Vague Language
B2 · Upper IntermediateSpoken English GrammarSome stuff. Or something. Around thirty, give or take. — talking loosely on purpose.
What you'll learn
- Vague nouns replace a specific word the speaker doesn't need or want to name exactly: stuff, thing, thingy, what's-his-name/what's-her-name
- Vague list-enders signal an open-ended, unfinished list: and stuff like that, and so on, or something
- Vague approximators soften an exact number or time: around, about, or so, -ish, give or take
- Vague language isn't imprecise by accident — it's a deliberate, efficient choice when exact detail isn't necessary or known
- It's normal and expected in casual conversation, but out of place in a contract, a technical manual, or a scientific report, where precision matters
Talking loosely on purpose
Not every conversation needs precise detail — often naming every single item, giving an exact number, or recalling an exact name would just slow things down without adding anything useful. English has a rich set of vague words and phrases built exactly for this: they signal 'you know roughly what I mean, and that's enough.'
Vague nouns and names
When a speaker doesn't need — or can't recall — the exact word for something, English offers ready substitutes: 'stuff' and 'thing(y)' for objects, 'what's-his-name'/'what's-her-name' for a person whose name has slipped the speaker's mind.
Vague list-enders and approximators
'And stuff like that' or 'and so on' signal that a list could continue but doesn't need to. Approximators soften a number or time that doesn't need to be exact: around, about, or so, -ish, give or take.
Watch out
Vague language is fine in casual speech but reads as unprofessional or even legally risky in contracts, instructions, and formal reports, where exact detail matters.
Native speakers use vague language constantly and on purpose — it's an efficient conversational tool, not a gap in knowledge.
Real life — Planning a casual get-together
"What do we need to bring?"
"Just snacks, drinks, and stuff like that — nothing fancy."
"How many people are coming, roughly?"
"Maybe fifteen or so, give or take a few."
Practice
Exercise 1 · Identify the meaning
'I need to buy some stuff for the trip.' 'stuff' here means...
Exercise 2 · Identify the function
'We should get pizza or something.' 'or something' signals...
Exercise 3 · Identify the meaning
'There were like twenty people there, or so.' 'or so' means...
Exercise 4 · Identify the reason
'He's got a new gadget, a thingy for charging his phone wirelessly.' 'thingy' is used because...
Exercise 5 · Identify the function
'We need pens, paper, and stuff like that.' 'and stuff like that' signals...
Exercise 6 · Identify the meaning
'It's around 30 dollars, give or take.' 'give or take' signals...
Exercise 7 · Choose the appropriate context
Which sentence uses vague language appropriately, in a CASUAL context?
Exercise 8 · Identify the reason
'What's-his-name called earlier — you know, the guy from accounting.' 'What's-his-name' is used to refer to...
Exercise 9 · Complete the vague list-ender
Complete a vague, open-ended list: 'Bring snacks, drinks, and ___ ___ ___.' (three words meaning 'similar things')
Exercise 10 · Rewrite more precisely
Rewrite more precisely, removing the vague language: 'There were like fifty people or so.'
Exercise 11 · Sort the phrases into groups
0 / 8 sorted
Quick challenge
Five quick questions to check what stuck.
Question 1 / 5
Score: 0/0
'I'll be there around 7, ish.' '-ish' attached to a time means...
You learned
- Vague nouns replace a word the speaker doesn't need to name exactly: stuff, thing, what's-his-name.
- Vague list-enders signal an open-ended list: and stuff like that, and so on.
- Vague approximators soften a number or time: around, or so, -ish, give or take.
- This is a deliberate, efficient choice, not a sign of limited vocabulary.
- Normal in casual conversation; avoid it in contracts, manuals, and formal reports.
Related grammar lessons
Downtoners
Learn how words like slightly, a bit, rather, somewhat, and fairly reduce the degree or intensity of the adjective or verb that follows them — distinct from hedges, which soften a whole claim's certainty rather than the strength of one word.
Hedges
Learn how expressions like I think, I guess, sort of, and probably soften a speaker's commitment to a claim — signaling politeness, tentativeness, or openness to being wrong — a key tool for giving feedback, disagreeing, or making a suggestion without sounding blunt.
Spoken Patterns
Learn to recognize and use the natural performance features of live, unplanned speech — false starts, mid-sentence self-correction (repair), and repetition for emphasis — normal, fluent features of real conversation rather than mistakes to eliminate.
Discourse Markers
Learn the small organizing words that manage the flow of spoken conversation — well, you know, I mean, anyway, right, actually — signaling hesitation, clarification, a topic shift, or a return to the main point, without adding new factual content of their own.