Writing English is so.. Ominous.

Honestly people who's only language is English have a hard time writing well with English. It's one of the hardest things that young children who are learning to write have to do. It's easier to learn math than all of the rules and idiosyncrasies of the written English language. If spelling is difficult for you, use a web browser or document program that has an automatic spell check. Many word documents have grammar checks as well, but those don't always make the most sense. My best advice is to write how you speak and take it from there. If you are doing a professional document or handling something for education, have a native English speaker proof read it before you submit it.

My understanding of the term 'Nebulous' is 'of, relating to, or resembling a nebula.' A nebula is 'any of numerous clouds of gas or duct in interstellar space.' I do understand what you're saying, nebulous also does have the meaning you are asking about, but I think most users of the English language would use the definition I've given. I do agree with you, it seems confusing to have certain words like this. I guess it comes natural having spoken English for my whole life, but it does seem weird.

I'm afraid the only suggestion is something you've already mentioned, context. Read several paragraphs before and after. If you're still unsure, take it to mean exactly what it says. Sometimes people try to read too much into a statement.

Nebulous = unclear Ambiguous = more than one meaning or interpretation I looked these words up in a dictionary and got the above definitions. I also looked both words up in a crossword puzzle dictionary and NEBULOUS was not shown as a synonym for AMBIGUOUS, but AMBIGUOUS was given as a synonym for NEBULOUS. Go figure. From what I've heard, writers are encouraged to write the way people talk. However, I do find it irksome when books contain incomplete sentences, particularly when the full thought continues in the next paragraph. I also get annoyed when people use the nominative (subjective) pronoun after a preposition. I don't care how much it's used these days or how otherwise intelligent the one saying it is, but FOR I is incorrect. FOR is a preposition which takes the objective pronoun. I imagine some would call me picayune, particularly when I make plenty of mistakes and have a very limited vocabulary.

I think your English is very good. You know a lot of words I don't and I'm sure many people don't especially where I come from. You said that English is your second language, well what's the first one? You mentioned problems with words, that they always have a tint meaning something else, and you also mentioned the comprehension issues you face. I guess it is the problem with language itself. Even precisely, these are the problems with the concept of communication itself, and they will always prevail. All we can do is minimize these problems to express ourselves correctly and precisely. I understood what you wanted to say, so I'd say that you write good English.

Don't worry about it, you English is impeccable! I know what you mean though. We have words that sound the same but have different meanings, and we have words that are spelled the same but are different words entirely... To someone of a different language, he or she might have trouble with words like, right,write, and rite and scene and seen. Also my SIL's name is Sean, and it sounds like the girls name, Shawn and may also be pronounced like John with an S instead of a J. Either way is right. A word like Tax can mean money being paid, or energy expended ... like don't tax yourself.. meaning don't tire yourself. The word tire, can mean a round tire that goes on cars and bikes... or it can mean getting tired. Sleepy and tired have two different meanings, but they are also used interchangeably by some people. I might be sleepy but not necessarily tired... tired in my body and sleepy in that I am going to fall asleep. There are just so many words that have different meanings, that you almost have to be a native speaker to understand fully the difference. Subject verb agreement is another thing that non-English speakers have trouble with. Some people use the word That to mean This...and the word With to mean By... One of my friends always says "with age 40" instead of "by age 40"... as an example. If I was of another nationality, I probably couldn't learn English. English is easy for me because I grew up with it, but writing it took much practice. I remember having to dissect sentences for subject/verb/adverb/adjective/preposition etc. I was in college before I truly got it and got good marks. I'm a writer now in my older age and have been since 2007. My hat is off to anyone who learns another language. I can't seem to catch on to other languages. I guess I could if I took a course in one... I just pick up words and phrases in Spanish and French... mostly Spanish because I have a Latina friend. I can't imagine having to learn another language at my age.

Based on your discussion, I believe you write very well with the English language and have a beautiful command of it.

A new language is always going to be tough to learn, specially writing it, no matter what age you are when starting learning it.hearing and speaking it is one thing, writing it is another thing. And really is not about English or Chinese or Russian, or any other language. As long as it's not your native language, it's always going to be an isse. But, to our advantage must be said that we have the computers around and they make our live much easier. They have the spelling check and even if you use your emails, it is comming in handy as they analyze each word before you send the email. The computer also lets you know if it's a spelling error or a gramaticl one and proposes corrections on the spot. I use this feature everytime I write a letter , an article or an email.

Those who have learnt to write before speaking any language I feel will do well in understanding the language as those who speak first would do so without bothering about so many aspects of the language that are required while using it. Having said that the next important thing is to be exposed to the environment that has people who are literate and speak and write well. Reading good literature would also automatically improve one's vocabulary. As for your doubts about 'ambiguous' and 'nebulous', ambiguous I would say would mean having different but clear alternatives while nebulous would be somewhat a clouded or confused situation.

Same here, knowing two or three languages is a skill. It is also our second language, the value of this English is to communicate freely. But then, the language should be used with the proper usage of words for not hurting other people. Some people are blessed to be fluent in speaking and effective in writing.

English is not an easy language to learn. There are many words that have different meanings. For example the word: board. It could mean a plank of wood or it could mean: time to board the plane. Which means - get on the plane. Also the word: bored - is pronounced the same but has a different meaning. So, there are many English words in which we can not tell what they mean, unless they are in context. So, even for English speaking people, this is a difficulty. Also, since English is spoken in so many different countries, there are many different accents and expressions. Sometimes, it is hard for an English speaking person to understand another English speaking person who lives in a different country. For example, some Americans has a hard time understanding some Australians. English is not an easy language. It is a combination of different languages that have evolved into modern English. Don't know why English has become the international language, when it is not an easy language to comprehend. Perhaps we need to come up with an easier language that we can all agree with. But people don't always want to change - even for the better. So, we are stuck with learning English. All the best to you.

Hey , English is the sword ! well , I am a medical student and I know how a medical student falls into trouble , if he does not perfect his English. I had to learn many important subjects in English ! So , cheers to this language !

I don't think you need to worry about your English; many native speakers don't have words like nebulous in their vocabularies. Comprehension is often about the context of the word. I would normally consider nebulous to mean 'ill-defined' or 'vague' and take ambiguous to mean 'having more than one meaning'. English is a very difficult language to master, so just practise and learn from your mistakes. Everyone gets it wrong sometimes. Native speakers get away with mistakes because the person they are speaking or writing to just ignores them or instinctively knows what they mean so there is no problem. It's the same with any language.