What Is Syntactic Ambiguity And How Can You Avoid It?

What is syntactic ambiguity?

The word syntax refers to how words are arranged in a sentence. Ambiguity is when something is unclear or open to interpretation. Syntactic ambiguity, also known as structural ambiguity, is when a sentence can be interpreted in two (or more) ways due to the structure of the sentence. Syntactic ambiguity in writing is undesirable as it can confuse your readers.

Examples of syntactic ambiguity

Here are some examples of syntactic ambiguity:

• The duck is ready for dinner.

This sentence could have two different meanings. It could mean that someone’s pet duck is ready to eat dinner, or it could mean someone has cooked a duck for dinner.

• I saw the man wearing my jeans.

In this sentence, it could mean that I saw a man wearing the same jeans that I own, or it could mean that I was wearing jeans when I saw the man.

• Sarah bought green shirts and shoes.

This sentence could mean that both the shirts and shoes that Sarah bought were green, or it could mean that just the shirts were green.

• Andrew cooked the chicken with rice.

This sentence could mean that Andrew cooked chicken and served it with rice. It could also mean that rice was used to cook the chicken.

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Types of syntactic ambiguity

There are two types of syntactic ambiguity: local ambiguity and global ambiguity.

Local ambiguity

Local ambiguity is when a sentence starts out ambiguous, but the ambiguity is resolved by the end of it. Locally ambiguous sentences only have one meaning. Here’s an example of a locally ambiguous sentence:

• John cooked the fish with rice as a side dish.

At first, the reader may think that John used rice to cook the fish. However, the sentence ends with “as a side dish,” clarifying that the fish wasn’t cooked using rice and that the rice is just a part of the meal. Here’s another example of local ambiguity:

• Jessica bought blue shirts and shoes that are pink.

At the beginning of the sentence, the reader may think that Jessica bought shirts and shoes that were blue. However, by the end of the sentence, it’s clarified that the shoes she bought aren’t blue, but pink.

Global ambiguity

Global ambiguity is when a sentence can be interpreted in two different ways. Even when the sentence ends, the ambiguity still hasn’t been resolved. Here are some examples of global ambiguity:

• Alexa spotted the man with a telescope.

This sentence could mean that Alexa used a telescope to see a man, or it could mean that Alexa saw a man who was in possession of a telescope.

• I held my cat in the brown bucket hat.

This sentence could mean three different things. It could mean that the speaker was wearing a brown bucket hat while they held their cat, or that they held their cat who was wearing a brown bucket hat on its head. It could also mean that the speaker put their cat inside of the brown bucket hat to hold it.

Syntactic ambiguity vs. lexical ambiguity: what’s the difference?

Lexical ambiguity and syntactic ambiguity are often confused. In lexical ambiguity, a word in a sentence creates confusion. Here’s an example of lexical ambiguity:

• That horse is green.

In this sentence, the word “green” creates ambiguity. “Green” can mean untrained, but it can also refer to the color. Someone could interpret the sentence to mean that the horse is untrained, or that it’s literally green in color. In syntactic ambiguity, sentences can be interpreted differently due to the structure of the sentence.

How to avoid syntactic ambiguity

To avoid syntactic ambiguity:

• Focus on clear sentence structure. Understanding correct sentence structure can help make your writing less confusing.
• Use context clues. Providing your readers with enough context clues can help them understand the true meaning of your sentence.
• Avoid dangling modifiers. Removing dangling modifiers from your sentences can help you write more clearly.
• Proofread your writing. Taking the time to proofread what you wrote can help you identify and re-write unclear sentences.

Understanding syntactic ambiguity can help you become a stronger writer. If you’re looking for more ways you can improve your writing, learn about common grammatical errors and how you can avoid them.