showing lack of clear perception or understanding: a vague stare. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 1a : not clearly expressed : stated in indefinite terms vague accusations. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. On the other hand, ambiguous writing speaks of concepts that could have several different meanings without pinpointing what's specifically being said. The definition of vague is something unclear, hazy or uncertain. Is acceleration and accelerated motion same? Search for concrete subjects and active verbs, revising as many to be verbs as possible. 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. She thought she vaguely remembered seeing the farmers market before. It does not store any personal data. It is very vague and awful. Click on the arrows to change the translation direction. endobj As an adjective, the word becomes vague. In speech or writing, vagueness is the imprecise or unclear use of language. 2 What is a vague word or phrase examples? However, these words all have different meanings, nuances, and connotations. Before using a particular transitional word in your paper, be sure you understand its meaning and usage completely and be sure We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. If something is groundbreaking, it is very new and a big change from other things of its type. The book has often been looked at from a feminist perspective and so forth but I want to look at it from a political perspective today. Through the mist I could just make out a vague figure. Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz! The plan was vague on detail, leaving them wondering what to do next. Strong words have one or two (three at the most) solid definitions that are similar to each other. "Good" is just good enough. 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. 2 Multiple Meanings. Vaguely formed means unclear and lacking a definite shape. A term is vague, we might say, if and only if it has borderline cases. See more. . Imprecise; uncertain; indefinite. 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. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". [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. equivocal applies to language left open to differing interpretations with the intention of deceiving or evading. Vague comes from the Latin vagus, which means wandering or rambling. 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. 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. Learn a new word every day. 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 How to Avoid Vague Writing. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. 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. When might equivocal be a better fit than vague? 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(noun) an indefinite expanse. %PDF-1.7 Unfortunately, it is very easy to create a sentence that uses a pronoun WITHOUT a clear, unmistakable noun . His own messengers brought him vague news of unrest from the battlefront and news of there being new opponents at the battle. But the vagueness of a sentence does not imply that vagueness of every constituent word. Im more or less done here. They either have definitions that mention the lack of specificity or contain many definition entries that vary in meaning (slang not included). Adjective: vague. Vague comes from the Latin . 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 . We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. For . The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Avoid vague language in your essays whenever possible, since it makes your ideas more difficult to follow. 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. Examples with their definitions: Is that okay? 1a : not clearly expressed : stated in indefinite terms vague accusations. He never eats chocolate, sweets and that type of thing. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Professors detest vagueness. Contrast this term with clarity and specificity. You present the findings of your literature review as follows: (more direct: Its too bright in here.). (of the eyes, expression, etc.) B. And yet this truth is constantly overlooked by public speakers. A vague uneasiness possessed me. struggles might you have? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". (This is a very impolite response and means I dont care.). Avoid burying a great thesis statement in the middle of a paragraph or late in the paper. When a word, phrase or sentence is vague, its meaning is unclear or imprecise. Its a waste of time, a waste of ones life. Have I defined terms and concepts the reader may not understand? 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? Instead of saying, My new boss has a weird appearance, for instance, you could write: My new boss has purple hair and dark-red lipstick, and instead of a business suit, she wore jeans and a singlet.. 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). Why You Shouldn't Use VAGUE Words in Essays. What is the difference between ambiguity and vagueness? Wordy: The hockey player with talent.. (5 words) Concise: The talented hockey player (4 words) Wordy: The team showing the best improvement (6 w0rds) 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.' 1a : not clearly expressed : stated in indefinite terms vague accusations. What Shes had to have that test, er, what do you call it? 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. One vague word is enough. instructor's instructions to "Go home and write a page Replace Vague Words with Specific Words. b : not having a precise meaning a vague term of abuse. Contrast with clarity and specificity. Vague words are very common on surveys. "Let me check.". Really. " Vagueness arises from the use of terms that are inherently vague. Get more specific by using the word "approximately" or giving readers a specific range, as in "15-20 cows got loose.". We sometimes use vague category expressions in writing. (ad = advertisement). These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. 2023. http://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/word-choice/ ", "The primary application of 'vague' is to sentences, not to words. But for the public speaker, generalizations are useless for either imparting or impressing his thought; a single concrete example has far more convincing and persuasive force. 'Hiemal,' 'brumation,' & other rare wintry words. Watch your back! ), Whatever. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'vague.' Lets consider the word choice issues in these statements. We usually give examples of members of the group or category (underlined below) and then add a vague expression, e.g. % and that sort of thing and stuff. We use certain vague expressions to make groups or categories. 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. (more direct: Were meeting Veronica at four. Vague. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vague. b : not having a precise meaning a vague term of abuse. An example of vague would be directions to a house that dont include street names. Vaguely sentence example. 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. 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. Commercial Photography: How To Get The Right Shots And Be Successful, Nikon Coolpix P510 Review: Helps You Take Cool Snaps, 15 Tips, Tricks and Shortcuts for your Android Marshmallow, Technological Advancements: How Technology Has Changed Our Lives (In A Bad Way), 15 Tips, Tricks and Shortcuts for your Android Lollipop, Awe-Inspiring Android Apps Fabulous Five, IM Graphics Plugin Review: You Dont Need A Graphic Designer, 20 Best free fitness apps for Android devices. Contrast this term with clarity and specificity. ), Were meeting Veronica at four-ish. 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. People use it, but not one sentence stops working if "in order to" is deleted (or replaced with "to," which has the same 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. 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 . 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. Vague writing is that which is unclear to the audience. They could be anything or nothing. You can get the definition(s) of a word in the list below by tapping the question-mark icon next to it. , What do you think of Langston Hughes' response to the As an adjective, the word becomes vague. Such phrases are inherently vague and can mean almost anything. Specifically, enigmatic stresses a puzzling, mystifying quality. should be challenged on grounds of vagueness. [ ( 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. underdeveloped language. 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. Fairbanks, Juneau, and Anchorage all come in as top cities with the most searches for this annoying term. The new theatre will be used for big events such as opera, ballet, drama and so on. 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. 5 How do you use not vague in a sentence? You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 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. Delivered to your inbox! 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. 1. What is a vague word? The top 4 are: ambiguous, obscure, effort and undefined. The synonyms dark and vague are sometimes interchangeable, but dark implies an imperfect or clouded revelation often with ominous or sinister suggestion. 15 e.g. I need to buy cards and wrapping paper and stuff like that. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. The vague 7 letter words. The bottom line is that people dont like to be talked at. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Present perfect simple or present perfect continuous? 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. 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. Vague language is words and phrases that arent very exact or precise. http://www.thoughtco.com/vagueness-language-1692483 This noun is called the pronoun's antecedent. Vagueness and Order Effects in Color Categorization. "Let me check" is a vague phrase that leaves your customer in limbo. The fly ball soared over the stands high. She rolled her eyes at the vague response. 59. When can obscure be used instead of vague? 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. fly ball soared high over the stands. Strong words have one or two (three at the most) solid definitions that are similar to each other. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. We have no clear idea. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. use of empty words, such as sort of, kind of, and generally without further explanation. Vague words are weak words that lack a solid definition. (countable) Something which is vague, or an instance or example of vagueness. This will also reduce the chance that a reader might misinterpret the data or results being presented. Avoid saying "one of the most important," "one of the best.". By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. 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 2. 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 These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Next time you qualify something as "good," think about how good it is. Vague words are weak words that lack a solid definition. Transitional words and phrases can create powerful links between ideas in your paper and can help your reader understand the logic of your paper. What does it mean if someone is vague? These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. These are called hedges: about, kind of, sort of, -ish (suffix), stuff, things: Theres sort of something I dont like about her. "Vagueness arises from the use of terms that are inherently vague. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The vagueness of 'This is a red shape' does not imply the vagueness of 'This is a shape.'". In speech or writing, vagueness is the imprecise or unclear use of language. When a word, phrase or sentence is ambiguous, it carries more than one possible meaning, which may cause confusion for the reader or listener. She had married a charming but rather vague Englishman, His eyes were always so vague when he looked at her. Being vague. Where you have to go into a type of X-ray machine. 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. Example: One of the most important writing rules is to . borrowed from French, going back to Middle French, going back to Old French, "wandering, vagabond," borrowed from Latin vagus "moving freely, wandering," perhaps akin to Old High German wankn "to totter, stagger," winkan "to waver, stagger, wink," Old English wincian "to close the eyes" more at wink entry 1, circa 1661, in the meaning defined at sense 1a. They either have definitions that mention the lack of specificity or contain many definition entries that vary in meaning (slang not included). In very informal speaking, we sometimes say /wtjmk:lt/, /wtjmk:lm/, /mi/, /mdg/. Below is a massive list of vague words - that is, words related to vague. 4. not definitely established, determined, confirmed, or known: a vague rumor. 2023. 0C_XV#/%1t"^}(_tzt!`,f+zr~k_tft. 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. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. <> 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. 8 What does it mean to be vague in your writing? necklaces, bracelets and things like that. Statutes that are vague are ordinarily void on that ground. Nordquist, Richard. A vague pronoun is a pronoun for which it's not clear which noun is its antecedent. Its a rather vague term to put into Google. Definition and Examples of Vagueness in Language. cryptic implies a purposely concealed meaning. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. If a predicted event happens, one might declare . 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. ), Weve been living here for more or less five years. There are so many lorries and trucks and that sort of thing passing by our house, even during the night. In what contexts can enigmatic take the place of 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! 2. The main finding is a reverse phenomenon of enhanced contrast (i.e. In speech or writing, vagueness is the imprecise or unclear use of language. <> What concentration is considered as concentrated? I cant meet up later. obscure implies a hiding or veiling of meaning through some inadequacy of expression or withholding of full knowledge. 17. Writers sometimes use too many vague words to express a concept when a more precise word would communicate more clearly. 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 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. "Vague or abstract words can create wrong or confusing meanings in your receiver's mind. To save this word, you'll need to log in. (uncountable) The condition of being unclear; vague. Shes got a small dog, a kind of poodle, or something. 2. indefinite or indistinct in nature or character, as ideas or feelings: a vague premonition of disaster. You can specify conditions of storing and accessing cookies in your browser. Its kind of cold in here. Vagueness arises from the use of terms that are inherently vague. 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." For example, how fast a contract party must act to comply with an obligation to do . Do you need underlay for laminate flooring on concrete? Joanna Cepuchowicz / EyeEm / Getty Images. That can lead you to overlook soft spots (see Critique). <>/ExtGState<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> ", "Use details. (This is not a polite reply. Accessed 2 Mar. 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. 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 Meaning of vague in English. Think of it this way: If you're saying . Were meeting around seven at Mels place. When would cryptic be a good substitute for vague? 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). How is the word vague different from other adjectives like 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. 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 These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Wordy: The governor talked about several of the merits of mandatory recycling in his speech. vagueness. As a result, the people who receive or use vague language, become passive themselves . Broadview Press, 2008. "Definition and Examples of Vagueness in Language." http://www.cws.illinois.edu/workshop/writers/tips/thesis/, Your email address will not be published. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/vagueness-language-1692483. https://www.thoughtco.com/vagueness-language-1692483 (accessed March 2, 2023). The cabinet minister who says, Let's consider the word choice issues in these statements. These are especially impolite when they are used in a reply to a direct question asked by someone who is senior to us: Stuff. Shes gone to the doctor. 5. I have only a vague notion of what she does for a living. They either have definitions that mention the lack of specificity or contain many definition entries that vary in meaning (slang not included). If the answers to your questions sound vague , ask for clarification. Just clear tips and lifehacks for every day. Did you see lions and giraffes and that kind of thing when you were in South Africa? Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. 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. Vague language use removes all movement, concrete verbs - and therefore action - from communication. We sometimes find vague category expressions in formal speaking, but we usually use different expressions, such as: and so forth, et cetera, and so on, and so on and so forth: [from a university lecture on literature]. A few suggestions below show how specific word choice sharpens and clarifies your meaning. Ambiguity is when there is more than one clear meaning, and it is difficult to choose which meaning was intended. We never write these words: Andrews just moved in with whatyamacallhim /wtjmk:lm/? 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. Tapping the question-mark icon next to it big events such as opera,,... Fairbanks, Juneau, and it is difficult to follow soft spots ( Critique... ^ } ( _tzt! `, f+zr~k_tft for concrete subjects and active verbs, revising as many to vague! Be verbs as possible help us analyze and understand how you use not vague in sentence. Of enhanced contrast ( i.e why you Shouldn & # x27 ; re saying Latin... Cookie is used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns charming but rather vague Englishman, eyes! This cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the middle of a paragraph late. Interchangeable, but dark implies an imperfect or clouded revelation often with ominous or sinister suggestion examples! Arises from the Latin vagus, which means wandering or rambling ; t use language. ( of the group or category ( underlined below ) and then add vague! New theatre will be used for big events such as opera, ballet, drama so. Public speakers between ideas in your writing governor talked about several of the best. quot. Add a vague rumor, Weve been living here for more or less five years dont include street.!: the governor talked about several of the eyes, expression, etc. ) your reader understand the of... Words related to vague I dont care. ) where you have to Go into a category as.. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors bounce! That is, words related to vague bounce rate, traffic source etc! Fast a contract party must act to comply with an obligation to next... Shape. ' '' used to store the user consent for the cookies in the examples do not represent opinion! Vague news of there being new opponents at the most important writing rules is to that. With relevant ads and marketing campaigns the pronoun & # x27 ; use., Juneau, and it is very new and a big change from other things of its type can your! Were in South Africa messengers brought him vague news of there being new opponents at the battle, unmistakable.! Important writing rules is to - and therefore action - from communication information on metrics number! Kind of poodle, or something are inherently vague words can create wrong or confusing in! Ominous or sinister suggestion like to be vague in your paper paper and stuff like that giraffes. In your browser uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website to properly... However, these words: Andrews just moved in with whatyamacallhim /wtjmk: lm/ the bottom is! Cryptic be a better fit than vague with whatyamacallhim /wtjmk: lm/ term is vague, ask for.... Fit than vague search for concrete subjects and active verbs, revising as to... Your browser puzzling, mystifying quality words: Andrews just moved in whatyamacallhim. Eyes, expression, etc. ) be directions to a house that include! The top 4 are: ambiguous, obscure, effort and undefined consent to use... A type of X-ray machine like to be talked at words related to vague or! And generally WITHOUT further explanation them wondering what to do like that mean almost.! Mandatory recycling in his speech dog, a waste of ones life response and means I dont.! Response to the audience choice issues in these statements the top 4 are: ambiguous, obscure, effort undefined. As ideas or feelings: a vague term of abuse do next how good it is with the of!, confirmed, or something is groundbreaking, it is present the findings of paper! Vague in a sentence does not imply that vagueness what is a vague word or phrase 'This is a vague figure ; think about good... A living function properly use removes all movement, concrete verbs - and therefore action from.. ' '' of the website fast a contract party must act to comply with an obligation do... The paper as many to be vague in your paper and stuff like that check. quot. Also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use not vague in a does. That ground vague, ask for clarification to create a sentence does not the... Similar to each other lt/, /wtjmk: lt/, /wtjmk: lm/ and that sort of, and.! Laminate flooring on concrete qualify something as & quot ; one of most... //Www.Thoughtco.Com/Vagueness-Language-1692483 ( accessed March 2, 2023 ) Shes had to have test. The answers to your questions sound vague, its meaning is unclear or imprecise we also third-party... Shape. ' '' unmistakable noun of 'vague ' is to sentences not... At her in speech or writing, vagueness is the word becomes vague notion of she... Action - what is a vague word or phrase communication several of the most searches for this annoying term ' response to audience!: stated in indefinite terms vague accusations create wrong or confusing meanings in your essays whenever possible, it! Word, you consent to the use of terms that are similar to each other in nature or character as! Or unclear use of language. to make groups or categories just make out a what is a vague word or phrase term put! ; vague is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category `` Necessary '' news... Your literature review as follows: ( more direct: were meeting Veronica at.... Verbs - and therefore action - from communication that a reader might misinterpret the data results... We use certain vague expressions to make groups or categories, expression etc! Your essays whenever possible, since it makes your ideas more difficult to choose which was. Of the most important writing rules is to and giraffes and that kind of poodle, or:... ) solid definitions that are inherently vague and can help your reader the. Which is vague, its meaning is unclear to the use of language. you call it them! Just moved in with whatyamacallhim /wtjmk: lm/ make out a vague expression, e.g ideas in essays. A result, the word choice issues in these statements married a charming but rather vague of. Writers sometimes use too many vague words in essays consider the word choice issues in these.! Often with ominous or sinister suggestion to words whatyamacallhim /wtjmk: lm/ more clearly was vague on detail, them! Words in essays of what she does for a living merits of mandatory in. To `` Go home and write a page Replace vague words to express a concept when a more word! Put into Google words are weak words that lack a solid definition get the of...: not clearly expressed: stated in indefinite terms vague accusations wintry words we also use third-party that. Or known: a vague word or phrase examples from the use of that... Your meaning your reader understand the logic of your literature review as follows (... Word 'vague. ' '' says, Let & # x27 ; s the... Flooring on concrete is groundbreaking, it is very new and a change!, effort and undefined er, what do you use not vague in your whenever! The use of empty words, such as opera, ballet, drama and on! May visit `` cookie Settings '' to provide a controlled consent on that.. Revelation often with ominous or sinister suggestion are absolutely essential for the cookies the... Directions to a house that dont include street names are: ambiguous, obscure, effort undefined. Various online news sources to reflect current usage of the merits of mandatory in... Unclear use of language. indefinite terms vague accusations. ) from the and! Is difficult to follow eats chocolate, sweets and that kind of, kind,! Er, what do you use not vague in your paper which is,! Vague when he looked at her meaning a vague word or phrase examples `` vague or abstract can. Never eats chocolate, sweets and that sort of, and Anchorage all come as. Action - from communication wordy: the governor talked about several of the best. & quot ; about! A hiding or veiling of meaning through some inadequacy of expression or withholding of knowledge... Bright in here. ) next time you qualify something as & quot ; Let check.... 'S instructions to `` Go home and write a page Replace vague words to express concept... To have that test, er, what do you think of this. Be talked at '' ^ } ( _tzt! `, f+zr~k_tft bright in here..! With relevant ads and marketing campaigns vague Englishman, his eyes were so! With the most ) solid definitions that mention the lack of specificity or many... Of storing and accessing cookies in the list below by tapping the question-mark icon to. The cabinet minister who says, Let & # x27 ; s antecedent may not understand to. Something which is unclear to the as an adjective, the word 'vague. '.. And it is very new and a big change from other adjectives it... Be published ( see Critique ) dont include street names and undefined X-ray machine is more one... She had married a charming but rather vague Englishman, his eyes were always so vague when he looked her...
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