Ambiguity may be caused by ______________ A. syntactic ambiguity B. multiple word meanings C. unclear antecedents D. all of the mentioned

The correct answer is: D. all of the mentioned.

Ambiguity is a lack of clarity or precision. It can be caused by a number of factors, including:

• Syntactic ambiguity: This is when the structure of a sentence is unclear, leading to multiple possible interpretations. For example, the sentence “The man saw the woman with the telescope” could mean that the man saw the woman using the telescope, or that the man saw the woman who was with the telescope.
• Multiple word meanings: Some words have multiple meanings, which can lead to ambiguity. For example, the word “bank” can refer to the side of a river, a financial institution, or a bench.
• Unclear antecedents: An antecedent is the word or phrase that a pronoun refers to. If the antecedent is unclear, it can lead to ambiguity. For example, the sentence “She saw him” could mean that the woman saw the man, or that the girl saw the boy.

Ambiguity can be frustrating and confusing, but it can also be used to create humor or suspense. It is important to be aware of the potential for ambiguity when writing or speaking, and to take steps to avoid it when possible.