ambiguous sources

[əmˈbɪɡjuəs ˈsɔːrsɪz]
noun phrasepl: N/A (already plural)
fontes ambíguas
1. Origins, references, or references that are unclear, unclear, or open to multiple interpretations
The historian dismissed the theory due to ambiguous sources that could not be properly verified.
O historiador rejeitou a teoria devido às fontes ambíguas que não podiam ser adequadamente verificadas.
2. Information or evidence that lacks clarity about authenticity, reliability, or exact meaning
The report relied on ambiguous sources, making its conclusions questionable.
O relatório se baseava em fontes ambíguas, tornando suas conclusões questionáveis.
3. References that could be interpreted in more than one way or whose origin is unclear
Academic papers should avoid citing ambiguous sources in their research.
Artigos acadêmicos devem evitar citar fontes ambíguas em suas pesquisas.
In Brazilian and Portuguese academic contexts, citing 'fontes ambíguas' is considered a serious flaw in research. The phrase is commonly used in peer review, academic criticism, and journalistic contexts to question the validity of arguments. In American academia, this phrase is equally critical and often signals the need for better sourcing and verification.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
unclear sourcesdubious sourcesvague referencesunreliable sourcesequivocal sourcesobscure sources
Antonyms / Antônimos
clear sourcesreliable sourcescredible sourcesunambiguous sourceswell-documented sources

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
fontes ambíguas
Standard usage in academic and professional contexts
Portugal
fontes ambíguas
Identical usage; standard academic terminology
São Paulo
fontes ambíguas / fontes duvidosas
Both terms used interchangeably in academic contexts
Rio de Janeiro
fontes ambíguas / fontes nebulosas
'Nebulosas' (nebulous) sometimes preferred colloquially

Related Words

source verificationcredibilityreliabilitycitationreferencedocumentationauthenticityambiguity

Related Idioms & Phrases

to draw from ambiguous sources
backed by ambiguous sources
clouded by ambiguous sources
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