What is the difference between "vague", "unclear" and "ambiguous"? All three have the same meaning to me, so when should each be used?
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and nebulous too– OokerFeb 2, 2016 at 6:42
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3 Answers
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.
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 information.
Ambiguous is when something can have more than one meaning or refer to more than one subject and the listener/reader might have difficulty knowing exactly what it is you are describing.
'Vague' is used where something lacks precision or detail, while 'ambiguous' is something that could have two meanings, or is open to interpretation.
"Where is David?" ~ "He is in Europe" is vague, as Europe is a big place and David could be in any of it.
"I saw David in my car" is ambiguous, because it is not clear whether 'I' or 'David' was in the car.
answered May 12, 2012 at 7:21
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The difference between "vague", "unclear" and "ambiguous"? Their difference is in USE ... But they all MEAN that something is not well defined.
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2If the difference is in how they are used, please give examples of how use would affect their meaning. See the other answers: please note that your answer should add to the knowledge imparted by those answers.– Andrew Leach ♦Apr 10, 2019 at 7:31