Is there a term for a statement that can be both true and false, such as "Nothing rhymes with orange"?
Question
#45152. Asked by ChrisSchu. (Mar 12 04 12:11 AM)
McGruff
How about "ambiguous"
2 : capable of being understood in two or more possible senses or ways
ambiguity : b : an ambiguous word or expression
[Mar 12 04 4:14 AM] McGruff writes:
Structural ambiguity exists when a phrase or sentence has two or more meanings because of structure, either of grouping or function.
Function ambiguity exists when a word or phrase potentially fulfills two or more meanings: the shooting of the hunters; visiting professors can be boring.
Mar 12 04, 2:39 AM
gmackematix
"Ambiguous" is an adjective that describes anything that has two meanings and doesn't specifically indicate something being "both true and false".
The closest I can think of to that is "Doublethink" from Orwell's "1984".
Mar 13 04, 10:57 PM
Baloo55th
I thought I was the champion nit-picker! It is an ambiguous atatement - like "Nothing acts faster than Anadin". Reminds me of the book Maggie bought - (title referring to a panda) "Eats shoots and leaves".
Mar 14 04, 3:31 PM
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