Definition and Examples of Vagueness in Language. (more direct: Its too bright in here.). The plan was vague on detail, leaving them wondering what to do next. 21. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. undefined, vague(adj) not precisely limited, determined, or distinguished. The new theatre will be used for big events such as opera, ballet, drama and so on. As an adjective, the word becomes vague. Avoid using this vague phrase, because your academic writing should be specific and informative. (more direct: Theres something I dont like about her. ", "Vague words are very common on surveys. 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. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Imprecise; uncertain; indefinite. % He never eats chocolate, sweets and that type of thing. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Ambiguity is when there is more than one clear meaning, and it is difficult to choose which meaning was intended. Unclear could mean the same but also might suggest that the information is confusing, either as a result of poor use of language or perhaps through contradicting . Its argument centers on how women characters are vilified when they reject a man, and its evidence will be interactions between characters in Shakespeares play. Specific: The Acme Corporation is developing a new cell phone. B. 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. Past perfect simple or past perfect continuous? Wordy: The hockey player with talent.. (5 words) Concise: The talented hockey player (4 words) Wordy: The team showing the best improvement (6 w0rds) [from a university lecture on communication], If you use an advertisement in the newspaper, a thirty-second ad on television et cetera et cetera, it will receive quite a wide audience but theres relatively little you can say in it. 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? The pitfalls are also that entire groups of people can be manipulated. Avoid burying a great thesis statement in the middle of a paragraph or late in the paper. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. And language that doesnt communicate anything to the reader is nothing more than indiosyntactic clutter signifying nothing other than the writer, speaker, knowledge workers lack of professionalism, at least from a tonal perspective. Vague: The thing was to . Is that okay? 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. 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. It is either the most important or not. 50 Words and Phrases That You Should Cut From Your Blogging (Now) 1) About: "About" is a vague, weak word and it's wise to cut it out when discussing quantities. vagueness. The top 4 are: ambiguous, obscure, effort and undefined. ")]LIBnv|JH+J$0$ o_w.^  M. Vague language is very common, especially in speaking. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Some common words that are often used in vague scientific statements include they, it, them, these, and those. Through the mist I could just make out a vague figure. 1a : not clearly expressed : stated in indefinite terms vague accusations. The house is equipped with a cooker, washing machine, television, etc. 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! The synonyms dark and vague are sometimes interchangeable, but dark implies an imperfect or clouded revelation often with ominous or sinister suggestion. The cabinet minister who says. will not tolerate vagueness. Where did you leave it? Isobel looked vague. They either have definitions that mention the lack of specificity or contain many definition entries that vary in meaning (slang not included). Vagueness refers to a lack of clarity in meaning . What does it mean if someone is vague? 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! 129 129 16. . What are your views on the new government and the changes they have made and so forth? Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/vagueness-language-1692483. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". (more direct: Were meeting Veronica at four. 5. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. ), Weve been living here for more or less five years. Let's say you have researched the link between drinking soda and obesity. <>/ExtGState<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> 'Let someone off the hook' - To allow someone, who have been caught, to not be punished. 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. 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. Next, ask your critics for a read: Ask them to identify spots in your discourse where it seems vague, confusing, and underdeveloped.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'writingcommons_org-leader-2','ezslot_6',123,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-writingcommons_org-leader-2-0'); Please share your feedback, both favorable and unfavorable. 1 Lacking Clarity. Good writers take a stand. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Avoid vague language in your essays whenever possible, since it makes your ideas more difficult to follow. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 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 meaningFor example, consider the question, 'How many members of your household work?' Nordquist, Richard. <>/Metadata 249 0 R/ViewerPreferences 250 0 R>> Strong words have one or two (three at the most) solid definitions that are similar to each other. 0 && stateHdr.searchDesk ? In speech or writing, vagueness is the imprecise or unclear use of language. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. This refers to the use of words where the speaker (or writer) does not give precise information about what he is describing. For example, Go down the road a ways and then turn right is vague because a ways does not precisely explain how far one should go down the road. %PDF-1.7 Scheduling another Zoom meeting just doesn't feel the same. 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 The most common ones are: and so on and et cetera (which is shortened to etc .) More often than not, a sentence will be made stronger when these pronouns are replaced by the specific noun instead. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. What is a Vague Word? Don't be surprised if none of them want the spotl One goose, two geese. A vogue word is a fashionable word or phrase that tends to lose its effectiveness through overuse. 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. Vagueness and Order Effects in Color Categorization. "Definition and Examples of Vagueness in Language." Vague comes from the Latin . an undefined term; undefined authority; some undefined sense of excitement; vague feelings of sadness; a vague uneasiness. We sometimes use vague category expressions in writing. What counts as someone working?Vagueness is ubiquitous in most survey questions. easy to be "true" or "real" when expressing yourself? You present the findings of your literature review as follows: >^A9='(5,c^Y~{{]T"bjE~~:p]#i+[D~fCTx-%-AqITn/3 J8 Wi>>p9=(? 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 I have too much stuff to do. (ad = advertisement). The fly ball soared over the stands high. http://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/word-choice/ The adverb vaguely probably comes from the Latin word vagus, which means wandering, or uncertain. Its origin is unclear, which is fitting for a word that means mistily. If you dont want to go to your friends tuba recital, you can say vaguely, I think I might have something else to do that night. 2023. 0C_XV#/%1t"^}(_tzt!`,f+zr~k_tft. 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 The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Learn a new word every day. (of persons) not clear or definite in thought, understanding, or expression: vague about his motives;a vague person. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 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. ), Were meeting Veronica at four-ish. Broadview Press, 2008. Exposition What happens to atoms during chemical reaction? Vague language use removes all movement, concrete verbs - and therefore action - from communication. Vagueness arises from the use of terms that are inherently vague. Strong words have one or two (three at the most) solid definitions that are similar to each other. Vaguely formed means unclear and lacking a definite shape. Get more specific by using the word "approximately" or giving readers a specific range, as in "15-20 cows got loose.". What does it mean to be vague in your writing? Their report is deliberately vague on future economic prospects. This noun is called the pronoun's antecedent. 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. While in some cases nearly identical to vague, cryptic implies a purposely concealed meaning. Don't be vague." On the other hand, specific words precisely and shortly convey your meaning. Really. Some common synonyms of vague are ambiguous, cryptic, dark, enigmatic, equivocal, and obscure. It can mean I dont want to talk to you. We usually give examples of members of the group or category (underlined below) and then add a vague expression, e.g. Well, whenever. Vague Words A vague word appears to have one basic sense (monosemy) which is nevertheless flexible enough to allow for minor variations in meaning or use which are not . Generalizations alone have no persuasive value. I dont have a vague recollection of either game. Nglish: Translation of vague for Spanish Speakers, Britannica English: Translation of vague for Arabic Speakers. As an adjective, the word becomes vague. (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. <> Example: Vague: The Acme Corporation is developing a new consumer device that allows users to communicate vocally in real time. Vague language is words and phrases that arent very exact or precise. Whats that stuff you use when your lips get dry? Moreover, what is a vague word?When something is vague, its unclear, murky, and hard to understand. On the other hand, ambiguous writing speaks of concepts that could have several different meanings without pinpointing what's specifically being said. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. "Let me check" is a vague phrase that leaves your customer in limbo. 'Hiemal,' 'brumation,' & other rare wintry words. 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. She had married a charming but rather vague Englishman, His eyes were always so vague when he looked at her. I just need to double-check these sums before I print it off. It's a rather vague term to put into Google. Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz! They either have definitions that mention the lack of specificity or contain many definition entries that vary in meaning (slang not included). 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This is one of the flabbiest phrases I see in writing. b : not having a precise meaning a vague term of abuse. 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. 5 How do you use not vague in a sentence? How to Differentiate Between Vagueness and Ambiguity. You could be referring to something that's slightly better than something else, something that's suitable, or something that's really good. 2 0 obj 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. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. What is a vague word? However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. ", "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. 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. 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? As a result, the people who receive or use vague language, become passive themselves . The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Where you have to go into a type of X-ray machine. The bottom line is that people dont like to be talked at. "Good" is just good enough. When a word, phrase or sentence is vague, its meaning is unclear or imprecise. In the matrices below are often misused or overused words and optional replacement words to potentially "spice up" an essay. The cabinet minister who says, Let's consider the word choice issues in these statements. http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1210_how_to_converse/page17.shtml When my three years of military service ended, I looked around for some way to get to spend time in rural Vietnam as a civilian. 'No pain no gain' - You have to work hard for something you want. How is vague language used in everyday life? Fairbanks, Juneau, and Anchorage all come in as top cities with the most searches for this annoying term. It is very vague and awful. "Really" clogs your content. Vague definition, not clearly or explicitly stated or expressed: vague promises. Is it easy to get an internship at Microsoft? "Taking this offline" is but a cruel reminder of the days when we could follow up a conversation over coffee or by swinging by someone's office. The Australians believed in spirits, generally of an evil nature, and had vague notions of an after-life. Vague writing is that which is unclear to the audience. It does not store any personal data. 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. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Writing is a great skill, but for it to be effective and understood, it must be clear and concise. use of empty words, such as sort of, kind of, and generally without further explanation. In speech or writing, vagueness is the imprecise or unclear use of language. stream She rolled her eyes at the vague response. It does not store any personal data. 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. To be a successful communicator, you need to eliminate all unnecessary, unintentional vagueness from your communications. Vagueness is sludge, static, interference. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Such phrases are inherently vague and can mean almost anything. Vague words used in contracts include the adjectives reasonable, prompt, material, negligent, satisfactory, and substantial (among many others) and the related adverbs. 3. not clearly perceptible: vague murmurs. As a result, your reader knows only that youre going to talk about river and shore scenes, but not what youre going to say. Think of a vagabond, someone who wanders around the world with only a vague idea of where he's going. Vague words are weak words that lack a solid definition. 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. These are informal versions of what do you call it/him/her, etc. 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 . Barron's, 2009. It does not store any personal data. Search for concrete subjects and active verbs, revising as many to be verbs as possible. fly ball soared high over the stands. We can use vague expressions when we are not sure of the name of something. Responding with "I'm not sure" threatens to send the conversation in a bad direction. When can obscure be used instead of vague? (more direct: Ill see you at 8 tomorrow morning for breakfast. b : not having a precise meaning a vague term of abuse. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 3 0 obj necklaces, bracelets and things like that. 1a : not clearly expressed : stated in indefinite terms vague accusations. and that sort of thing and stuff. Whenever possible, change phrases to less words. , .will be true"? Nordquist, Richard. In speech or writing, vagueness is the imprecise or unclear use of language. D. The high fly ball soared over the stands. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". What is causing the plague in Thebes and how can it be fixed? .2y:x\ InVagueness as a Political Strategy (2013),Giuseppina Scotto di Carlo observes that vagueness is "a pervasive phenomenon in natural language, as it seems to be expressed through nearly all linguistic categories." It could be argued that members, household, and work are all vague words. 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. Avoid the pitfalls of boring, clichd words, vague and overused abstractions, and technical jargon. Think of it this way: If you're saying . <> endobj The encyclopedia for writers, researchers, and knowledge workers, Like a foggy day that undermines a hike, vague language undermines communication, creating confusion, ambiguity, and conflict / Moxley. https://www.thoughtco.com/vagueness-language-1692483 (accessed March 2, 2023). What are vague symptoms? adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun] If something such as a feeling is vague, you experience it only slightly. 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. You can specify conditions of storing and accessing cookies in your browser. (uncountable) The condition of being unclear; vague. With vagueness, whether a given standard has been met is a function of the circumstances. A uses whenever to show that she is annoyed that she has been contradicted about the time and that it doesnt really matter whether its six thirty or seven. Kale is good for you because it is nutrient-dense, cancer-fighting, and loaded with antioxidants. What are the physical state of oxygen at room temperature? Below is a massive list of vague words - that is, words related to vague. Lets consider the word choice issues in these statements. 2023. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". You're better off pushing for more information to get a better idea of what they are saying. struggles might you have? This question has several vague words, most of which would be missed by the vast majority of respondents. They could be anything or nothing. Idioms with the word back, Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. When can vague expressions be impolite? 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). Its a waste of time, a waste of ones life. Replace Vague Words with Specific Words. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 59. I need to buy cards and wrapping paper and stuff like that. 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. When could ambiguous be used to replace vague? Shes been getting pains in her stomach and feeling tired and things like that. Its kind of cold in here. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Vaguely sentence example. Future: other expressions to talk about the future, Future: present continuous to talk about the future (, Future: present simple to talk about the future (, Verb patterns: verb + infinitive or verb + -, Modality: other modal words and expressions, Conjunctions: causes, reasons, results and purpose, Relative clauses referring to a whole sentence, Relative clauses: defining and non-defining, Forming negative statements, questions and imperatives. Teachers in school settings as well as workers in workplace settings abhor vagueness. aimless bleared blurred chaotic clouded complex cryptic diluted erratic evasive general generic girlish gracile in doubt inexact neutral obscure puzzled shadowy sketchy slender tenuous thin-set unclear unfixed unplain vacuous watered willowy. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Statutes that are vague are ordinarily void on that ground. 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.. ", "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). Vague means something that is imprecise and not fully explained. Photo by Alexandra on Unsplash. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Before using a particular transitional word in your paper, be sure you understand its meaning and usage completely and be sure 4 0 obj Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Synonyms: obscure, faint, shadowy, wispy, dim, undefined. 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. This one small change makes the statement clearer. 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.

Average Career Length Of Premier League Player, When Will An Airplane Fly On Takeoff, Is Kristin Emery Married, Articles W