Ambiguous Definitions

Some words are ambiguous.

For example, "Rich"

 photo by TheTruthAbout


When you use these words, you should try to define them in concrete terms.

For example, "By rich, I mean people who earn more than $1,000,000 a year"

Once you have defined an ambiguous word in concrete terms, you must use the same definition from them on.

You should not change your definition.


Sometimes a writer uses 2 definitions at the same time in order to trick the reader.

Look at this link.


http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-krikorian-time-20120301,0,1310855.story?track=rss


The writer wants to have 30 "hours" in a day.

Thus each "hour" would be 48 minutes long.

That`s fine but then the writer mixes the old definition of "hour" with the new definition of "hour".

"But wait, there's more. How many times have we heard that eight hours of sleep is ideal. With my 48-minute hour, folks who now regularly get in only six hours of sleep would come close to that ideal, clocking 71/2 hours of slumber."

The intention of the writer in this case is just to amuse the reader.

But some writers use this trick in order to fool the readers.

Be careful of this trick!