No matter how good of a writer you are (or make yourself out to be), ambiguity is regularly bound to creep into your writing every once in a while. That’s just the way things are.
Ambiguity is not like a plague to be shun. Instead, it’s part and parcel of your experience as a writer. Of course, fixing ambiguous passages during the editing process is a natural part of your day-to-day duties.
Recognizing common pitfalls that lead to ambiguity will help you a lot. For most writers, there are four ways that this hurdle regular arises. These four are by no means comprehensive. However, you should be able to recognize some of your own weaknesses through them.
Incorrect placement of words or phrases. This happens to modifiers (especially limiting ones) a lot of the time, as they end up changing the meaning for something else than what you intended. Similarly, you should regularly check whether your sequence of words and phrases make sense. In a haste, many writers end up mixing thoughts up.
Incorrect use of pronouns and their antecedents. Make sure your pronouns are pointing to clear, specific subjects. If you have more than one subject that the pronoun could refer to, always double check for correct meaning.
Using a confusing word that can have multiple meanings. Sure, your sentence could mean one thing to you. Read by others, though, it could convey a whole other thought. Make sure to read through each, gauging for that, during proofreading.
Incorrect punctuation. While most decent writers will have the basic punctuations down pat (period, exclamation and question mark), many still struggle with commas, semicolons, quotes and the likes. Brush up on your punctuation lessons (your writing assistant software may have one) and keep it in mind.
