Here are four passages I encountered in newspapers. Observe how, in each case, poor wording creates an ambiguity that can lead the reader astray.

  • “He found himself wondering how much time he spent doing one of his roommates’ dishes.”

And I found myself wondering why washing a single dish would take so long — until I realized that one referred to the roommate, not to the tableware.

  • “These companies have used the sharp downturn as an opportunity to cull their payrolls for good….”

The phrase for good here means “permanently,” but might be misconstrued as meaning beneficial.

  • “A regulation now in the works will require the operators of printing and photocopying shops [in Tibet]… to take down identifying information about their clients and the specific documents printed or copied….”

The phrase to take down means “record” but also “remove.”

  • “American forces blew up a captured Japanese I-401 aircraft carrier submarine… which was designed during the war to execute air strikes on land from the sea.”

A submarine that operates on land? Once again, bad phrasing made me do a double take until I realized what the writer intended to say.

The lesson: Always review your writing to ensure that nothing is likely to puzzle or mislead the reader.



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