Imprecise language

{{Short description|Language in which several interpretations are plausible}}

{{Multiple issues|

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Imprecise language, informal spoken language, or everyday language is less precise than any more formal or academic languages.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5W63DAAAQBAJ&pg=PA109 |page=109 |title=Communicating for Success |author=Cheryl M. Hamilton |year=2016 |isbn=9781315299983 |publisher=Taylor & Francis}}

Language might be said to be imprecise because it exhibits one or more of the following features:

ambiguity – when a word or phrase pertains to its having more than one meaning in the language to which the word belongs.
vagueness – when borderline cases interfere with an interpretation.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yvrkoYbj7ZYC&pg=PT170 |page=170 |title=Understanding Insurance Law |author1=Robert H. Jerry |author2=Douglas S. Richmond |year=2012 |isbn=9781422548653 |publisher=LexisNexis}}
equivocation – the misleading use of a term with more than one meaning or sense (by glossing over which meaning is intended at a particular time).{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZM_lCqIke5wC&pg=PT77 |page=77 |title=Communication Under the Microscope: The Theory and Practice of Microanalysis |author=Peter Bull |year=2013 |isbn=9781134964048 |publisher=Taylor & Francis}}
accent – when the use of bold or italics causes confusion over the meaning of a statement.{{Cite web|url=https://techstacker.com/typography-italic-vs-bold/|title = When Should You Use Bold vs. Italic in Typography?}}{{cite web | url=https://clearsightbooks.com/tips-using-emphasis-effectively/ | title=Tips for Using Emphasis Effectively | date=4 May 2017 }}
amphiboly – when a sentence may be interpreted in more than one way due to ambiguous sentence structure.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hhMuEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA139 |page=139 |title=Falsehood and Fallacy: How to Think, Read, and Write in the Twenty-First Century |author=Bethany Kilcrease |year=2021 |isbn=9781487588618 |publisher=University of Toronto Press}}

While imprecise language is not desirable in various scientific fields, it may be helpful, illustrative or discussion-stimulative in other contexts.{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ejrbAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Imprecise+language%22+useful |title=Datamation |volume=29 |page=258 |issue=4 |year=1983 |publisher=Cahners Publishing Company}} Imprecision in a discourse may or may not be the intention of the author(s) or speaker(s). The role of imprecision may depend on audience, end goal, extended context and subject matter. Relevant players and real stakes will also bear on truth-grounds of statements.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

References

Category:Language