unclear phrasing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unclear phrasing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where the wording of a statement or question is ambiguous or not easily understood. Example: "The instructions were filled with unclear phrasing, making it difficult for the team to follow them accurately."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

A well-planned and researched dissertation can be let down by poorly expressed ideas or unclear phrasing.

The Guardian

Furthermore, because of either practical reasons (the PROM has to be administered by an interviewer) or content reasons (omission of important aspects of quality of life, and unclear phrasing of some of the items) these PROMs did not seem suitable for use in clinical practice.

Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes

118 (3 %) times SSF's were not classifiable, mainly due to unclear phrasing of the SSF.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

The questionnaire was field tested by a small group (n = 10) of parents to identify possible gaps and unclear phrasing of the questions.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The specific issue of a ban on the purchase of sexual services, and even that is an unclear phrase, is not where I think the priority needs to be at this point," Ford said.

The Guardian

Besides, they assessed their domain of knowledge to select the appropriate and available element to form their responses and recognize unclear phrases through rereading instruction and examining the graphic information.

Language Testing in Asia

In this review process, the lack of line numbers, or an editable form of the MS, makes it hard to flag such things as unclear phrases.

F1000Research

I will often highlight typos, sentences that are unclear, or phrases that I find especially interesting.

Johns Hopkins University

The development process of EABPS used opinions on whether the questions were unclear, badly phrased, annoying, or unnecessary, or if any issue was omitted; this is a procedure which mostly relates to the face validity of the questionnaire.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Because the inner parts were unclear, and because phrases generally failed to lead anywhere, the music became a sequence of spurts.

The New York Times - Arts

The word re'a in the original Hebrew can mean "neighbor," or "friend," or "fellow man," and it has always been unclear whether this phrase referred to Israelites or to all people.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Before publishing, have someone else review your writing to identify any potentially "unclear phrasing" that you might have missed.

Common error

Relying too much on passive voice can often lead to "unclear phrasing". Actively rewrite sentences to emphasize the actor and action, making the meaning more direct and understandable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unclear phrasing" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as the subject or object of a sentence. It refers to the quality of written or spoken language that lacks clarity. As Ludwig confirms, it is a correct and usable expression.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unclear phrasing" is a grammatically correct but relatively rare noun phrase used to describe language that is difficult to understand. As Ludwig AI states, it's a correct and usable expression. It commonly appears in News & Media, scientific and academic contexts, often highlighting issues with written communication. To avoid using "unclear phrasing", prioritize precise language and seek feedback from others. Alternatives include "ambiguous wording" and "vague wording".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ambiguous wording

Focuses on the presence of multiple possible interpretations.

vague wording

Emphasizes a lack of precision or detail in the phrasing.

opaque language

Highlights the difficulty in understanding the phrasing, like a lack of transparency.

confusing wording

Focuses on the disorientation caused by the phrasing.

incomprehensible phrasing

Stresses the inability to understand the wording.

obscure phrasing

Highlights the hidden or indistinct nature of the wording.

muddy expression

Suggests that the phrasing is unclear due to being convoluted or poorly expressed.

indistinct language

Emphasizes a lack of clarity and definition in the phrasing.

garbled phrasing

Suggests that the phrasing is jumbled and difficult to understand.

tortuous phrasing

Emphasizes how convoluted the structure of the sentence can be

FAQs

What does "unclear phrasing" mean?

"Unclear phrasing" refers to the use of words or sentence structures that make a statement difficult to understand or interpret. It indicates a lack of clarity in the way something is expressed.

What can I say instead of "unclear phrasing"?

You can use alternatives like "ambiguous wording", "vague wording", or "confusing language" depending on the specific context.

How can I avoid using "unclear phrasing" in my writing?

To avoid "unclear phrasing", use precise language, avoid jargon, and ensure your sentences have a clear subject, verb, and object. Ask someone else to read your work and provide feedback on clarity.

Is "unclear phrasing" a common problem in academic writing?

Yes, "unclear phrasing" can be a common problem in academic writing, especially when dealing with complex topics. It's important to prioritize clarity and precision to ensure your ideas are effectively communicated.