Have you ever read sentences that used words that left you uncertain of their meaning? That might be an equivocation—the deliberate use of ambiguity to create confusion.
It’s usually what happens when writers mistake purple prose for excellent writing. Or if you’re trying to avoid giving an honest answer.
What is Equivocation?
Equivocation means that you intentionally use ambiguous language that makes your meaning unclear due to multiple possible meanings.
Commonly known as “doublespeak”, you usually encounter this from someone who wants to hide their meaning or avoid saying something specific. You’ll find examples of it in legal dramas, political speeches, rhetoric, and debate.
Types of Equivocation
Equivocation works in different ways with the most common due to the innate vagueness of some words or phrases. For example, the phrase “in a minute” can mean 60 seconds or a figurative amount of time. This is the primary reason why you accidentally use equivocation in your writing.
Sometimes the problem is due to syntax. The structure of the sentence creates confusion. In the sentence, “She told her she didn’t pass,” it is unclear who the second “she” refers to.
Context also matters, especially for words with multiple meanings. It becomes more difficult when the same word is used with different meanings within a text and with no explanation.
For example, “The man ate a light dinner by the soft light of the candle. Later, he wore his lightest jacket for his evening walk as there was a light dusting of snow on the ground.” Here, the word “light” is used in multiple ways and in quick succession, which can create confusion.
Examples of Equivocation
Here are a few examples of equivocation taken from literature, pop culture, and real life.
1. Macbeth by William Shakespeare
“None of woman born shall harm Macbeth”
At first read, this prophecy by the Weird Sisters tells Macbeth he is invincible. After all, it’s a biological impossibility. He is later killed by Macduff, who was born by caesarian section, thus not “of woman born.”
2. Advertising
A lot of advertising relies on buzzwords that, upon further examination, don’t mean much. They dazzle consumers into buying products and services because they sound impressive and smart.
Phrases like “clinically proven”, “up to”, “may help”, “part of”, “results may vary” and “shown to” give the impression of effectiveness without providing a specific guarantee.
Others, like “energy efficient”, “all-natural”, “eco-friendly”, and “best in its class” make products sound more appealing despite companies having different definitions of these words and phrases.
3. Politics
Politicians are masters at answering questions and giving speeches without giving firm answers. There’s a running joke in many countries around the world that they can’t answer a simple yes or no question.
You’ve probably heard many noncommittal answers such as “I support freedom”, “Jobs, jobs, jobs”, and “I am committed to lowering taxes.” These are all phrases that are open to interpretation and appeal to a broad audience. Define freedom. What kind and quality of jobs? Whose taxes and how much?
A lot of people will pick their preferred meaning and leave feeling like they’ve been heard. In reality, the politician never really gave a definite answer.
In Logic
Equivocation is a kind of fallacy in logic. It is the use of a word or phrase ambiguously or with multiple meanings within an argument. It makes it look like the premise of your argument supports its conclusion when in reality it doesn’t.
It is an informal fallacy. This means the illogical nature of it is in the application of the argument rather than its structure. It is also considered a “bad faith argument” where the arguer is deliberately being dishonest or unfair.
Consider the sentence, “Sugar is essential for your body.” It is true, however, it neglects to mention that it is specifically blood sugar (glucose) that is mainly in your body. Most people would innocently think the sentence is referring to table sugar.
In Writing
Equivocation has its place in writing, though it does need careful use. Used sparsely and in certain moments, you can use it to evoke emotions, create ambiguity, and make your readers consider different interpretations of your work.
Another option is to let your characters use equivocators in their dialogue, especially if it fits their core characteristics. Jester-type characters often use wordplay and uncertainty to elicit reactions from others.
This does, however, run you the risk of being misunderstood. While it enriches the text with possibilities, it can also lead to debates and disagreements. If you make it too confusing, your audience could even refuse to read your work altogether.
Conclusion
Equivocation can be fun to explore when experimenting with your writing. However, clear and effective communication is still your priority in writing. Words hold immense power, and understanding how they can be twisted or misunderstood helps you wield them more effectively.
Use clear and precise language. Clarify ambiguities and provide additional context if necessary. Your audience shouldn’t be left confused after reading your work. Otherwise, you’ve failed to deliver your meaning.
What do you think of equivocation? Share your thoughts below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- The Garden Path Sentence: Getting Rid of Sentence Ambiguity
- Ambiguity: Definition, Examples, and How to Be More Precise in Your Writing
- Crash Blossoms: When Headlines Take An Ambiguous Turn
Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
