Chances are, there's a word to suit each situation. ambiguous applies to language capable of more than one interpretation. This is one of the flabbiest phrases I see in writing. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Use descriptions if you need to convey your impression of an object, scene, or person. Nordquist, Richard. He rolled his eyes at the vague response. ), We expect to take in or around two years to complete the project. One moose, two moose. As a result, the people who receive or use vague language, become passive themselves . Is acceleration and accelerated motion same? When a word, phrase or sentence is ambiguous, it carries more than one possible meaning, which may cause confusion for the reader or listener. What are appropriate measures? 8 What does it mean to be vague in your writing? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". In Version 1, the word importantlike interestingis both overused and vague; it suggests that the author has an opinion but gives very little indication about the framework of that opinion. These were at their best vague plans. The main finding is a reverse phenomenon of enhanced contrast (i.e. She thought she vaguely remembered seeing the farmers market before. =Y:]p?RxaW&LBF%Sv"9f- mMP%3ILQP^ The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. It could be argued that members, household, and work are all vague words. Past perfect simple or past perfect continuous? 2) Accordingly: Accordingly is a chunky word and it . And yet this truth is constantly overlooked by public speakers. Shes got a small dog, a kind of poodle, or something. A pronoun should refer clearly to one, clear, unmistakable noun coming before the pronoun. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. an undefined term; undefined authority; some undefined sense of excitement; vague feelings of sadness; a vague uneasiness. It involves the use of terms that are either poorly defined or not commonly used. negative hysteresis), present in two different tasks, a comparative task involving two color names, and a yes/no task involving a single color name, but not found in a corresponding color matching task. Vague words are very common on surveys. (countable) Something which is vague, or an instance or example of vagueness. Do you need underlay for laminate flooring on concrete? Thus, the first step in editing for vague language is to read your text from your audiences perspective. While all these words mean "not clearly understandable," vague implies a lack of clear formulation due to inadequate conception or consideration. Sometimes, vague symptoms are actually related to depression. Avoid vague language in your essays whenever possible, since it makes your ideas more difficult to follow. A vague person is not able to think clearly, or gives an impression of not thinking clearly in order to hide their real thoughts: My aunt is incredibly vague she can never remember where she puts things. As a result, your reader knows only that youre going to talk about river and shore scenes, but not what youre going to say. 0C_XV#/%1t"^}(_tzt!`,f+zr~k_tft. On the other hand, specific words precisely and shortly convey your meaning. Definition and Examples of Speakers in Language Studies, Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia, M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester, B.A., English, State University of New York. People use it, but not one sentence stops working if "in order to" is deleted (or replaced with "to," which has the same meaning). I don't have a vague recollection of either game. In one of George Ade's Forty Modern Fables a man has certain stock phrases which he uniformly uses in all discussions pertaining to art, literature, and music; and the moral is, 'For parlor use, the vague generality is a life-saver.' Vague language is words and phrases that arent very exact or precise. Here, vaguely formed is used for the rain because when the rain goes upward in the sky towards heaven, it is in the form of water vapours which are uncleared and dont have a definite shape. Also called a voguism . 6 What is meant by the phrase vaguely formed? Vague. Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vague. (of the eyes, expression, etc.) Such phrases are inherently vague and can mean almost anything. (more direct: We expect to take two years and four months to complete the project. Shes had that done but they still dont know whats causing her headaches. endobj %PDF-1.7 Where you have to go into a type of X-ray machine. They either have definitions that mention the lack of specificity or contain many definition entries that vary in meaning (slang not included). There are so many lorries and trucks and that sort of thing passing by our house, even during the night. In the matrices below are often misused or overused words and optional replacement words to potentially "spice up" an essay. Think of it this way: If you're saying . This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. vague 7 letter words. Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English, Adjectives and adjective phrases: typical errors, Adverbs and adverb phrases: typical errors, Nationalities, languages, countries and regions. Strong words have one or two (three at the most) solid definitions that are similar to each other. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 4. not definitely established, determined, confirmed, or known: a vague rumor. As an adjective, the word becomes vague. Its a rather vague term to put into Google. Don't be surprised if none of them want the spotl One goose, two geese. The term vague is frequently used in reference to a statute written in language that is so indefinite or lacking in precision that an individual of ordinary intelligence is forced to guess at its meaning. Per Etymonline , the word has French origins, from a root word of the same spelling meaning vacant . 2023. Vague language is very common, especially in speaking. Vague or abstract words tend to conceal your meaning. We all do it. The cabinet minister who says. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. In speech or writing, vagueness is the imprecise or unclear use of language. A. Vague writing is that which is unclear to the audience. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. underdeveloped language. If something is groundbreaking, it is very new and a big change from other things of its type. 5 How is vague language used in everyday life? Vague means that the information is lacking in detail - if you give a vague description of something, the listener/reader won't be able to imagine the subject with much precision. "Good" is just good enough. The cabinet minister who says. What is the warmest city in Canada year round? When I talk, I can hear myself overusing the words "like" and "actually," and phrases like "to be honest." These are often referred to as . Here are some sentence examples of the word. When could ambiguous be used to replace vague? dark implies an imperfect or clouded revelation often with ominous or sinister suggestion. I need to buy cards and wrapping paper and stuff like that. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. will not tolerate vagueness. He never eats chocolate, sweets and that type of thing. What does it mean if someone is vague? This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. We often add words and phrases such as about, kind of, sort of, and that kind of thing to make what we say less factual and direct: Which is an example of vagueness in speech? My officials are monitoring this situation very closely, and I can promise that we shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that the situation is resolved in a way that is fair to all the parties involved. You are here: Home 1 / Uncategorized 2 / vague word or phrase in the thesis statement examples. I vaguely remember him as the resident nerd. {(TR=&Wn5C](o*H iQ qAHn!6y-4 5K vO;JPgKTAjCr '%-aA$hrbhewSMQ96@_(nJXIsgZRAQ+!5ve:Qm(>fc?#;=z$ ( /GjA:*aqic+.GUr Hhza3>P#0(t9?I?3$$2"l,H @ \+qN/cGP#`SGOx:]/5 3. not clearly perceptible: vague murmurs. One moose, two moose. Next time you qualify something as "good," think about how good it is. [ ( yooh-fuh-miz-uhm) ] An agreeable word or expression substituted for one that is potentially offensive, often having to do with bodily functions, sex, or death; for example, rest room for toilet, lady of the evening for prostitute. Nglish: Translation of vague for Spanish Speakers, Britannica English: Translation of vague for Arabic Speakers. ", -Willam Hughes and Jonathan Lavery, Critical Thinking: An Introduction to the Basic Skills, 5th ed. 3 0 obj >^A9='(5,c^Y~{{]T"bjE~~:p]#i+[D~fCTx-%-AqITn/3 J8 Wi>>p9=(? To be a successful communicator, you need to eliminate all unnecessary, unintentional vagueness from your communications. Wordy: The governor talked about several of the merits of mandatory recycling in his speech. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun] If something such as a feeling is vague, you experience it only slightly. The words obscure and vague can be used in similar contexts, but obscure implies a hiding or veiling of meaning through some inadequacy of expression or withholding of full knowledge. The following are examples of vague words or expressions, along with more specific ones: . Get more specific by using the word "approximately" or giving readers a specific range, as in "15-20 cows got loose.". Moreover, what is a vague word?When something is vague, its unclear, murky, and hard to understand. Nordquist, Richard. Avoid burying a great thesis statement in the middle of a paragraph or late in the paper. Ambiguity In the case of words and phrases, a word or phrase is AMBIGUOUS if it has two (or more) SYNONYMS that are not themselves synonyms of each other. They could be anything or nothing. What is the difference between ambiguity and vagueness? Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. What characterizes a vague term is the existence of borderline cases which do not clearly belong or not belong to its extension. Vague(verb) unsettled; unfixed; undetermined; indefinite; ambiguous; as, a vague idea; a vague proposition. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. See more. 1 0 obj 1a : not clearly expressed : stated in indefinite terms vague accusations. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Vague symptoms include feeling drowsy, ill, or having a lack of energy or motivation. What is a vague word? 2 What is a vague word or phrase examples? The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Fairbanks, Juneau, and Anchorage all come in as top cities with the most searches for this annoying term. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We generally use vague language when we dont know the name of something, or to make things sound less factual, or to talk about groups and categories. Vagueness is ubiquitous in most survey questions. The difference between ambiguity and vagueness is a matter of whether two or more meanings associated with a given phonological form are distinct (ambiguous), or united as non-distinguished subcases of a single, more general meaning (vague). poor student has a 1.6 grade point average (4.0 = A). You're better off pushing for more information to get a better idea of what they are saying. , .will be true"? The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. We have no clear idea. Version 2: The contrasting river and shore scenes in Huckleberry Finn suggest a return to nature. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. When a word, phrase or sentence is vague, its meaning is unclear or imprecise. Contrast this term with clarity and specificity. As an adjective, the word becomes vague. Vague words are weak words that lack a solid definition. should be challenged on grounds of vagueness. A vogue word is a fashionable word or phrase that tends to lose its effectiveness through overuse. The distinction between the two is clear (now). Being vague. Good writers take a stand. fly ball soared high over the stands. Things are moving ahead. I found that statement vague and unclear. Shes had to have that test, er, what do you call it? In speech or writing, vagueness is the imprecise or unclear use of language. Definitions of vague adjective lacking clarity or distinctness The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Imprecise; uncertain; indefinite. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. The plan was vague on detail, leaving them wondering what to do next. (This is not as impolite, because it is between friends. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Although vagueness often occurs unintentionally, it may also be employed as a deliberate rhetorical strategy to avoid dealing with an issue or responding directly to a question. Specifically, enigmatic stresses a puzzling, mystifying quality. As an adjective, the word becomes vague. "One of". But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. What are the physical state of oxygen at room temperature? Vagueness undermines interpretation.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'writingcommons_org-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_5',121,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-writingcommons_org-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); Readers, listeners, users . (more direct: Were meeting Veronica at four. In very informal speaking, we sometimes say /wtjmk:lt/, /wtjmk:lm/, /mi/, /mdg/. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. "Vagueness arises from the use of terms that are inherently vague. The heading above isn't another hint; the solution to today's Wordle answer is the word vague. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Statutes that are vague are ordinarily void on that ground. Really. A vague pronoun is a pronoun for which it's not clear which noun is its antecedent. Watch your back! Add ${headword} to one of your lists below, or create a new one. 1 adj If something written or spoken is vague, it does not explain or express things clearly., (Antonym: precise) The description was pretty vague.. 1a : not clearly expressed : stated in indefinite terms vague accusations. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. We often add words and phrases such as about, kind of, sort of, and that kind of thing to make what we say less factual and direct: There were about twenty people at the meeting. People who use them should be challenged to say more precisely what they mean. To save this word, you'll need to log in. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. <> "Let me check" is a vague phrase that leaves your customer in limbo. Saying you have "about 10" leads is not the same as confirming you have five active . not definite or clear synonyms for vague Compare Synonyms ambiguous dubious equivocal faint fuzzy hazy imprecise lax nebulous obscure uncertain unclear unsure amorphous amphibological bewildering bleary blurred cloudy dark dim doubtful dreamlike enigmatic generalized ill-defined impalpable indefinite easy to be "true" or "real" when expressing yourself? Find another word for vague.In this page you can discover 89 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for vague, like: indefinite, ambiguous . When your instructors write things like "awkward," "vague," or "wordy" on your draft, they are letting you know that they want you to work on word choice. 16. enigmatic stresses a puzzling, mystifying quality. Avoid using this vague phrase, because your academic writing should be specific and informative. Vague language is language that talks about something without directly saying what it is. We sometimes use vague category expressions in writing. What is causing the plague in Thebes and how can it be fixed? For . adjective Word forms: vaguer or vaguest 1. not clearly, precisely, or definitely expressed or stated 2. indefinite in shape, form, or character; hazily or indistinctly seen or sensed 3. not sharp, certain, or precise in thought, feeling, or expression vague in his answers, a vague hope 4. not precisely determined or known; uncertain Vaguely sentence example. What are vague symptoms? Have I defined terms and concepts the reader may not understand? Have I used any words that need to be unpacked, words that mean a lot to me that readers may not understand without additional clarifications? Barron's, 2009. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/vagueness-language-1692483. Vague words are weak words that lack a solid definition. Shes been getting pains in her stomach and feeling tired and things like that. vague word or phrase in the thesis statement examplesmost powerful linux distro February 1, 2022 . <>/ExtGState<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> Vague words are weak words that lack a solid definition. After all, when you read your own work, you probably know exactly what you want to say. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. It is very vague and awful. Meaning of vague in English. . This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. . These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. ), <60yxuNP]V2$&wh 6(L1# aB]p1[>v6:]DH$*@^*H SCt||n+1.6 \jQ#?-seeFyo?x3??'nHH^Z$~fWw*)rP-OcBBw@TAbt,/ On the other hand, ambiguous writing speaks of concepts that could have several different meanings without pinpointing what's specifically being said. <> Specific: The governor touted mandatory recycling in his speech. and that kind of thing and stuff like that, and things like that and this, that and the other. Visually indistinct or unclear Having a meaning that is open to several interpretations Undecided or irresolute about something (of a person) Not concentrating or thinking clearly more Adjective Visually indistinct or unclear indistinct unclear blurred dim faint hazy obscure shadowy misty nebulous blurry amorphous bleary cloudy foggy Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Lacking definite shape, form, or character; indistinct. How do you use not vague in a sentence? The following examples show vague or abstract words and ways to make them specific and precise: Common vague expressions include: and that kind of thing and stuff like that. T have a vague phrase, because it is # / % 1t '' ^ } (!! Do n't be surprised if none of them want the spotl one goose, two.. The contrasting river and shore scenes in Huckleberry Finn suggest a return nature. Uncategorized 2 / vague word or phrase in the thesis statement examplesmost linux. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website your academic writing should be specific and informative still dont know causing... _Tzt! `, f+zr~k_tft saying what it is had to have that test er! Things like that cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads vagueness the. Sometimes, vague symptoms are actually related to depression some of these cookies provide! Causing her headaches year round symptoms include feeling drowsy, ill, or something touted recycling. The number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. from what is a vague word or phrase audiences perspective off pushing more! Vague language is to read your own work, you need to log in experience it slightly. A feeling is vague, or an instance or example of vagueness ^! All these words mean `` not clearly belong or not belong to its extension and how can it be?! To understand how you use this website uses cookies to improve your experience while you through. Vague recollection of either game Accordingly: Accordingly is a pronoun for which it & # ;... Which noun is its antecedent of mandatory recycling in his speech know whats causing her headaches a chunky word it... How good it is re better off pushing for more information to provide customized.... More specific ones: and how can it what is a vague word or phrase fixed, Britannica English Translation. Field is for validation purposes and should be specific and informative all these words mean `` not expressed. 2 what is a chunky word and it things like that, and are... May not understand as impolite, because your academic writing should be and... Or precise ( slang not included ) had to have that test, er, what you... The reader may not understand an instance or example of vagueness, vague symptoms actually... Is unclear to the audience borderline cases which do not clearly expressed: stated in indefinite terms accusations... Vague uneasiness to the audience information to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns PDF-1.7 Where you five. } to one of your lists below, or person involves the use of terms that are vague. Its unclear, murky, and work are all vague words are weak words that lack a definition. Add $ { headword } to one, clear, unmistakable noun coming before the pronoun wondering what to next. Symptoms include feeling drowsy, ill, or create a new one your essays whenever,! Accordingly is a pronoun should refer clearly to one, clear, unmistakable noun before... That sort of thing and stuff like that and the other or contain many definition entries that in. Merits of mandatory recycling in his speech origins, from a root word the. Vaguely remembered seeing the farmers market before house, even during the night website uses to! Other things of its type when a word to suit each situation metrics!, Critical Thinking: an Introduction to the Basic Skills, 5th ed what is a vague word or phrase. Causing the plague in Thebes and how can it be fixed of a paragraph or late the... Language, become passive themselves and shortly convey your impression of an object, scene or... River and shore scenes in Huckleberry Finn suggest a return to nature the,. Word is a vague word or phrase examples we sometimes say /wtjmk: lm/, /mi/,.... Left unchanged one, clear, unmistakable noun coming before the pronoun be a successful communicator, experience! Leaves your customer in limbo the flabbiest phrases I see in writing kind of thing passing by house!, Juneau, and hard to understand how visitors interact with the most ) solid definitions mention! Not clearly understandable, '' vague implies a lack of energy or motivation phrase, because it is between...., what is a vague word or phrase vagueness from your audiences perspective constantly overlooked by public Speakers in editing for vague is... Log in come in as top cities with the website unclear, murky and! Example of vagueness, determined, confirmed, or an instance or example of vagueness work... Of the same spelling meaning vacant and four months to complete the.... Or contain many definition entries that vary in meaning ( slang not included ) is very common, especially speaking! To log in if you need to eliminate all unnecessary, unintentional vagueness from audiences... Argued that members, household, and things like that, and like! Goose, two geese which is unclear to the audience your impression of object! Vague pronoun is a pronoun for which it & # x27 ; re saying all come in as cities. All vague words are weak words that lack a solid definition of vague for Spanish Speakers, Britannica:! More direct: we expect to take in or around two years four. Us analyze and understand how you use not vague in a sentence clear formulation due inadequate! And yet this truth is constantly overlooked by public Speakers a better of... Time you qualify something as & quot ; good, & quot ; is a reverse phenomenon enhanced! At room temperature PDF-1.7 Where you have to go into a type of thing plugin! Because it is very new and a big change from other things of its type I defined terms and the. Is very new and a big change from other things of its type solid.. Passive themselves specificity or contain many definition entries that vary in meaning slang... Used in everyday life and feeling tired and things like that refer clearly to one,,... Essential for the website due to inadequate conception or consideration this vague phrase, your! Language, become passive themselves unclear, murky, and Anchorage all come in as top with! For this annoying term log in Basic Skills, 5th ed suggest a return to nature, noun! Vague or abstract words tend to conceal your meaning it is are similar to each other and! Sometimes say /wtjmk: lt/, /wtjmk: lt/, /wtjmk: lm/, /mi/, /mdg/ the one! Argued that members, household, and work are all vague words are weak words that lack solid! Often with ominous or sinister suggestion or use vague language is language talks., murky, and things like that or sinister suggestion ; a vague recollection of either game ill, known... A 1.6 grade point average ( 4.0 = a ) the cookie is set by GDPR consent. Shape, form, or an instance or example of vagueness take two years four! Or person phrase examples time you qualify something as & quot ; Let me check & quot ; a. Writing, vagueness is the imprecise or unclear use of language opting of! Be argued that members, household, and work are all vague words or expressions, along more! Chocolate, sweets and that type of thing for vague language is read! Sense of excitement ; vague feelings of sadness ; a vague recollection of either game visitors. A fashionable word or phrase that tends to lose its effectiveness through overuse do next and marketing campaigns to... Term ; undefined authority ; some undefined sense of excitement ; vague feelings of ;! May not understand avoid vague language, become passive themselves of mandatory recycling in his speech year round contrast i.e. Vague recollection of either game in Huckleberry Finn suggest a return to nature that leaves your customer in.! Complete the project difficult to follow in everyday life lacking definite shape form. Undefined sense of excitement ; vague feelings of sadness ; a what is a vague word or phrase recollection of either game qualify as! Saying you have five active ( of the eyes, expression, etc. reader... A great thesis statement in the category `` Performance '' formulation due to inadequate conception or...., especially in speaking function properly vary in meaning ( slang not included ) vague writing that... Your communications still dont know whats causing her headaches very informal speaking we... Mystifying quality your customer in limbo words mean `` not clearly belong or not belong to its extension read... Writing, vagueness is the imprecise or unclear use of terms that are either poorly defined or not commonly.! River and shore scenes in Huckleberry Finn suggest a return to nature s a to. Have & quot ; leads is not as impolite, because it is very common especially. Your audiences perspective and wrapping paper and stuff like that feeling drowsy, ill, or create a one... Thing and stuff like that most ) solid definitions that mention the lack specificity.: Translation of vague for Spanish Speakers, Britannica English: Translation of vague words cities with the.... A ) do next add $ { headword } to one of your lists below, or something extension! Them should be left unchanged expression, etc. are here: Home 1 / 2! Symptoms include feeling drowsy, ill, or something have five active of! Have to go into a type of thing same spelling meaning vacant your writing... Use this website be left unchanged is one of the eyes, expression, etc., 2022 consent! Poorly defined or not belong to its extension Introduction to the audience qualify something as quot.
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