unclear between

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unclear between" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express confusion or ambiguity regarding two or more options or ideas, but it is not a standard expression. Example: "The instructions were unclear between the two methods, leaving the team confused about which one to follow."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The businesses say the lines are unclear between employee and independent contractor.

The New York Times

This finding is in agreement with the results of previous studies [10, 11] of affective disorders, in which it has been suggested that there is a distinct and bidirectional relationship between affective disorders and migraine, a relationship that does not exist (or is at best unclear) between affective disorders and TTH.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

The apparently distinct and bidirectional relationship that we found between affective disorders and migraine, a relationship that does not exist (or is at best unclear) between affective disorders and TTH, is in line with the results of previous studies analyzing affective disorders.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

In addition, the degree of variation in such iridoviruses is also unclear between different hosts and environments.

Archives of Virology

However, due to the small sample size, we did not conduct correlation analysis between the severity of CALs and 25- OH D3 level; therefore, the relationships are still unclear between the severity of CALs and 25- OH D3 level.

European Journal of Pediatrics

I should point out that prior to the identification of specific genetic markers, the boundaries of the preBötC were similarly unclear between 1991 and 1999, and then it was ten more years before the developmental and genetic basis for understanding the preBötC core came to the fore.

eLife

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Regarding BV, both groups showed a likely (HYP, ES=+0.5 (0.0 1.0), 88/11/1) and very likely (NORM, ES=+0.8 0.3 1.3), 97/3/0) increase at Post (figure 4), with unclear between-group difference in the change (figure 3).

British Journal of Sports Medicine

Both groups showed a likely (HYP, ES=+0.5 (−0.1 1.1), 79/17/4) and very likely (NORM, ES=+0.8 (0.3 1.2), 97/3/0) increase in PV at Post (figure 4), with unclear between-group difference in the change (figure 3).

British Journal of Sports Medicine

However, there was no clear Post difference in sweat loss compared with Pre (0.66±0.02 vs 0.69±0.02 L for Pre vs Post, respectively; −1.5% (−16;−15), ES=−0.0, 24/44/33), with unclear between-group differences in the changes (eg, Δ Pre vs Post: +5.3%(−23 43), 50/22/28 for HYP vs NORM; figure 3).

British Journal of Sports Medicine

Both groups showed a large decrease in average HR during the heat response test after the camp (109±6 vs 99±7 bpm for Pre versus Post, respectively; −10% (−12;−2), ES=−0.9, 100/0/0), with unclear between-group differences in the changes (eg, Δ Pre vs Post: +4.0% (−2.2 10.6), 75/15/10 for HYP vs NORM; figure 3).

British Journal of Sports Medicine

Similarly, the PCA results showed unclear separation between TZ and PZ tissues (Additional file 4) and a much clearer separation between normal and malignant tissues (Additional file 5).

BMC Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "unclear between". Opt for more grammatically sound alternatives like "unclear distinction between", "ambiguous relationship between", or "lack of clarity regarding".

Common error

Do not use "unclear between" when you mean to say there is an ambiguous or ill-defined relationship or distinction. Instead, use phrases such as "unclear distinction between", "ambiguous relationship between", or "lack of clarity regarding" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unclear between" functions as part of a broader description indicating a lack of clarity or definition in the relationship or distinction between two or more entities. As Ludwig AI points out, the construction is not grammatically correct, suggesting a need for revision to ensure proper English usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

57%

News & Media

36%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "unclear between" appears in various contexts, particularly in scientific and news-related content, Ludwig AI advises that it is grammatically incorrect. It's more appropriate to use alternatives like "unclear distinction between", "ambiguous relationship between", or "lack of clarity regarding" to maintain grammatical correctness and improve clarity. The frequency of this phrase is uncommon, and while it appears across several authoritative sources, opting for more precise language will enhance the quality and accuracy of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ambiguous distinction between

Replaces "unclear" with "ambiguous" and maintains the structure of comparing two distinct items.

vague distinction between

Uses "vague" instead of "unclear", suggesting a lack of sharpness or definition.

ill-defined boundary between

Focuses on the boundary, emphasizing its lack of clear definition.

blurred lines between

Uses a more figurative expression to indicate a lack of clear separation.

uncertainty regarding

Shifts the focus to the state of being uncertain about the distinction.

lack of clarity concerning

Emphasizes the absence of clear information about the relationship.

tenuous connection between

Suggests a weak or unsubstantial link.

poorly defined relationship between

Directly addresses the relationship and its lack of clear definition.

nebulous area between

Uses 'nebulous' to suggest something is hazy and undefined.

indistinct separation of

Highlights the lack of a clear separation between two things.

FAQs

What is a grammatically correct alternative to "unclear between"?

Instead of "unclear between", use phrases like "unclear distinction between", "ambiguous relationship between", or "lack of clarity regarding".

How can I rewrite a sentence that uses "unclear between" to improve its clarity?

Replace "unclear between" with more precise language that specifies what is unclear. For example, use "the distinction is unclear" or "the relationship is poorly defined" to add detail and improve understanding.

Is "unclear between" considered proper English?

No, "unclear between" is not considered proper English. It's better to use alternatives such as "unclear distinction between" or "uncertain relationship between" for grammatical correctness.

What's the difference between "unclear between" and "unclear distinction between"?

"Unclear between" is grammatically incorrect. The correct and clearer phrase is "unclear distinction between", which indicates that the difference or boundary between two things is not well-defined or understood.