unclear writing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unclear writing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to language that is confusing or hard to understand, for example: "The essay was full of unclear writing that was difficult to decipher."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

He rightly suggests that amnesia may be a necessity, just as it may be necessary to forgo the pleasures of the present (playing with one's children) in order to do service to a future that remains unclear (writing an academic paper from which the future generations may or may not profit).

The Guardian - Books

A C+, C, or C- thesis, paper, or exam offers little more than a mere a summary of ideas and information covered in the course, is insensitive to historical context, does not respond to the assignment adequately, suffers from frequent factual errors, unclear writing, poor organization, or inadequate primary research, or presents some combination of these problems.

Princeton University

This quote would sound clunky if it were restructured to read, "Dreams are made on such stuff as we are". Why it's okay: The passive voice can make for unclear writing, but sometimes, unclear writing is useful.

HuffPost

Not so good: 1. Very unclear writing at different levels: a. Various inconsistencies and poorly defined terms, for example on pg.

Biology Direct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"Navigation unclear," wrote Oliver Devereux on the app store's review page, while another described it as "quite unintuitive".

BBC

According to her demotion letter, Fuentes' boss, Community Development Director Hassan Haghani, had notified her of poor decision-making and unclear written decisions that led to unnecessary civil litigation against the city.

Los Angeles Times

The matter is somewhat technical and the Brussels-Austin Group has been notoriously unclear in writing about this point (see Bishop 2004).

SEP

So it's unclear if writing a to-do list would have any effect if you get on the iPad right after.

Forbes

The original SQUIRE Guidelines help with planning healthcare improvement work, but are perceived as complicated and unclear during writing.

BMJ Quality and Safety

It is unclear who wrote these words.

Yale University

("Their motives are too unclear," Persson wrote in a blogpost).

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When providing feedback on writing, be specific about what makes the writing "unclear". Point out confusing sentence structures, jargon, or logical leaps.

Common error

Relying too heavily on the passive voice can often lead to "unclear writing". Prefer active voice to make your writing more direct and easier to follow.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unclear writing" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "unclear" modifies the noun "writing". Ludwig AI confirms this phrase is valid in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "unclear writing" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe written text that is difficult to understand. Ludwig AI validates its usability across various contexts, as demonstrated by real-world examples from news media, academic papers, and scientific publications. While the phrase itself is neutral in tone, it's often used in evaluative contexts to critique or analyze writing quality. Alternative phrases like "ambiguous prose", "incomprehensible writing", and "vague writing" can offer more nuanced descriptions. When addressing "unclear writing", it's crucial to pinpoint specific issues like confusing sentence structures or excessive jargon to provide constructive feedback.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to understand writing

A more explicit and straightforward way of expressing the same idea.

incomprehensible writing

Highlights the difficulty or impossibility of understanding the writing.

confusing prose

Highlights the disorientation and lack of logical flow in the writing.

ambiguous prose

Emphasizes the uncertainty and lack of clarity in the writing.

vague writing

Focuses on the lack of precision and detail in the writing.

muddled writing

Suggests a lack of organization and clarity in the writing.

opaque writing

Emphasizes the lack of transparency and accessibility in the writing.

muddy prose

Implies that the writing is dense and difficult to navigate.

impenetrable prose

Highlights the resistance to understanding and interpretation.

garbled writing

Suggests that the writing is distorted and difficult to follow.

FAQs

How can I avoid "unclear writing" in my essays?

To avoid "unclear writing", focus on structuring your arguments logically, using precise language, and providing sufficient context for your claims. Reviewing your work and asking for feedback can also help.

What does "unclear writing" mean?

"Unclear writing" refers to text that is difficult to understand due to vagueness, poor organization, or confusing language.

What are some alternatives to "unclear writing"?

You can use alternatives like "ambiguous prose", "incomprehensible writing", or "vague writing" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How does passive voice contribute to "unclear writing"?

Excessive use of passive voice can obscure the subject performing the action, making sentences longer and more convoluted, which results in "unclear writing".