certainty of coding.

BMC Public Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When stating that "this document is unclear", be specific about which parts are unclear and why. Provide examples to support your statement.

Common error

Avoid simply stating "this document is unclear" without providing any context or specific examples. This can be unhelpful and doesn't offer any direction for improvement. Instead, pinpoint the specific areas of confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this document is unclear" serves as a statement of assessment or judgment. It indicates that the reader or speaker finds the content of a particular document difficult to understand. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "this document is unclear" is a grammatically correct and understandable way to express a lack of clarity in a document. While Ludwig AI confirms its usability, the absence of examples suggests careful usage depending on context. Alternative phrases such as "the document is ambiguous" or "the document lacks clarity" can be used for variety or to convey specific nuances. It's essential to provide specific reasons for the lack of clarity rather than making a general statement. When using the phrase, consider your audience and choose the most appropriate level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the document is ambiguous

Replaces "unclear" with "ambiguous", indicating that the document has multiple possible interpretations.

the document lacks clarity

Emphasizes the absence of clearness in the document.

the document is not well-defined

Suggests that the document's content or scope is poorly outlined.

the meaning of the document is obscure

Uses "obscure" to highlight that the document's meaning is hidden or not easily grasped.

the document is difficult to understand

Directly states the difficulty in comprehending the document.

the document is confusing

Indicates that the document causes confusion for the reader.

the document's intent is vague

Focuses on the lack of a clear intention or purpose in the document.

the document is open to interpretation

Highlights the subjective nature of understanding the document, suggesting that different people may interpret it differently.

the document is poorly written

Attributes the lack of clarity to the writing quality of the document.

the details in the document are sketchy

Suggests that the document provides insufficient or incomplete information.

FAQs

How can I use "this document is unclear" in a sentence?

You can use "this document is unclear" to express that the meaning or content of a document is not easily understood. For example, "After reviewing the contract, this document is unclear regarding the payment terms."

What can I say instead of "this document is unclear"?

You can use alternatives like "the document is ambiguous", "the document lacks clarity", or "the document is confusing" depending on the specific reason for the lack of clarity.

Is it more professional to say "this document is unclear" or "the document lacks clarity"?

While both phrases are acceptable, "the document lacks clarity" may be perceived as more professional and formal than "this document is unclear". The best choice depends on the context and your audience.

What's the difference between "this document is unclear" and "this document is incomplete"?

"This document is unclear" means that the meaning is difficult to understand. "This document is incomplete" means that information is missing. A document can be both unclear and incomplete, or only one of the two.