5 How is vague language used in everyday life? vagueness. Exposition The look for something else, something more appealing.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'writingcommons_org-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_3',122,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-writingcommons_org-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); It can be hard to tell if your writing includes vagueness. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Did you see lions and giraffes and that kind of thing when you were in South Africa? 2a : not clearly defined, grasped, or understood : indistinct only a vague notion of what's needed also : slight a vague hint of a thickening waistline hasn't the vaguest idea. Vagueness refers to a lack of clarity in meaning . The word in the example sentence does not match the entry word. This handout will explain some common issues related to word choice and give you strategies for choosing the best words as you revise your drafts. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 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. Vague language use removes all movement, concrete verbs - and therefore action - from communication. Macagno and Walton note that vagueness "can also be introduced for the purpose of allowing the speaker to redefine the concept he wishes to use" (Emotive Language in Argumentation, 2014). 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. 4 Good. and that sort of thing and stuff. 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 . Vague words are very common on surveys. 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. 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. We never write these words: Andrews just moved in with whatyamacallhim /wtjmk:lm/? One vague word is enough. When can obscure be used instead of vague? He never eats chocolate, sweets and that type of thing. 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. 4 adj If you describe someone as vague, you mean that they do not seem to be thinking clearly. They either have definitions that mention the lack of specificity or contain many definition entries that vary in meaning (slang not included). The Australians believed in spirits, generally of an evil nature, and had vague notions of an after-life. Vague words used in contracts include the adjectives reasonable, prompt, material, negligent, satisfactory, and substantial (among many others) and the related adverbs. The pitfalls are also that entire groups of people can be manipulated. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. What counts as someone working?Vagueness is ubiquitous in most survey questions. They either have definitions that mention the lack of specificity or contain many definition entries that vary in meaning (slang not included). To save this word, you'll need to log in. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. "Vague or abstract words can create wrong or confusing meanings in your receiver's mind. ", "One characteristic of vaguenessis that it is related to the degree of formality, or rather informality, of the situation; the less formal the situation the more vagueness there will be", "[T]he need in oratory of the specific example, either in place of or immediately following the general statement, cannot be too strongly urged. When you use a word to describe the likelihood of a probabilistic outcome, you have a lot of wiggle room to make yourself look good after the fact. Through the mist I could just make out a vague figure. Change a phrase into a single word or an adjective. vague 7 letter words. A word is vague when it is not obvious to a respondent what referents (e.g., instances, cases, examples) fall under the umbrella of the words intended meaning. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. and that kind of thing and stuff like that. 2a : not clearly defined, grasped, or understood : indistinct only a vague notion of what's needed also : slight a vague hint of a thickening waistline hasn't the vaguest idea. Just clear tips and lifehacks for every day. He rolled his eyes at the vague response. What is the difference between ambiguity and vagueness? Vague language is language that talks about something without directly saying what it is. If something is groundbreaking, it is very new and a big change from other things of its type. It is very vague and awful. There are lot's of terms that are like tall: short, strong, weak, beautiful, ugly, heavy, light, warm, and cool--all of these are terms that seem to have borderline cases. The bottom line is that people dont like to be talked at. (This is a very impolite response and means I dont care.). Vague(verb) to wander; to roam; to stray. In other words, you can't tell which word the pronoun is replacing.Example 1:When the car hit a tree, it made a . A vogue word is a fashionable word or phrase that tends to lose its effectiveness through overuse. Vague Words Tables In the English language, writers commonly overuse certain words. You could be referring to something that's slightly better than something else, something that's suitable, or something that's really good. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. We have no clear idea. Vague(verb) unsettled; unfixed; undetermined; indefinite; ambiguous; as, a vague idea; a vague proposition. I have only a vague notion of what she does for a living. Highlight the vague word or phrase in the thesis statement below. Such a word or phrase divides the world of objects into those it applies to 1, and those to which it doesn't apply. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Well, theyre not sure. This is one of the flabbiest phrases I see in writing. The fascinating story behind many people's favori Can you handle the (barometric) pressure? When a word, phrase or sentence is vague, its meaning is unclear or imprecise. Write an essay that makes a prediction about what will happen in the portions of Frankenstein past Chapter 4. Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz! . (Redirected from Weasel Word) A weasel word, or anonymous authority, is an informal term for words and phrases aimed at creating an impression that something specific and meaningful has been said, when in fact only a vague or ambiguous claim has been communicated. 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. Example: Vague: The Acme Corporation is developing a new consumer device that allows users to communicate vocally in real time. Words I'll avoid in 2023 - Every year I select three overused, vague or euphemistic words to try to eliminate from my professional writing (and speech, for <> It does not store any personal data. Vague symptoms include feeling drowsy, ill, or having a lack of energy or motivation. http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1210_how_to_converse/page17.shtml, http://www.thoughtco.com/vagueness-language-1692483, http://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/word-choice/, http://www.dictionary.com/browse/thesis-statement, http://www.cws.illinois.edu/workshop/writers/tips/thesis/, developing a thesis statement for an essay, does a thesis statement need supporting evidence. Wordy: The governor talked about several of the merits of mandatory recycling in his speech. Strong words have one or two (three at the most) solid definitions that are similar to each other. Moderate: great, honorable, admirable, commendable, sound, splendid, superb, valuable, wonderful, worthy, clever, proficient, qualified, apt, skillful, thorough, wholesome Bold: excellent, exceptional, gratifying, marvelous, reputable, stupendous, superior, exemplary, virtuous, expert, solid, advantageous, flawless, extensive, perfect Bad About. A standard example of ambiguity is bank 'financial institution' vs. bank 'land at river's edge,' where the meanings are intuitively quite separate; in aunt 'father's sister' vs. aunt 'mother's sister,' however, the meanings are intuitively united into one, 'parent's sister.' A. 'Call it a day' - Stop working on something. Being vague. Dr. Richard Nordquist is professor emeritus of rhetoric and English at Georgia Southern University and the author of several university-level grammar and composition textbooks. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. dark implies an imperfect or clouded revelation often with ominous or sinister suggestion. Things are moving ahead. I found that statement vague and unclear. "Definition and Examples of Vagueness in Language." The vague words or phrases in the thesis statement below are: This refers to the use of words where the speaker (or writer) does not give precise information about what he is describing. 21. Expressions such as stuff and whatever, whoever, whenever, whichever are sometimes used to be vague in an impolite way. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. (more direct: Theres something I dont like about her. The new theatre will be used for big events such as opera, ballet, drama and so on. The house is equipped with a cooker, washing machine, television, etc. 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. One moose, two moose. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 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. 2a : not clearly defined, grasped, or understood : indistinct only a vague notion of whats needed also : slight a vague hint of a thickening waistline hasnt the vaguest idea. The main finding is a reverse phenomenon of enhanced contrast (i.e. undefined, vague(adj) not precisely limited, determined, or distinguished. (of persons) not clear or definite in thought, understanding, or expression: vague about his motives;a vague person. Good writers take a stand. Instead of saying a great deal of, provide exact measurements or specific quantities. 2. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. easy to be "true" or "real" when expressing yourself? 3. not clearly perceptible: vague murmurs. 6 What is meant by the phrase vaguely formed? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Vaguely sentence example. come across texts that seem more writer-based than reader-based language, they turn away. Nglish: Translation of vague for Spanish Speakers, Britannica English: Translation of vague for Arabic Speakers. These are called hedges: about, kind of, sort of, -ish (suffix), stuff, things: Theres sort of something I dont like about her. 2 0 obj I dont have a vague recollection of either game. You can specify conditions of storing and accessing cookies in your browser. And when readers, listeners, users . Some common words that are often used in vague scientific statements include they, it, them, these, and those. You're better off pushing for more information to get a better idea of what they are saying. 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.' Like a foggy day that undermines a hike, vague language creates confusion, ambiguity, and conflict, Fake News: An Undergraduate Composition Course, Fake News: an Undergraduate Composition Course, a defining characteristic of weak writing and, an excessive number of non-specific adjectives like. More often than not, a sentence will be made stronger when these pronouns are replaced by the specific noun instead. A term is vague, we might say, if and only if it has borderline cases. ), Whatever. ", -Willam Hughes and Jonathan Lavery, Critical Thinking: An Introduction to the Basic Skills, 5th ed. Use precise quantities instead of this overly . 1. not clearly or explicitly stated or expressed: vague promises. others business administration students. Vague words are weak words that lack a solid definition. What does it mean if someone is vague? However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. <>/ExtGState<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> 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. ", "Use details. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz! Where did you leave it? Isobel looked vague. an excessive number of non-specific adjectives like good, bad, okay, pretty, happy, and sad, which give an audience only a superficial and general sense of emotion or description. 2023. >^A9='(5,c^Y~{{]T"bjE~~:p]#i+[D~fCTx-%-AqITn/3 J8 Wi>>p9=(? We can use vague expressions when we are not sure of the name of something. (uncountable) The condition of being unclear; vague. It does not store any personal data. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". This question has several vague words, most of which would be missed by the vast majority of respondents. 4. How is the word vague different from other adjectives like it? The new theatre will be used for big events such as opera, ballet, drama and so on. These were at their best vague plans. See definition of vague on Dictionary.com adj. Most Dangerous Game Plot Diagram Directions: Organize the plot events you summarized into the five stages Plot Diagram 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? endobj To save this word, you'll need to log in. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. When might equivocal be a better fit than vague? To be a successful communicator, you need to eliminate all unnecessary, unintentional vagueness from your communications. Learn a new word every day. There are so many lorries and trucks and that sort of thing passing by our house, even during the night. This will also reduce the chance that a reader might misinterpret the data or results being presented. People use it, but not one sentence stops working if "in order to" is deleted (or replaced with "to," which has the same meaning). Usage - Pronoun Reference. It involves the use of terms that are either poorly defined or not commonly used. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You might want to use these phrases if you arent sure of all the details of something, to speak informally in a friendly way, or perhaps just to save time in a conversation! What is meant by the phrase vaguely formed? should be challenged on grounds of vagueness. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Vague(noun) an indefinite expanse. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 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. What are your views on the new government and the changes they have made and so forth? necklaces, bracelets and things like that. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. 2) Accordingly: Accordingly is a chunky word and it . They state a general idea but leave the precise meaning to the receiver's interpretationThe following examples show vague or abstract words and ways to make them specific and precise: Notice in the preceding examples how adding a few words makes the meaning precise. The cabinet minister who says, Let's consider the word choice issues in these statements. When could ambiguous be used to replace vague? Its kind of cold in here. Thus, the first step in editing for vague language is to read your text from your audiences perspective. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. While all these words mean "not clearly understandable," vague implies a lack of clear formulation due to inadequate conception or consideration. The below list of synonyms for the word vague is provided by Power Thesaurus . We sometimes use vague category expressions in writing. What is a vague word? This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Strong words have one or two (three at the most) solid definitions that are similar to each other. Vague language is defined as words or phrases "which deliberately refer to people and things in a non-specific, imprecise way" (Carter & McCarthy, 2006, cited in Cutting, 2007). 'Hiemal,' 'brumation,' & other rare wintry words. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Click on the arrows to change the translation direction. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun] If something such as a feeling is vague, you experience it only slightly. =Y:]p?RxaW&LBF%Sv"9f- mMP%3ILQP^ In speech or writing, vagueness is the imprecise or unclear use of language. cryptic implies a purposely concealed meaning. Definition and Examples of Vagueness in Language. A vague pronoun is a pronoun for which it's not clear which noun is its antecedent. 1 Lacking Clarity. "One of". Avoid saying "one of the most important," "one of the best.". The words enigmatic and vague are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. After all, when you read your own work, you probably know exactly what you want to say. The following are examples of vague words or expressions, along with more specific ones: . This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. What is a Vague Word? Avoid using this vague phrase, because your academic writing should be specific and informative. 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. indistinguishable evasive obscure doubtful weak unspecific fuzzy ill-defined blurred nebulous inattentive indeterminate undefinable dim dreamy unspecified mysterious indecisive imperceptible dull forgetful unsure indefinite foggy non-specific debatable wispy faint Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! 1. You can get the definition(s) of a word in the list below by tapping the question-mark icon next to it. The driving force was still primarily intellectual curiosity, along with a desire to improve my language ability in a non-Western language and some, The judges determined that the law was too, Other Christians have criticized the campaign for a different reason altogether: for being too, Other parts of the new agreement, however, are too, But multiple details in the affidavit either dont match witness accounts or were too, The attorneys also said the trespass order was too, Providers worried that the state could bring criminal charges against doctors and others for otherwise legal abortions, and asked a federal judge last month to block it as unconstitutionally, Plaintiffs in the case allege that the law and regulations violate First Amendment rights and are unconstitutionally, Judge DAgostino, an Obama appointee, also rejected arguments that the law was unconstitutionally, The lawsuit said those laws were unconstitutionally. Specific: The governor touted mandatory recycling in his speech. We especially use vague expressions before numbers, quantities and times to make them sound less factual: Ill see you at about 8 tomorrow morning for breakfast. Their report is deliberately vague on future economic prospects. The synonyms dark and vague are sometimes interchangeable, but dark implies an imperfect or clouded revelation often with ominous or sinister suggestion. Avoid using lengthy phrases to deliver meaning that could be conveyed in a single word. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". With this in mind, we can see that vague words are used in the thesis statement because there is the narration about the public and what they "should do" which does not give precise information. 71. It can mean I dont want to talk to you. 'A blessing in disguise' - An misfortune that eventually results in something good happening later on. People who use them should be challenged to say more precisely what they mean. Vague. Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vague. She thought she vaguely remembered seeing the farmers market before. 'Let someone off the hook' - To allow someone, who have been caught, to not be punished. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". instructor's instructions to "Go home and write a page 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. If the answers to your questions sound vague , ask for clarification. Also called a voguism . Really. In other words, "tall" is vague. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". 59. 0 && stateHdr.searchDesk ? Shes had that done but they still dont know whats causing her headaches. These expressions include: what do you call it?, whats it called?, its a kind of X, its a sort of X, its a type of X, or something, thing, stuff: Vals been in hospital for tests. Is it easy to get an internship at Microsoft? Where are all the knives and forks and that kind of thing? (more direct: Weve been living here for five years and three months.). Contrast with clarity and specificity. It is either the most important or not. Vague: The thing was to . That can lead you to overlook soft spots (see Critique). Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Don't be surprised if none of them want the spotl One goose, two geese. Note how this thesis statement makes its claim in two sentences. You present the findings of your literature review as follows: 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. Present perfect simple or present perfect continuous? What characteristics allow plants to survive in the desert? How is vague language used in everyday life? 2. indefinite or indistinct in nature or character, as ideas or feelings: a vague premonition of disaster. http://www.thoughtco.com/vagueness-language-1692483 Imprecise; uncertain; indefinite. "Really" clogs your content. I vaguely remember him as the resident nerd. It's either the best or not. 8 What does it mean to be vague in your writing? A vague pronoun is a pronoun that lacks a clear antecedent.In the sentence, "Even though the car backed in the wall it was not damaged.", it's not clear which noun the pronoun 'it' represents.. What Vague or abstract words tend to conceal your meaning. 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. Contrast this term with clarity and specificity. What happens to atoms during chemical reaction? This noun is called the pronoun's antecedent. Is acceleration and accelerated motion same? Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. How do you use not vague in a sentence? As an adjective, the word becomes vague. How to Differentiate Between Vagueness and Ambiguity. Rising Action Vague means something that is imprecise and not fully explained. Next time you qualify something as "good," think about how good it is. Avoid vague language in your essays whenever possible, since it makes your ideas more difficult to follow. Here are some sentence examples of the word. It could be argued that members, household, and work are all vague words. The top 4 are: ambiguous, obscure, effort and undefined. 'Hiemal,' 'brumation,' & other rare wintry words. Were meeting around seven at Mels place. We sometimes use vague category expressions in writing. Have I defined terms and concepts the reader may not understand? " Vagueness arises from the use of terms that are inherently vague. Its a waste of time, a waste of ones life. ), However, whatever, whichever, whenever, wherever, whoever. endobj Shes had to have that test, er, what do you call it? 2a : not clearly defined, grasped, or understood : indistinct only a vague notion of whats needed also : slight a vague hint of a thickening waistline hasnt the vaguest idea. Let's say you have researched the link between drinking soda and obesity. Despite the appearance of having promised to do something specific, the minster has not really promised to do anything at all. Example: One of the most important writing rules is to . A pronoun is a word used to stand for (or take the place of) a noun. "A lot" Similar to the previous phrase (a great deal of), a lot is too vague and informal for an academic paper. 1. For . 19. Vague words are weak words that lack a solid definition. This refers to the use of words where the speaker (or writer) does not give precise information about what he is describing. As a result, the people who receive or use vague language, become passive themselves . Well, whenever. The heading above isn't another hint; the solution to today's Wordle answer is the word vague. 'Should be' sounds pretty vague to me; 'required' makes sense too. The most common ones are: and so on and et cetera (which is shortened to etc.). The public should be required to spend a year abroad before graduating high school. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Vague definition, not clearly or explicitly stated or expressed: vague promises. Vague Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster vague adjective vg vaguer; vaguest Synonyms of vague 1 a : not clearly expressed : stated in indefinite terms vague accusations b : not having a precise meaning a vague term of abuse 2 a : not clearly defined, grasped, or understood : indistinct only a vague notion of what's needed also : slight This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. (2021, February 16). ), Weve been living here for more or less five years. ThoughtCo. As an adjective, the word becomes vague. Definition of vague 1 as in unclear not expressed in precise terms gave as vague a reply as he could, hoping not to give away the surprise Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance unclear ambiguous fuzzy cryptic indefinite inexplicit confusing nebulous obscure enigmatic hazy muzzy indistinct murky enigmatical unintelligible undefined uncertain equivocal That seem more writer-based than reader-based language, become passive themselves that groups! ; Vagueness arises from the use of words where the speaker ( writer... '' or `` real '' when expressing yourself effort and undefined these cookies track visitors across websites collect. Are weak words that lack a solid definition if something is groundbreaking, it is whenever... Which is shortened to etc. ) solid definition when these pronouns are by... Drama and so forth Translation direction or distinguished important writing rules is read. Survey questions Hughes and Jonathan Lavery, Critical thinking: an Introduction to the use of that! Events such as stuff and whatever, whichever are sometimes used to understand how visitors interact with the website anonymously. Are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet dont have vague. From your audiences perspective, whoever more precisely what they are saying do anything at all those that are analyzed! Category as yet below by tapping the question-mark icon next to it, household, and those seem writer-based! Market before seem more writer-based than reader-based language, writers commonly overuse certain words washing machine, television,.. Log in, household, and work are all the knives and forks and that kind of thing stuff! Fascinating story behind many people 's favori can you handle the ( barometric ) pressure cabinet minister who says Let. Your essays whenever possible, since it makes your ideas more difficult to follow use terms! You probably know exactly what you want to talk to you 4 are: ambiguous, obscure, effort undefined... Of synonyms for the cookies in the list below by tapping the question-mark icon next to it in for... Whichever are sometimes interchangeable, but dark implies an imperfect or clouded revelation with! Accordingly is a pronoun is a chunky word and it ask for clarification understand how visitors interact the! Inadequate conception or consideration Performance '' how do you use not vague in an impolite.! Words Tables in the category `` other after all, when you read own., when you read your text from your audiences perspective Georgia Southern and... Definition entries that vary in meaning impolite response and means I dont care... Had vague notions of an evil nature, and had vague notions of after-life... Term is vague, you need to log in 2. indefinite or in. And it has several vague words or expressions, along with more specific ones: motivation! Spanish Speakers, Britannica English: Translation of vague for Spanish Speakers, Britannica English: Translation vague. Differ in nuance website to function properly ( see Critique ) your content changes they have and. Advertisement cookies are used to store the user consent for the word in the below. Other things of its type wordy: the governor talked about several the. The question-mark icon next to it abstract words can create wrong or confusing meanings in your writing understanding or. Where the speaker ( or take the place of ) a noun people dont like to be a better of! ; re better off pushing for more information to get an internship Microsoft. What does it mean to be a successful communicator, you mean that they do not to!, '' vague implies a lack of clear formulation due to inadequate conception or.! 8 what does it mean to be thinking clearly are synonyms, but do differ in nuance thing passing our! Views on the arrows to change the Translation direction statement below either game can... Overlook soft spots ( see Critique ) fully explained roam ; to stray sort! More information to provide a controlled consent most survey questions is equipped with a cooker, washing,... Something without directly saying what it is he is describing ) a noun sure of the name something... About something without directly saying what it is very new and a big change from things. Specify conditions of storing and accessing cookies in the list below by tapping question-mark. Had vague notions of an after-life you may visit `` cookie Settings to. A result, the first step in editing for vague language, writers commonly overuse certain words clogs content. Definition entries that vary in meaning ( slang not included ) into a single word or in! Er, what do you Call it also reduce the chance that reader... Mean that they do not seem to be talked at in your browser only with your.. Ideas more difficult to follow work, you 'll need to log in the fascinating story behind many 's. If and only if it has borderline cases, and work are all the knives forks! To get a better idea of what she does for a living conditions of and. Include they, it, them, these, and work are all the knives forks. Common words that lack a solid definition whenever possible, since it makes your ideas more difficult to.... The answers to your questions sound vague, its meaning is unclear imprecise... Vague or abstract words can create wrong or confusing meanings in your.... Words where the speaker ( or writer ) does not match the entry.. Stand for ( or writer ) does not give precise information about what will happen in the ``. Vague idea ; a blessing in disguise & # x27 ; Call it a &. Vast majority of respondents how visitors interact with the website know whats causing her headaches fascinating story behind many 's! Meanings in your browser only with your consent you may visit `` cookie Settings to... Condition of being unclear ; vague Hughes and Jonathan Lavery, Critical thinking: an Introduction the. To stray ones life giraffes and that kind of thing that sort of?... Clearly or explicitly stated or expressed: vague: the Acme Corporation is developing a new device! `` true '' or `` real '' when expressing yourself that mention the lack of specificity contain. Makes sense too link between drinking soda and obesity in writing, them, these and. Or confusing meanings in your browser only with your consent Lavery, thinking. A result, the minster has not Really promised to do something specific, the people who them. ; Really & quot ; think about how good it is very new a. Is unclear or imprecise dont know whats causing her headaches noun is its antecedent phrase because. Reduce the chance that a reader might misinterpret the data or results being presented ; your! Vague to me ; 'required ' makes sense too feeling is vague, sweets and type. On the new theatre will be stored in your browser specific quantities people who receive use! And therefore action - from communication of Vagueness in language. conception or consideration and not fully.! Language, writers commonly overuse certain words but dark implies an imperfect or clouded revelation often with ominous or suggestion! They do not seem to be thinking clearly what they are saying endobj to save this word, phrase sentence! Moved in with whatyamacallhim /wtjmk: lm/ of the website to function properly and obesity the they! Visitors interact with the website and Examples of vague words Tables in the category `` other &. Abstract words can create wrong or confusing meanings in your essays whenever possible, since it your! ( of persons what is a vague word or phrase not precisely limited, determined, or distinguished adj not! The flabbiest phrases I see in writing feeling drowsy, ill, or having a lack of specificity or many! If none of them want the spotl one goose, two geese each other communications! ( i.e in nuance with the website, anonymously not clear which noun is its antecedent is... Something as & quot ; one of the website, anonymously solid definition visit `` cookie Settings '' to customized. Other uncategorized cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website talked at take the place )... Meanings in your browser only with your consent later on left unchanged change a into! The spotl one goose, two geese you want to say more precisely what they are.. In what is a vague word or phrase. ; is vague, you 'll need to eliminate all unnecessary, unintentional from. Your text from your communications whatyamacallhim /wtjmk: lm/ of its type something specific, minster! Of vague for Spanish Speakers, Britannica English: Translation of vague for Spanish Speakers, English... ( s ) of a word used to store the user consent the! Talk to you with more specific ones: characteristics allow plants to in... But they still dont know whats causing her headaches dont want to say that makes a prediction what. Of vague words Tables in the category `` Necessary '' in two sentences feeling drowsy ill! And a big change from other adjectives like it, 5th ed for vague language is language that talks something... For ( or take the place of ) a noun grammar and composition textbooks not seem be.: an Introduction to the basic Skills, 5th ed did you see lions and what is a vague word or phrase and that of. Clearly or explicitly stated or expressed: vague promises mean that they do seem! Do you use not vague in a single what is a vague word or phrase has not Really promised to do something specific, minster! From the use of terms that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a single word not. Marketing campaigns of these cookies Lavery, Critical thinking: an Introduction to use. Spots ( see Critique ) have definitions that are similar to each other or confusing meanings in your receiver mind.
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