Ambiguous and Ambivalent

Distinguish two frequently confused test words about uncertainty.

'Ambiguous' and 'ambivalent' both begin with Latin ambi-, 'both' or 'on both sides,' and both suggest doubleness, but they describe different things. Ambiguous describes language, situations, or evidence that can be interpreted in more than one way. Ambivalent describes a person's feelings when they are mixed or conflicting. A sentence is ambiguous; a reader is ambivalent. Worked example: 'The coach said the new player was a real piece of work. ' That remark is ambiguous: it could be admiration or criticism.

Now: 'Mina was ambivalent about the move; she was excited about the new school but sad to leave her friends. ' Here the doubleness is inside Mina. A quick test: if you can replace the word with 'open to two readings,' use ambiguous. If you can replace it with 'torn between feelings,' use ambivalent. Standardized tests often place the two side by side to see whether you know the difference.

• 1Both words come from ambi-, 'both.'
• 2Ambiguous: open to more than one interpretation.
• 3Ambivalent: having mixed or conflicting feelings.