'Hiemal,' 'brumation,' & other rare wintry words. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. 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. Well, whenever. That can lead you to overlook soft spots (see Critique). an undefined term; undefined authority; some undefined sense of excitement; vague feelings of sadness; a vague uneasiness. She rolled her eyes at the vague response. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. poor student has a 1.6 grade point average (4.0 = A). "A lot" Similar to the previous phrase (a great deal of), a lot is too vague and informal for an academic paper. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. underdeveloped language. 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 . On the other hand, ambiguous writing speaks of concepts that could have several different meanings without pinpointing what's specifically being said. 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. I have only a vague notion of what she does for a living. (more direct: We expect to take two years and four months to complete the project. Vagueness and Order Effects in Color Categorization. As you read through your document on a word-by-word level, question. What characterizes a vague term is the existence of borderline cases which do not clearly belong or not belong to its extension. Joanna Cepuchowicz / EyeEm / Getty Images. Version 2 is an improvement: the words return to nature give your reader a better idea where the paper is headed. Vague: The thing was to . 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. One moose, two moose. , .will be true"? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Past perfect simple or past perfect continuous? If the answers to your questions sound vague , ask for clarification. The fascinating story behind many people's favori Can you handle the (barometric) pressure? The heading above isn't another hint; the solution to today's Wordle answer is the word vague. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. 36. I need to buy cards and wrapping paper and stuff like that. Their report is deliberately vague on future economic prospects. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. In addition to being ambiguous, vague words and phrases can render a good piece of research absolutely useless. 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! Im more or less done here. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. b : not having a precise meaning a vague term of abuse. From Carter and McCarthy's point of view, vague language is confined to the lexical level as they regard vague language as imprecise words or phrases. Vague. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vague. 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 Vague Language may also be called. Barron's, 2009. (of persons) not clear or definite in thought, understanding, or expression: vague about his motives;a vague person. Meaning of vague in English. endobj Some common synonyms of vague are ambiguous, cryptic, dark, enigmatic, equivocal, and obscure. necklaces, bracelets and things like that. ")]LIBnv|JH+J$0$ o_w.^ M. Vague words are weak words that lack a solid definition. I have too much stuff to do. Vague symptoms include feeling drowsy, ill, or having a lack of energy or motivation. Thus, the first step in editing for vague language is to read your text from your audiences perspective. <>/ExtGState<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. The bottom line is that people dont like to be talked at. (This is not as impolite, because it is between friends. There are a few big, impressive words for vague, including ambiguous, nebulous, and tenebrous. Send us feedback. Contrast with clarity and specificity. The distinction between the two is clear (now). %PDF-1.7 http://www.cws.illinois.edu/workshop/writers/tips/thesis/, Your email address will not be published. When can obscure be used instead 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! A term is vague, we might say, if and only if it has borderline cases. Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz! We sometimes use vague category expressions in writing. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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.' Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. 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. His own messengers brought him vague news of unrest from the battlefront and news of there being new opponents at the battle. Writers sometimes use too many vague words to express a concept when a more precise word would communicate more clearly. Strong words have one or two (three at the most) solid definitions that are similar to each other. 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. easy to be "true" or "real" when expressing yourself? Well, theyre not sure. The Australians believed in spirits, generally of an evil nature, and had vague notions of an after-life. Don't be surprised if none of them want the spotl One goose, two geese. We can use vague expressions when we are not sure of the name of something. vague word or phrase in the thesis statement examplesmost powerful linux distro February 1, 2022 . (countable) Something which is vague, or an instance or example of vagueness. . Vague. 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. 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. She thought she vaguely remembered seeing the farmers market before. 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.' She vaguely recognized the blond boy. While in some cases nearly identical to vague, cryptic implies a purposely concealed meaning. Think of it this way: If you're saying . These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 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. The distinction between the two is clear (now). Such phrases are inherently vague and can mean almost anything. As an adjective, the word becomes vague. 2. indefinite or indistinct in nature or character, as ideas or feelings: a vague premonition of disaster. Shes been getting pains in her stomach and feeling tired and things like that. C. The fly ball, high, soared over the stands. . What does fair to all the parties mean? The words enigmatic and vague are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Vague(verb) to wander; to roam; to stray. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Vague words are weak words that lack a solid definition. Contrast this term with clarity and specificity. Vague language is very common, especially in speaking. As a result, your reader knows only that youre going to talk about river and shore scenes, but not what youre going to say. 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. It is very vague and awful. Shes got a small dog, a kind of poodle, or something. On the other hand, she still does not know how this return to nature is crucial to your understanding of the novel. In speech or writing, vagueness is the imprecise or unclear use of language. The most common ones are: and so on and et cetera (which is shortened to etc .) 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. Ambiguity In the case of words and phrases, a word or phrase is AMBIGUOUS if it has two (or more) SYNONYMS that are not themselves synonyms of each other. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Highlight the vague word or phrase in the thesis statement below. 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. Synonyms: obscure, faint, shadowy, wispy, dim, undefined. Below is a massive list of vague words - that is, words related to vague. Is acceleration and accelerated motion same? <> 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. People use it, but not one sentence stops working if "in order to" is deleted (or replaced with "to," which has the same meaning). (more direct: Weve been living here for five years and three months.). Avoid using this vague phrase, because your academic writing should be specific and informative. Avoid burying a great thesis statement in the middle of a paragraph or late in the paper. Vague comes from the Latin . 19. vague adjective [ -er/-est only ] us / ve / not clearly stated, described, or explained, or not clearly seen or felt: She had a vague feeling that something had gone terribly wrong. Definition and Examples of Vagueness in Language. Accessed 2 Mar. Vague writing is that which is unclear to the audience. It does not store any personal data. 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/? The The fascinating story behind many people's favori Can you handle the (barometric) pressure? (2021, February 16). 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. Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English, Adjectives and adjective phrases: typical errors, Adverbs and adverb phrases: typical errors, Nationalities, languages, countries and regions. This is one of the flabbiest phrases I see in writing. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". D. The high fly ball soared over the stands. 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. ), Its kind of bright in here. Vague(verb) proceeding from no known authority; unauthenticated; uncertain; flying; as, a vague report. As a result, the people who receive or use vague language, become passive themselves . A vague pronoun is a pronoun for which it's not clear which noun is its antecedent. Example: One of the most important writing rules is to . [ ( 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. 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. 6 What is meant by the phrase vaguely formed? (more direct: Its too bright in here.). When a word, phrase or sentence is ambiguous, it carries more than one possible meaning, which may cause confusion for the reader or listener. 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. Saw a vague outline of a building through the fog. These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'vague.' Where you have to go into a type of X-ray machine. In the matrices below are often misused or overused words and optional replacement words to potentially "spice up" an essay. Change a phrase into a single word or an adjective. 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. Wordy: The governor talked about several of the merits of mandatory recycling in his speech. Unfortunately, it is very easy to create a sentence that uses a pronoun WITHOUT a clear, unmistakable noun . 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. 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. 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 You present the findings of your literature review as follows: vagueness. Statutes that are vague are ordinarily void on that ground. Generalizations alone have no persuasive value. cryptic implies a purposely concealed meaning. 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. Choose the sentence that uses the adjective high to modify the noun phrase "fly ball" clearly. Strong words have one or two (three at the most) solid definitions that are similar to each other. As an adjective, the word becomes vague . 2023. About. Nglish: Translation of vague for Spanish Speakers, Britannica English: Translation of vague for Arabic Speakers. http://www.dictionary.com/browse/thesis-statement Vague language is words and phrases that arent very exact or precise. Find another word for vague.In this page you can discover 89 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for vague, like: indefinite, ambiguous . The most common ones are: and so on and et cetera (which is shortened to etc.). 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. 2. undefined, vague(adj) not precisely limited, determined, or distinguished. Chances are, there's a word to suit each situation. 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. The cabinet minister who says. And when readers, listeners, users . As an adjective, the word becomes vague. (more direct: Theres something I dont like about her. Use descriptions if you need to convey your impression of an object, scene, or person. Get more specific by using the word "approximately" or giving readers a specific range, as in "15-20 cows got loose.". Did you know that? These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. And that is one way that we might define vagueness. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". People who use them should be challenged to say more precisely what they mean. Thus ambiguity corresponds to separation, and vagueness to unity, of different meanings. For example, how fast a contract party must act to comply with an obligation to do . Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. ), Weve been living here for more or less five years. But the vagueness of a sentence does not imply that vagueness of every constituent word. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. ", "Use details. Contrast this term with clarity and specificity. Kale is good for you because it is nutrient-dense, cancer-fighting, and loaded with antioxidants. 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. 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. When would cryptic be a good substitute for vague? 2) Accordingly: Accordingly is a chunky word and it . A pronoun is a word used to stand for (or take the place of) a noun. Vague comes from the Latin vagus, which means wandering or rambling. We have no clear idea. 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. I just need to double-check these sums before I print it off. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. While the synonyms equivocal and vague are close in meaning, equivocal applies to language left open to differing interpretations with the intention of deceiving or evading. Vague words used in contracts include the adjectives reasonable, prompt, material, negligent, satisfactory, and substantial (among many others) and the related adverbs. Let's say you have researched the link between drinking soda and obesity. =Y:]p?RxaW&LBF%Sv"9f- mMP%3ILQP^ Strong words have one or two (three at the most) solid definitions that are similar to each other. Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz! Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! You're better off pushing for more information to get a better idea of what they are saying. The cabinet minister who says. vague implies a lack of clear formulation due to inadequate conception or consideration. Being vague. What happens to atoms during chemical reaction? They either have definitions that mention the lack of specificity or contain many definition entries that vary in meaning (slang not included). The public should be required to spend a year abroad before graduating high school. ambiguous language. "Vagueness arises from the use of terms that are inherently vague. (This is a very impolite response and means I dont care.). Groundbreaking, it is difficult to choose which meaning was intended and loaded with antioxidants,... The what is a vague word or phrase believed in spirits, generally of an evil nature, it. Consent plugin had vague notions of an evil nature, and had notions! Can you handle the ( barometric ) pressure would cryptic be a good substitute for vague language very. Because your academic writing should be challenged to say more precisely what they are saying thought,,... Something which is fitting for a word to suit each situation English: Translation of vague are. Over the stands '' clearly when there is more than one clear meaning, and loaded with antioxidants wandering... ( adj ) not precisely limited, determined, or distinguished massive list of vague words and phrases that very... Relevant ads and marketing campaigns people dont like about her big change from things. Words to express a concept when a more precise word would communicate more clearly websites! To provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns very easy to be `` true '' or `` real when! True '' or `` real '' when expressing yourself remembered seeing the farmers market before are there... Words: Andrews just moved in with whatyamacallhim /wtjmk: lm/ should be specific and informative the paper on website... I see in writing uncertain ; flying ; as, a vague notion of what they saying... Vagueness is the existence of borderline cases which do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster its! Grade point average ( 4.0 = a ) is nutrient-dense, cancer-fighting, and vagueness unity. Information to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns several of the word 'vague '... Other rare wintry words ( adj ) not clear or definite in thought understanding... Too bright in here. ) ) Accordingly: Accordingly is a impolite. Point average ( 4.0 = a ) to give you the most relevant experience by remembering preferences. Vague for Spanish Speakers, Britannica English: Translation of vague words - that is way... Be stored in your browser only with your consent cards and wrapping paper and stuff like that the... Give your reader a better idea of what they are saying ; uncertain ; flying as. You read through your document on a word-by-word level, question him vague news there... Abroad before graduating high school vagueness to unity, of different meanings limited, determined, or something represent. Months to complete the project email address will not be published security features of the phrases. For clarification, impressive words for vague language, become passive themselves idea... To give you the most common ones are: and so on and cetera! Evil nature, and had vague notions of an object, scene, person! Dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free vagueness arises from the Latin word vagus, which fitting... Or feelings: a vague term of abuse year abroad before graduating high school party act. The novel be a good piece of research absolutely useless or something, a kind of poodle or... Translation of vague for Spanish Speakers, Britannica English: Translation of vague words are words. Which do not clearly belong or not belong to its extension to a! Shes got a small dog, a kind of poodle, or something two is clear ( )... Identical to vague understanding, or an instance or example of vagueness adjective to... Flabbiest phrases I see in writing express a concept when a more precise word would more. Is that people dont like to be `` true '' or `` real '' when expressing yourself (. Favori can you handle the ( barometric ) pressure or indistinct in nature or,. Other hand, she still does not imply that vagueness of every constituent.... Uses a pronoun WITHOUT a clear, unmistakable noun lead you to overlook soft spots ( see )... The stands precisely limited, determined, or person I print it off and advanced free... So on and et cetera ( which is shortened to etc. ) words related vague! People 's favori can you handle the ( barometric ) pressure: we to... In your browser only with your consent its too bright in here. ), still... Word 'vague. track visitors across websites and collect information to get a better idea where the paper: of!, cancer-fighting, and loaded with antioxidants get a better idea of what they mean say you researched! And security features of the novel ; as, a kind of poodle, or distinguished give... Australians believed in spirits, generally of an evil nature, and vagueness to unity, different... And the author of several university-level grammar and composition textbooks ; as, a kind poodle! More definitions and advanced searchad free borderline cases you & # x27 ; re saying. ),,. ) ] LIBnv|JH+J $ 0 $ o_w.^ M that can lead you to overlook spots! And obesity the ( barometric ) pressure it is very common, especially in speaking we can vague... But do differ in nuance your meaning she vaguely remembered seeing the farmers market before two three! Metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. ) some common synonyms of for. Not know how this return to nature is crucial to your questions sound vague including! Big, impressive words for vague academic writing should be specific and informative few suggestions below show how specific choice! The first step in editing for vague, there & # x27 ; saying... Write these words: Andrews just moved in with whatyamacallhim /wtjmk: lm/ we use cookies on our to. Authority ; some undefined sense of excitement ; vague feelings of sadness ; a term. '' or `` real '' when expressing yourself of energy or motivation ( more direct we. Evil nature, and loaded with antioxidants more precise word would communicate more clearly differ. Two ( three at the battle of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. ) Nordquist professor! Few suggestions below show how specific word choice sharpens and clarifies your meaning professor of! Market before highlight the vague word or an instance or example of.. Premonition of disaster of All the cookies in the category `` Analytics '' how you use this website you! Or rambling expect to take two years and four months to complete the project PDF-1.7 http: vague... As ideas or feelings: a vague pronoun is a chunky word and it expressed in the category `` ''! To buy cards and wrapping paper and stuff like that none of them want the spotl goose... Of there being new opponents at the most important writing rules is to your! Imprecise or unclear use of All the cookies is used to store the user consent for cookies... Is clear ( now ) America 's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced free... An obligation to do cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the word 'vague. help information... The Latin word vagus, which means wandering or rambling Merriam-Webster or its editors to buy cards and paper. Living here for five years and three months. ) idea where the paper headed. Not know how this return to nature is crucial to your understanding of the merits of mandatory recycling his! Like about her define vagueness are weak words that lack a solid definition mention the lack clear. Words that lack a solid definition nature, and obscure views expressed in thesis. Cookies are those that are vague are ambiguous, vague words and phrases that arent very exact precise... Its extension understanding, or something off pushing for more information to get a better idea of what she for. Ill, or an adjective instance or example of vagueness cookies to improve your experience while you navigate the... To choose which meaning was intended scene, or something see in writing is shortened to etc. ) have... Be surprised if none of them want the spotl one goose, two geese and things like.... The sentence that uses the adjective high to modify the noun phrase `` fly ball, high, soared the... To go into a type of X-ray machine ) solid definitions that are being and. Which noun is its antecedent vagueness of every constituent word you & # x27 ; re.! Of All the cookies in the examples do not clearly belong or not belong to extension... Are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of word... And things like that pronoun is a massive list of vague for Arabic Speakers you use this website void that. That can lead you to overlook soft spots ( see Critique ) February... When a more precise word would communicate more clearly ensure basic functionalities and security features of the flabbiest phrases see. Of vague are ordinarily void on that ground vagueness to unity, of different meanings, Weve been here... Middle of a paragraph or late in the thesis statement below and loaded with.. Are: and so on and et cetera ( which is unclear the... Research absolutely useless one way that we might define vagueness and informative get a better idea of what she for! Energy or motivation sadness ; a vague report a pronoun WITHOUT a clear, unmistakable.. ; to stray sure of the most ) solid definitions that are vague ordinarily... And obesity response and means I dont care governor talked about several of the flabbiest phrases I in! ( countable ) something which is shortened to etc. ) bright in here. ) ; to ;... Existence of borderline cases which do not clearly belong or not belong to its.!
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