2021-03-03 ศัพท์ น่าสับสน ชุด V – Vague reference

Revision M-Z

2021-03-03

ศัพท์ น่าสับสน ชุด V – Vague reference 

แนะนำการใช้ ตามที่ส่วนใหญ่ใช้ แต่ละท้องถิ่น  

ความหมาย อาจผันแปร ตาม ตำแหน่ง/หน้าที่ ในประโยค 

  

Dictionary.com 

ออกเสียง Vague = ‘VEYG’ 

ออกเสียง reference = ‘REF-ruhns’ or ‘REF-er-uhns' 

 Merriam-Webster Dictionary 

Choose the Right Synonym for vague 

OBSCURE, DARK, VAGUE, ENIGMATIC, CRYPTIC, AMBIGUOUS, EQUIVOCAL\ 

mean not clearly understandable.  

OBSCURE implies a hiding or veiling of meaning  

through some inadequacy of expression  

or withholding of full knowledge.   

obscure poems   

DARK implies an imperfect or clouded revelation often with ominous  

or sinister suggestion.   

muttered dark hints of revenge   

VAGUE implies a lack of clear formulation due to inadequate conception or consideration.   

a vague sense of obligation   

ENIGMATIC stresses a puzzling, mystifying quality.   

enigmatic occult writings   

CRYPTIC implies a purposely concealed meaning.   

cryptic hints of hidden treasure   

AMBIGUOUS applies to language capable of more than one interpretation.   

an ambiguous directive   

EQUIVOCAL applies to language left open to differing interpretations with the intention of deceiving or evading.   

moral precepts with equivocal phrasing 

Common Errors In English Usage Dictionary 

Vague reference 

Vague reference is a common problem in sentences  

where “this,” “it," "which” or other such words  

don’t refer back to any one specific word or phrase,  

but a whole situation.  

“I hitchhiked back to town, got picked up by an alien spacecraft and was subjected to humiliating medical experiments, which is why I didn’t get my paper done on time.”  

In conversation this sort of thing goes unnoticed,  

but more care needs to be taken in writing.  

There are lots of ways to reorganize this sentence  

to avoid the vague reference.  

You could replace “which is why” with “so,” for instance.  

Sometimes the referent is  

only understood and not directly expressed at all: 

 “Changing your oil regularly is important, which is one reason your engine burned up.”  

The “which’refers to an implied failure to change oil regularly,  

but doesn’t actually refer back to any of the specific words used earlier in the sentence. 

Sometimes there is no logical referent:  

“In the book it says that Shakespeare was in love with some ” dark lady”.” 

 This is a casual way of using “it” that is not acceptable in formal written English.  

Write instead  

“Arthur O. Williams says in The Sonnets that Shakespeare. . . ." 

A reference may be ambiguous because  

it’s not clear which of two referents is meant:  

“Most women are attracted to guys with a good sense of humor unless they are into practical jokes.”  

Does “they’refer to "women” or “guys"?  

It would be clearer if the sentence said  

“Most women are attracted to guys with a good sense of humor,  

though not usually to practical jokers."