imprecisas

Imprecisas is the feminine plural form of the Portuguese adjective imprecisa, meaning not precise or lacking accuracy. The term is used across different domains to describe information, measurements, or descriptions that do not meet a required level of exactness or determinacy.

In measurement and data analysis, imprecisas refer to variability or randomness that affects repeated measurements under unchanged conditions. In metrology, imprecision is a component of measurement error that causes results to vary from one trial to another. It is distinct from bias, which would systematically shift measurements away from the true value. Together, imprecision and bias determine the overall accuracy of a measurement. Communicating imprecisas often involves reporting uncertainty, standard deviations, or confidence intervals to convey how much results may differ from the true value.

In everyday language, imprecisas can arise from vague wording, insufficient detail, or ambiguous qualifiers. In journalism, policy, and legal writing, imprecisas can hinder interpretation and decision-making. To mitigate them, writers and researchers emphasize clear definitions, specify units and conditions, and provide quantitative data or ranges rather than vague statements.

Strategies to reduce imprecisas include using standardized methodologies, calibrating instruments, increasing sample sizes, documenting procedures, and routinely reporting uncertainty alongside point estimates. Understanding and communicating imprecisas helps readers assess reliability and make informed judgments.

See also: precision, accuracy, uncertainty, measurement error.