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Vague Language (aka Ambiguous Language) is language that is abstract , undecipherable, underdeveloped, fragmented a defining characteristic of weak writing and writer-based prose style .
We generally use vague language when we don’t know the name of something, or to make things sound less factual, or to talk about groups and categories.
Vague words are those that lack specificity and clarity, often leading to ambiguity and misunderstanding. They are problematic because they can make communication less effective, hinder understanding, and leave room for multiple interpretations.
- Vague Words and Phrases
- Vagueness Versus Specificity
- Varieties of Vagueness
- Vagueness in Oratory
- Vagueness in Survey Questions
- Ambiguity Versus Vagueness
- Vagueness in Sentences and Words
"Vaguenessarises from the use of terms that are inherently vague. The cabinet minister who says, 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. should be challenged on grounds of vaguene...
"Vague or abstract words can create wrong or confusing meaningsin your receiver's mind. They state a general idea but leave the precise meaning to the receiver's interpretation...The following examples show vague or abstract words and ways to make them specific and precise: 1. many - 1,000 or500 to 1,000 2. early- 5 a.m. 3. hot- 100 degrees Fahrenh...
"One characteristic of vagueness...is 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. Generalizations alone have no persuasive value. And yet this truth is constantly overlooked by public speakers. How often do we hear the common criticism of the typically weak, impressionless address: 'Pla...
"Vague words are very common on surveys. 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 word's intended meaning...For example, consider the question, 'How many members of your household work?' This question has several vague words, most of which would be missed...
"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). A standard example of ambiguity is bank 'financial institution' vs. bank 'land at river's edge,' where the ...
"The primary application of 'vague' is to sentences, not to words. But the vaguenessof a sentence does not imply that vagueness of every constituent word. One vague word is enough. It may be essentially doubtful whether this is a red shape because it is essentially doubtful whether this is red, although beyond doubt that it is a shape. The vaguenes...
- Richard Nordquist
Aug 11, 2022 · Vague language describes the use of linguistic items including grammar and particularly lexis to modify and make the meaning of a communication less precise and less clear.
Learning about vague language could help you. The word ‘vague’ means that something is not clear or detailed. In spoken, informal English, fluent speakers often use vague language. Using vague language will make your English sound more natural.
Sep 6, 2021 · What is vague language and what does ‘being too vague’ look like? In this article you will learn more about this communication trap and you will find examples of vague language. You will also learn how things can be improved and how you can expose people with vague language.
