vague notions

USAGE SUMMARY

"vague notions" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It can be used when describing someone's ideas or thoughts that are not clear or precise. Example: She had vague notions about what she wanted to do with her life, but she couldn't seem to pinpoint a specific career path.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Vague notions of interdisciplinarity arise in many inconsistently labelled forms.

The Guardian

Vague notions of purity abound when discussing Guns N' Roses.

The Guardian - Music

By then, vague notions of a unified American continent had taken an aggressive and nationalistic turn.

Princeton University

This is a more effective retention strategy than appealing to vague notions of loyalty.

Harvard Business Review

Ostrowski argues that vague notions imploring people to save the planet don't work.

The Guardian

This was true: Joy had only vague notions of what he would do next.

The New York Times - Magazine

His show on Wednesday night took vague notions of space as its theme.

The New York Times

Its origins in the US were based on vague notions about African "roots".

The Guardian - Opinion

It's vague notions of diversity, rather than really getting into Canadian history".

The New Yorker

"But it is quite another to invoke vague notions of fairness to oppose all reform," he told the conference.

The Guardian

But Wright and others said that beyond such vague notions, there were few tangible differences they could discern.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "vague notions" with verbs that indicate a lack of clarity, such as "entertain", "harbor", or "express", to emphasize the uncertainty or imprecision of the ideas.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that someone has "vague notions" without explaining what those notions are related to. Provide context to help the reader understand the subject of the unclear ideas.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "vague notions" functions primarily as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or the complement of a preposition. It describes the characteristic of ideas or understandings as being unclear or ill-defined. As Ludwig shows, it often appears when someone "has" or "entertains" such notions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "vague notions" is a commonly used noun phrase to describe ideas or understandings that lack clarity or specific details. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's grammatically correct and suitable for describing imprecise thoughts. With a neutral register, it fits various contexts, including news, science, and business. While it's useful for expressing uncertainty, be sure to provide context to what these "vague notions" refer. Alternatives like "ill-defined ideas" or "unclear concepts" can be used to express similar meanings. The frequent usage across authoritative sources reinforces its acceptability and versatility in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ill-defined ideas

Replaces "notions" with "ideas" and emphasizes the lack of clear definition.

unclear concepts

Substitutes "notions" with "concepts", highlighting the lack of clarity.

fuzzy ideas

Uses "fuzzy" to describe the lack of clarity, instead of "vague".

imprecise concepts

Replaces "vague" with "imprecise", focusing on the lack of exactness.

nebulous ideas

Uses "nebulous" to convey the lack of clear form or structure.

hazy notions

Employs "hazy" to describe the lack of clarity, suggesting obscurity.

ambiguous ideas

Replaces "vague" with "ambiguous", stressing the potential for multiple interpretations.

indistinct concepts

Highlights the lack of distinctness or clear boundaries.

tenuous ideas

Suggests the ideas are weak or lacking a solid foundation.

unformed concepts

Implies the concepts are still developing and lack complete shape.

FAQs

How can I use "vague notions" in a sentence?

You can use "vague notions" to describe ideas or understandings that are not fully formed or lack specific details. For example: "He had only "vague notions" about the project's requirements."

What are some alternatives to "vague notions"?

Alternatives include "ill-defined ideas", "unclear concepts", or "fuzzy ideas", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to be specific than to have "vague notions"?

In most contexts, specificity is preferred for clarity. However, "vague notions" can be a starting point for exploration or brainstorming, indicating initial, less defined thoughts. As a next step, it is necessary to move away from the "vague notions" to something more concrete.

When is it appropriate to use the term "vague notions"?

It's appropriate when describing an initial or incomplete understanding of something, or when characterizing someone's ideas as lacking clarity or precision. It suggests a lack of concrete details or fully formed thoughts.