Ambiguity (confusing) Ambiguity (confusing)

Ambiguity is a hindrance to clarity. Ambiguity is a hindrance to clarity.

The faulty construction of sentences The faulty construction of sentences
gives rise to ambiguity. gives rise to ambiguity.
Generally, ambiguity arises because Generally, ambiguity arises because
of the misplaced modifiers in of the misplaced modifiers in
sentences. (A modifier is a sentences. (A modifier is a
word/phrase/clause which tells us word/phrase/clause which tells us
something more about a noun, verb something more about a noun, verb
or adjective in a sentence). or adjective in a sentence).
Ambiguous sentence Ambiguous sentence
Ambiguity Ambiguity is a condition where is a condition where
information can be understood or information can be understood or
interpreted in more than one way interpreted in more than one way
We don't just serve hamburgers, we We don't just serve hamburgers, we
serve people. serve people.
e noticed a large stain in the rug e noticed a large stain in the rug
that was right in the centre. that was right in the centre.
e noticed a large stain in the centre e noticed a large stain in the centre
of the rug. of the rug.
John found his wallet near the bank John found his wallet near the bank
The lady hit the man with an The lady hit the man with an
umbrella umbrella
Questions Questions
ow ambiguity can be removed? ow ambiguity can be removed?
Examples of ambiguous sentences. Examples of ambiguous sentences.
#0/un/,ncy: #0/un/,ncy:
#edundancy is the part of a message #edundancy is the part of a message
that can be eliminated without loss that can be eliminated without loss
of much information. (unnecessary of much information. (unnecessary
repetition) repetition)
Once necessary words are pruned, Once necessary words are pruned,
the idea stands out clearly and the idea stands out clearly and
effectively. effectively.
Avoid saying the Avoid saying the
same thing twice. same thing twice.
mi/night mi/night
noon noon
3 ,m in th0 morning 3 ,m
,bsolut0ly
sp0ct,cul,r/ph0nom
0n,l
sp0ct,cul,r/ph0nom0n,
l
, p0rson who is hon0st ,n hon0st p0rson
, tot,l of bir/s bir/s
biogr,phy of h0r lif0 biogr,phy
circl0 ,roun/ circl0
clos0 proximity proximity
coop0r,t0 tog0th0r coop0r,t0
0,ch ,n/ 0;0ry 0,ch
0nclos0/ h0r0with 0nclos0/
0n/ r0sult r0sult
0x,ctly th0 s,m0 th0 s,m0
fin,l compl0tion compl0tion
fr,nk ,n/ hon0st 0xch,ng0
fr,nk 0xch,ng0 or hon0st
0xch,ng0
fr00 gift gift
0n/ r0sult r0sult
0x,ctly th0 s,m0 th0 s,m0
fin,l compl0tion compl0tion
fr,nk ,n/ hon0st 0xch,ng0
fr,nk 0xch,ng0 or hon0st
0xch,ng0
fr00 gift gift
h0/sh0 is , p0rson who . . .
h0/sh0
import,nt/b,sic 0ss0nti,ls
0ss0nti,ls
r0f0r b,ck r0f0r
r0p0,t ,g,in r0p0,t
r0turn ,g,in r0turn
r0;0rt b,ck r0;0rt
short0r/long0r in l0ngth short0r/long0r
sm,ll/l,rg0 in siz0 sm,ll/l,rg0
squ,r0/roun//r0ct,ngul,r in
sh,p0
squ,r0/roun//r0ct,ngul,r
summ,riz0 bri0fly summ,riz0
#0/un/,nt: #0/un/,nt: The reason that we The reason that we
stopped for the night was because stopped for the night was because
we were tired. we were tired.
#0/un/,nt: #0/un/,nt: ecause we were tired, ecause we were tired,
we therefore stopped for the night. we therefore stopped for the night.
etter etter e stopped for the night e stopped for the night
because we were tired. because we were tired.
#0/un/,nt: #0/un/,nt: The The underlying underlying motive motive
behind behind his kind words was so that he his kind words was so that he
could borrow money from me. could borrow money from me.

0tt07 0tt07 The The underlying underlying motive for his kind motive for his kind
words was so that he could borrow money words was so that he could borrow money
from me. from me.
0tt07: 0tt07: The motive The motive behind behind his kind words his kind words
was so that he could borrow money from was so that he could borrow money from
me. me.
#0/un/,nt: #0/un/,nt: One of the dinosaurs in One of the dinosaurs in
the exhibit is 100,000 years old in the exhibit is 100,000 years old in
age. age.
0tt07: 0tt07: One of the dinosaurs in the One of the dinosaurs in the
exhibit is 100,000 years old. exhibit is 100,000 years old.