Questions tagged [ambiguity]
This tag is for questions about words or phrases that have multiple meanings and can thus be understood in different ways. If your question is about different words that can be easily mixed up or confused use the tag CONFUSABLES instead.
1,122
questions
-1
votes
1
answer
192
views
Ambiguity using because
Are you feeling hot because my lingerie is cool?
What is the speaker asking here?
Is the speaker offering advice to someone?
Or, perhaps the speaker is asking a question about the cause of a person’s ...
4
votes
6
answers
357
views
How do I make "X is the thing I wanted to win" unambiguous?
When I say, StackExchange is the website I wanted to win (in an implied context of best website award), it sounds like I wanted to win (own) StackExchange, whereas I'm trying to imply that I wanted ...
0
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Differences between expressions including [not/no + more/less + than~]
I have read an article on English expressions of comparison on a website in Japanese, however I am still unsure about the content and would like to check if it is correct.
It gives 4 examples as ...
0
votes
2
answers
136
views
Does "unexpectedly" apply to one or both following verb phrases?
We're having a discussion in a forum on rulings in duplicate bridge. In duplicate bridge, each partnership has their own set of bidding system agreements, and there are regulations that specify that ...
-1
votes
2
answers
848
views
Etymology: 'pray in aid'
P2. to pray in aid: (a) {intr.} to call on the assistance of (also †for), to make use of, esp. in proving an argument (now rare);
(b) {trans.} (esp. Law) to ask for the assistance of (a person or ...
1
vote
1
answer
4k
views
"Do not rely" on something, does rely focus on never using "something"?
So, I was talking with a friend of mine a little while back about what "relying" on something means.
His take was that to "rely" on something was to completely depend on the "something", as in only ...
4
votes
1
answer
6k
views
Should "unmeasurable" be used to describe missing data due to obstacles in obtaining measurements?
I am seeing the term "unmeasurable" used occasionally to describe measurements that could not be taken due to unusual circumstances. For example, audio qualities might not be measurable if there is a ...
1
vote
2
answers
2k
views
The meaning of ETA - to origin or to destination?
I'm writing an application with the embedded Uber taxi app functionality. In short, when the user points to a point near his or her location in our app, a Uber button appears, with the following text:
...
0
votes
3
answers
688
views
Does vacillation imply intention or a mind? Can non-intelligent things vacillate?
A friend and I are arguing about this.
Does vacillation imply a mind? Can a non-intelligent thing vacillate? In the context of video games my friend mentioned that his ping was vacillating. I argued ...
1
vote
2
answers
1k
views
Why are ambiguous phrases like "ain't no something" still used? [duplicate]
There are some phrases in English that lead to nothing but unnecessary confusion and frustration, especially for non-native speakers. For instance, I've seen the phrase ain't no something being used ...
6
votes
2
answers
379
views
Never perhaps did any man suffer death with more justice, or deserve it less
Source: From Alexander Hamilton to Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, 1780 October 11
... [Major John André] he ought to be considered as a spy and according to the laws and usages of nations to ...
1
vote
1
answer
478
views
Charles Bukowski's "best dick" [closed]
I am reading Charles Bukowski's Pulp and as non-native English speaker I am finding decoding certain expressions challenging. For example the main character, Nicky Belane, often refers to himself ...
4
votes
1
answer
23k
views
Does 'extraordinary', 'exceptional', 'outstanding' always carry positive connotations nowadays?
When I take the word 'extraordinary', 'exceptional' and 'outstanding' literally, it simply means something 'out of the ordinary', 'rare and/or unusual', or something which 'stands out from the rest', ...
0
votes
2
answers
110
views
Using "Oldtimer" for items?
Can I use oldtimer for a place or an item that people get used to using during certain times?
For example:
That photo booth has become an oldtimer for the fair goers.
-2
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Words to use instead of 'because' because 'because' is inherently ambiguous
What alternatives do we have other than 'because'?
'Because' guarantees you will be partially understood at best because unmodified uses of the word 'because' could mean 'solely because' or 'partly ...
2
votes
1
answer
244
views
Memorable or Recall or what
I used in a sentence: your most memorable dream.
I meant it as the dream I thought of first.
It was interpreted as the dream which is remembered with the most detail.
Memorable means, "worth ...
3
votes
2
answers
25k
views
One sentence with two meanings! "The door was locked"
I'm learning English.
I think the sentence "The door was locked" has two meanings!. I'm very confused.
First of all, let's look at this example:
I broke the glass (Active)
The glass was broken (...
-2
votes
2
answers
497
views
a word that is commonly used as either an adjective or a noun [closed]
I'm trying to come up with some sort of play on word, but for that I need a common word that can be used as either a noun or an adjective. here is what I am trying to write:
you are a little [word]
...
1
vote
2
answers
17k
views
What is the difference between "in March" and "by March" [duplicate]
What is the difference between "in March" and "by March". Is there any ?
16
votes
4
answers
118k
views
What is the difference between "illness" and "disease"?
Are there any differences when those words are used? By whom they are used?
Google n-gram
All English
English fiction:
I would guess that "illness" is rather a term which is used in spoken ...
2
votes
4
answers
17k
views
Does 'affect' imply negative effect?
when I say A affects B, does it imply that A has a negative effect on B?
12
votes
9
answers
3k
views
Safer alternative to “opaque”?
As a child I was taught that opaque means doesn't let any light through at all, as opposed to translucent (lets some light through, but diffused/frosted) or transparent (completely clear, lets you see ...
3
votes
4
answers
786
views
Is there a name for this: an idiom that ambiguously refers to itself?
Two examples I can think of:
The athlete's Achilles heel was her Achilles heel.
The chef's bread and butter is his bread and butter.
In both cases, the order of the idiom and the thing it refers to ...
0
votes
3
answers
208
views
How to determine the right meaning of 'no not I' ? (1762, UK)
Source: The original Miller of Dee from Bickerstaffe's "Love in a village" (1762)
There dwelt a miller, hale and bold, beside the river Dee;
He danced and sang from morn till night, no lark so ...
-1
votes
2
answers
120
views
"Sales" ambiguity
I'm a software developer and for a store system I need to have two tabs in a menu. One tab for listing all the "sales" (a list of every time some items have been sold) and another tab for listing "...
1
vote
2
answers
220
views
because I am funny, not good-looking [duplicate]
a. He likes me because I am funny, not good-looking.
b. He likes me because I am funny, not because I am good-looking.
In which case am I good-looking?
In which case is it possible that I am good-...
-2
votes
2
answers
2k
views
"perished of fits"
I can not find the meaning of this phrase: perished of fits.
What does it mean? It is an idiom?
2
votes
3
answers
1k
views
I can make it, I will leave. What's the precedence and ambiguity?
Here's a scenario. I am confounded when after a discussion with a friend, they arrive at my place on Saturday, here's the transcript.
her: I can make it on Saturday.
me: Ok, see you then anytime!
...
1
vote
2
answers
156
views
Is saying "back to back" an AmE or BrE usage [duplicate]
I have been often intrigued by the phrase "back-to-back".
Referring to "back" is reminiscent of the rear of the human body.
I usually hear-
back-to-back meetings
2
votes
2
answers
16k
views
Comma or no comma before "in part because"?
"Running outdoors burns about five percent more calories than running on a treadmill, in part because there is greater wind resistance outdoors."
I was taught that you shouldn't put a comma before '...
-3
votes
3
answers
159
views
"Their "Is being used in the below sentence for whom? Please reply fast [closed]
Mental-health practitioners whose clients kill themselves can face stigma from "their colleagues".Whose Colleagues ,their own or the client?
1
vote
5
answers
956
views
Ambiguity with adverbs when using the word "or"
If you take the sentence
"Bob will run or walk fast."
how is the ambiguity resolved between the following two meanings?
Bob will either run fast or he will walk fast.
Bob will either run (...
1
vote
1
answer
962
views
What does "what has changed with" means here?
What has changed with this tragedy is people’s willingness to
recognize that religion really does make people do terrible things.
This is from the latest New Republic, the author means that as the ...
-4
votes
1
answer
503
views
Writing a sentence being less ambiguous [closed]
I have following paragraph with two corrections.
A- In the 1980s the largest single provider of day care for children was the federal government, which offered
B- The federal government was the ...
0
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Calculus vs calculation [closed]
It is becoming more popular on American talk shows to say "calculus" instead of "calculation." To my mind, calculus is either a branch of Mathematics or a stone like in the gall bladder. Any comments?
3
votes
3
answers
3k
views
How to use the phrase "come doing" properly?
How do you use the phrase 'come doing' properly?
On the one hand, 'come doing' means that someone comes for doing something. For example, "Why not come dancing tonight?". This sentence never means "...
0
votes
2
answers
505
views
Comma required to avoid syntactical (but not semantic) ambiguity?
Consider this sentence:
You may worry about the Fed raising interest rates, or a market meltdown, but these risks should not change your investment plans.
Could the comma before "or" be omitted? I ...
-3
votes
2
answers
342
views
Confusing sentence from the Economist [closed]
I cannot understand the meaning of this sentence.
From the article titled "Let England shake" (The Economist Sep 27th 2014), an article about Scotland's independence referendum.
Nobody asked to ...
0
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Is "sub-project" more like "support project" or "child project"? [closed]
I have a controversy of my project's leader about the meaning of "sub-project". When we need to translate sub-project from English to our native language (Vietnamese), I think that we should ...
2
votes
4
answers
7k
views
why say "take" when we really mean "leave" (a piss, etc.)
The use of "take" in colloquial expressions of urination and defecation continues to both confound and amuse even the youngest of language enthusiasts. Just ask my son, who will insist with a smile ...
2
votes
3
answers
34k
views
How do you write the expression of disgust that sounds like "er"?
My daughter said to me this morning (the context is irrelevant):
Er, it's all wet!
The interjection I have written here as Er was synonymous with Yuck. Its wetness did not cause great happiness.
...
-4
votes
2
answers
125
views
ambiguity of a phrase
my grammar book deals with the ambiguity of phrases. I read that "EMT Helps Raccoon Bite Victim" can grammatically - in addition to the wrong meaning that the medical personell helped a raccoon bite ...
0
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Can "extremely professional" have a negative connotation? [closed]
If someone is described as extremely professional, might there be a negative side to it?
This is how I would take it in many contexts, and I'm wondering whether it's justified. If some chap at work ...
8
votes
6
answers
15k
views
How to avoid ambiguity in the question: "Why do you think...?"
Let us say I want to know why the sky is blue, my understanding is that I can ask you: "Why do you think the sky is blue?" regardless of whether you have thought about it before or not. It ...
0
votes
1
answer
113
views
Commas for parenthetical info when against technicality and ambiguity
I write the following sentence as follows: "The lady spent a few seconds gently patting the two chocobos at the coach, a popular species of avian bred throughout the country".
Where does one draw the ...
2
votes
2
answers
28k
views
You do not need to take further action/s. Action or actions?
Okay, so this has been a great bother for me over the years. As a general rule of thumb, I usually follow this format: using "a" for singular and none for plural. Like so,
You do not need to take ...
0
votes
2
answers
14k
views
Meaning of Evenly distributed [closed]
What is the exact meaning of evenly in phrases such as:
Users are evenly distributed between these types
or
Users were split roughly evenly among these categories
does it mean on the same ...
1
vote
1
answer
366
views
Ambiguity of "just" in a context
I know that there are similar questions, but I'd like to know what's the "preferred" meaning of "just" in a specific sentence in this context.
I was watching a GTA V movie, called "Meltdown". In a ...
1
vote
1
answer
440
views
use of expediency and entail?
I wonder if the following sentence conveys the right meaning.
Even if they make a big mistake, expediency entails to forgive each other for the bigger cause of friendship.
Can expediency entail ...
0
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Sentence interpretation
I have been accused of a lack of reading comprehension in the following statement:
Irgun later on became part of the "Jewish authorities", specifically the IDF by a self-professed wordsmith.
To me, it ...