unclear dates

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unclear dates" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to dates that are not clearly defined or specified, causing confusion or ambiguity. Example: "The project timeline is problematic due to the unclear dates provided in the initial proposal."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

There were 6 infants who had received BCG with unclear dates but before any other vaccination; therefore they were included in the analysis.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

A few isolated outlying dialects of south Tosk origin are spoken in Bulgaria and Turkish Thrace but are of unclear date.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This finding was expected because of unclear date of disease onset (data not shown).

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Patients were excluded from the study if they (1) had pubic symphysis separation, (2) bilateral sacral fracture, (3) sacroiliac joint injuries, (4) sacral plexus injuries that required neurolysis or decompression, or (5) injuries of unclear date or a history of conservatively or surgically treated pelvic injuries.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

It has deep but unclear roots, dating back at least a decade.

The New York Times - Sports

dWhich of the different revascularization options best improves prognosis is unclear to date.

Insights into Imaging

The effect of different load paths on the stress-strain behavior of eccentrically loaded columns has remained unclear to date.

Composites Part B: Engineering

While bismerthiazol [N,N′-methylene-bis- 2-amino-5-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole)] is one of the most widely used bactericides, the transport of bismerthiazol in subsurface environments is unclear to date.

Journal of Contaminant Hydrology

Their precise functions remain unclear to date [26], but their ligation modulates cell behavior in a subset-specific manner [27] and seems to participate in the shift of Th pattern observed in T lymphocytes during septic shock [8].

Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

A distinction that has been unclear to date in this area of research is whether a workplace LSP spoken assessment for work (meaning those assessment tasks that gauge employment entry levels as 'predictive' of work success) is the same as a workplace LSP spoken assessments at work (meaning those authentic assessments that gauge quality levels on-the-job as 'observed' success at work).

Language Testing in Asia

In fact, changes in phosphoprotein abundance in Leishmania have been documented throughout their life cycle [32] [34], but their significance for parasite differentiation and virulence remains unclear to date.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "unclear dates", provide any contextual information that might help clarify the timeframe, even if a specific date cannot be provided. For example, "The event occurred sometime in the late 19th century, though the exact dates are unclear."

Common error

Avoid using "unclear dates" as a placeholder when further research could potentially reveal more precise information. Always attempt to verify or refine date ranges before settling on this phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unclear dates" functions as a noun phrase, where "unclear" modifies the noun "dates". It describes the quality of the dates, indicating that they are not definitively known or established. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

24%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "unclear dates" is a grammatically sound way to indicate uncertainty about specific dates, as validated by Ludwig AI. While not overly common, it finds usage across different types of sources including Science, News & Media and Encyclopedias. When employing "unclear dates", ensure that you provide any available contextual information to aid understanding. Alternatives such as "ambiguous dates" or "vague dates" may offer similar nuance. Remember that relying on "unclear dates" should not preclude further investigation for more precise information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Ambiguous dates

Replaces "unclear" with "ambiguous", emphasizing the uncertainty of the dates.

Vague dates

Uses "vague" instead of "unclear", suggesting a lack of specificity in the dates.

Indefinite dates

Employs "indefinite", highlighting that the dates are not fixed or determined.

Uncertain dates

Substitutes "unclear" with "uncertain", directly expressing doubt about the dates.

Imprecise dates

Replaces "unclear" with "imprecise", indicating a lack of exactness in the dates.

Undetermined dates

Uses "undetermined", suggesting that the dates have not been established yet.

Unspecified dates

Employs "unspecified", highlighting that the dates have not been explicitly mentioned.

Rough dates

Suggests that the dates are approximate and not exact.

Approximate dates

Indicates that the dates are close to the actual time, but not precisely accurate.

Questionable dates

Uses "questionable" to indicate that the accuracy or validity of the dates is being doubted.

FAQs

How can I use "unclear dates" in a sentence?

You can use "unclear dates" to indicate that the specific timing of an event or period is unknown or uncertain. For example: "Due to limited historical records, the founding date of the village remains with "unclear dates"."

What are some alternatives to saying "unclear dates"?

Some alternatives include "ambiguous dates", "vague dates", or "uncertain dates". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "unclear date" or "unclear dates"?

"Unclear date" is used when referring to a single, specific instance, while "unclear dates" refers to multiple instances or a range of time. For example: "The exact start date of the project is an "unclear date"", versus "The historical records show "unclear dates" for several key events."

How does "unclear dates" differ from "disputed dates"?

"Unclear dates" suggests a lack of information or certainty about the timing. "Disputed dates", on the other hand, indicates that there are conflicting claims or disagreements about when something occurred. For example: "While the original documents present "unclear dates", later interpretations offer "disputed dates" based on different evidence."