When encountering statements, ideas, or arguments that are unclear or illogical, saying “doesn’t make sense” is a common response. However, using varied expressions can make your communication more nuanced and constructive.
This blog post delves into alternative ways to convey that something is confusing or illogical, offering scenarios, examples, and explanations for each expression.
1. “It’s not clear”
Scenario: Indicating that something is not understandable.
Example 1: “The instructions are not clear; I’m not sure how to proceed.”
Example 2: “It’s not clear what the main point of the argument is.”
Explanation: This phrase communicates that the information is ambiguous or difficult to understand.
2. “It doesn’t add up”
Scenario: Suggesting that information is inconsistent or contradictory.
Example 1: “The numbers don’t add up in this report.”
Example 2: “His story doesn’t add up with the facts we have.”
Explanation: This phrase implies that the details are inconsistent or do not fit together logically.
3. “It’s confusing”
Scenario: Describing something that is difficult to follow or understand.
Example 1: “The explanation is confusing and needs more clarity.”
Example 2: “The plot of the movie is confusing and hard to follow.”
Explanation: This phrase suggests that the subject in question lacks clarity and is hard to comprehend.
4. “It lacks logic”
Scenario: Critiquing the logical structure of an argument or idea.
Example 1: “The argument lacks logic and doesn’t follow a coherent path.”
Example 2: “The proposal lacks logic and is difficult to support.”
Explanation: This phrase indicates that the reasoning or structure of the argument is flawed.
5. “It’s not coherent”
Scenario: Pointing out that something is not logically connected or organized.
Example 1: “The report is not coherent; it jumps between unrelated topics.”
Example 2: “The presentation was not coherent and lacked a clear structure.”
Explanation: This phrase suggests that the information is disorganized and lacks logical flow.
6. “It seems illogical”
Scenario: Describing something that does not follow logical reasoning.
Example 1: “The decision seems illogical given the circumstances.”
Example 2: “The plan seems illogical and unlikely to succeed.”
Explanation: This phrase indicates that the situation or argument does not follow sound reasoning.
7. “It’s hard to grasp”
Scenario: Indicating difficulty in understanding a concept or idea.
Example 1: “The concept is hard to grasp without further explanation.”
Example 2: “The theory is hard to grasp and needs to be simplified.”
Explanation: This phrase suggests that the subject matter is difficult to understand or comprehend.
8. “It doesn’t make sense to me”
Scenario: Expressing personal confusion or lack of understanding.
Example 1: “The solution doesn’t make sense to me; I need more details.”
Example 2: “The argument doesn’t make sense to me based on what I know.”
Explanation: This phrase personalizes the confusion, indicating that the information is unclear from your perspective.
9. “It’s puzzling”
Scenario: Describing something that causes confusion or wonder.
Example 1: “The results are puzzling and don’t align with our expectations.”
Example 2: “The situation is puzzling and requires further investigation.”
Explanation: This phrase suggests that the information is confusing and difficult to understand.
10. “It seems inconsistent”
Scenario: Indicating that information or statements do not align or match.
Example 1: “The data seems inconsistent with the earlier findings.”
Example 2: “The explanations seem inconsistent and contradictory.”
Explanation: This phrase points out discrepancies or contradictions in the information.
11. “It’s baffling”
Scenario: Describing something that is perplexing or hard to understand.
Example 1: “The sudden change in policy is baffling to many of us.”
Example 2: “The outcome of the experiment is baffling and requires further review.”
Explanation: This phrase suggests that the situation or information is confusing and difficult to make sense of.
12. “It doesn’t fit”
Scenario: Indicating that information or ideas do not align or integrate well.
Example 1: “The new data doesn’t fit with the existing model.”
Example 2: “The explanation doesn’t fit with the evidence provided.”
Explanation: This phrase suggests that the information or ideas do not align with what is already known or established.
13. “It seems off”
Scenario: Describing something that feels incorrect or unusual.
Example 1: “The timing seems off for this event.”
Example 2: “The statement seems off and doesn’t align with the facts.”
Explanation: This phrase implies that something does not seem right or correct.
14. “It’s unclear”
Scenario: Indicating that something is not fully understood or defined.
Example 1: “The instructions are unclear and need more details.”
Example 2: “The results are unclear and do not provide a clear answer.”
Explanation: This phrase communicates that the information is not well-defined or easy to understand.
15. “It’s not straightforward”
Scenario: Describing something that is complicated or complex.
Example 1: “The process is not straightforward and requires careful navigation.”
Example 2: “The argument is not straightforward and involves several complexities.”
Explanation: This phrase suggests that the subject is complex and not easy to follow.
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16. “It’s hard to follow”
Scenario: Indicating that information or arguments are difficult to understand.
Example 1: “The lecture was hard to follow due to its complexity.”
Example 2: “The plot of the movie was hard to follow and lacked clarity.”
Explanation: This phrase suggests difficulty in understanding or keeping up with the information.
17. “It’s unclear what you mean”
Scenario: Expressing confusion about a specific point or statement.
Example 1: “It’s unclear what you mean by that term.”
Example 2: “It’s unclear what you’re trying to convey with that explanation.”
Explanation: This phrase communicates that the intended meaning or message is not clear.
18. “It seems confusing”
Scenario: Describing something that causes confusion or difficulty in understanding.
Example 1: “The directions seem confusing and need to be clarified.”
Example 2: “The instructions seem confusing and are not easy to follow.”
Explanation: This phrase indicates that the information is causing confusion.
19. “It’s not making sense”
Scenario: Describing something that is difficult to understand or interpret.
Example 1: “The results are not making sense with the initial hypothesis.”
Example 2: “The reasoning behind the decision is not making sense to me.”
Explanation: This phrase suggests that the information or reasoning is not clear or logical.
20. “It’s contradictory”
Scenario: Indicating that information or statements are in opposition to each other.
Example 1: “The two statements are contradictory and cannot both be true.”
Example 2: “The evidence is contradictory and undermines the argument.”
Explanation: This phrase points out that there are conflicts or inconsistencies in the information.
21. “It’s not logical”
Scenario: Describing something that does not follow logical reasoning.
Example 1: “The argument is not logical and lacks coherence.”
Example 2: “The proposal is not logical given the current situation.”
Explanation: This phrase suggests that the reasoning or conclusion is not sound.
22. “It’s hard to make sense of”
Scenario: Indicating difficulty in understanding or interpreting information.
Example 1: “The report is hard to make sense of without additional context.”
Example 2: “The data is hard to make sense of and needs further analysis.”
Explanation: This phrase suggests that understanding or interpreting the information is challenging.
23. “It’s perplexing”
Scenario: Describing something that causes confusion or difficulty in understanding.
Example 1: “The findings are perplexing and require further investigation.”
Example 2: “The situation is perplexing and does not fit with our expectations.”
Explanation: This phrase indicates that the information is confusing or difficult to understand.
24. “It’s not making any sense”
Scenario: Emphasizing that something is incomprehensible.
Example 1: “The explanation is not making any sense; can you clarify?”
Example 2: “The outcome is not making any sense based on the data provided.”
Explanation: This phrase highlights that the information is incomprehensible or illogical.
25. “It’s unclear how that works”
Scenario: Expressing confusion about the functionality or reasoning behind something.
Example 1: “It’s unclear how that new feature works within the system.”
Example 2: “It’s unclear how that solution addresses the problem.”
Explanation: This phrase suggests uncertainty about the functionality or effectiveness of something.
26. “It doesn’t fit the facts”
Scenario: Indicating that information or statements do not align with known facts.
Example 1: “The explanation doesn’t fit the facts we have gathered.”
Example 2: “The story doesn’t fit the facts and seems inconsistent.”
Explanation: This phrase suggests that the information or argument does not align with established facts.
27. “It’s illogical”
Scenario: Describing something that lacks logical reasoning.
Example 1: “The proposed solution is illogical and doesn’t solve the problem.”
Example 2: “The argument is illogical and fails to address the issue effectively.”
Explanation: This phrase indicates that the reasoning or argument does not follow logical principles.
28. “It doesn’t seem right”
Scenario: Indicating that something feels incorrect or questionable.
Example 1: “The numbers don’t seem right; there might be an error.”
Example 2: “The decision doesn’t seem right and may need reconsideration.”
Explanation: This phrase suggests that something feels incorrect or questionable.
29. “It’s not adding up”
Scenario: Indicating that information is inconsistent or doesn’t fit together.
Example 1: “The data isn’t adding up with our previous results.”
Example 2: “The explanation isn’t adding up with what we know.”
Explanation: This phrase highlights inconsistencies or contradictions in the information.
30. “It’s confusing at best”
Scenario: Describing something that is primarily unclear or difficult to understand.
Example 1: “The instructions are confusing at best and need to be revised.”
Example 2: “The proposal is confusing at best and lacks clear objectives.”
Explanation: This phrase emphasizes that the subject is primarily unclear or difficult to comprehend.
Conclusion
Using varied expression to describe when something “doesn’t make sense” can enhance communication by providing more specific and nuanced feedback.
Whether you are critiquing a proposal, interpreting data, or simply trying to understand a point, these alternative phrases offer a range of options to convey confusion or lack of clarity effectively.
I’m Isbel, owner of Grammar Glides. Our site provides clear, engaging resources to help you master English grammar effortlessly. Whether you’re learning or refining your skills, we’re here to make grammar easy and enjoyable.
