20 Polite Synonyms for “Doesn’t Make Sense”

Understanding and clear communication are vital in any context, whether it’s a professional email, a conversation with a colleague, or an academic discussion. However, there are times when expressing confusion or difficulty in understanding is necessary.

 In such situations, employing polite synonyms for “doesn’t make sense” can help maintain a respectful tone while conveying your lack of comprehension effectively. Here are 20 ways to express that sentiment politely.

List of Polite Synonyms for “Doesn’t Make Sense”

• It’s a bit confusing.
• It’s somewhat perplexing.
• It’s rather obscure.
• It’s not quite comprehensible.
• It’s a tad puzzling.
• It’s somewhat cryptic.
• It’s a touch ambiguous.
• It’s somewhat convoluted.
• It’s slightly unclear.
• It’s somewhat enigmatic.
• It’s a bit mystifying.
• It’s somewhat befuddling.
• It’s somewhat intricate.
• It’s a touch unintelligible.
• It’s somewhat impenetrable.
• It’s slightly baffling.
• It’s a touch inscrutable.
• It’s somewhat opaque.
• It’s slightly hazy.
• It’s somewhat abstruse.

1. It’s a Bit Confusing

Dear Royal,

I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to touch base regarding the recent project proposal you submitted. While I appreciate the effort and detail you’ve put into it, I must admit that some aspects are a bit confusing to me.

For instance, the projected timeline seems ambitious given the scope of the tasks involved. Additionally, the budget allocation for certain expenses appears disproportionate. Could you please provide some clarification on these points at your earliest convenience?

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Best regards, Oscar

Additional Remarks:

• This phrase softens the expression of confusion, making it more polite.
• It acknowledges the effort put forth by the recipient.

2. It’s Somewhat Perplexing

Dear Royal,

I trust this message finds you well. I’ve had the opportunity to review the latest draft of the marketing campaign, and while I commend the team on their creativity and thoroughness, there are a few aspects that I find somewhat perplexing.

Specifically, the messaging around our new product seems inconsistent with our brand identity, and I’m struggling to see how it aligns with our overall marketing strategy. Could you please shed some light on the rationale behind these decisions?

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Warm regards, Oscar

Additional Remarks:

• “Perplexing” conveys a sense of being puzzled without being too direct.
• It implies that the confusion is genuine and not dismissive.

3. It’s Rather Obscure

Dear Royal,

I hope you’re doing well. I wanted to reach out regarding the recent updates to the project roadmap. While I appreciate the effort that has gone into refining our goals, I must admit that some aspects remain rather obscure to me.

In particular, the rationale behind prioritizing certain tasks over others isn’t clear, and I’m having difficulty understanding how these decisions align with our overall objectives. Could you provide some clarity on this matter?

Thank you for your assistance.

Best regards, Oscar

Additional Remarks:

• “Obscure” suggests that the information is difficult to discern or understand.
• It conveys a sense of complexity without assigning blame.

4. It’s Not Quite Comprehensible

Dear Royal,

I trust you’re doing well. I’ve had the chance to review the latest financial report, and while I appreciate the detail provided, I must admit that certain sections are not quite comprehensible to me.

Specifically, the analysis of expenditure trends seems to lack context, and I’m struggling to grasp the implications for our budget planning. Could you please provide some further explanation or perhaps arrange a meeting to discuss this in more detail?

Thank you for your understanding.

Warm regards, Oscar

Additional Remarks:

• “Not quite comprehensible” indicates a partial understanding rather than complete confusion.
• It suggests a willingness to engage further to achieve clarity.

5. It’s a Tad Puzzling

Dear Royal,

I hope this message finds you well. I’ve had the opportunity to review the latest draft of the project proposal, and while I appreciate the thoroughness of the research, there are a few points that strike me as a tad puzzling.

For instance, the projected resource allocation seems optimistic given our current capacity, and I’m having trouble reconciling it with our timeline. Could you please provide some insight into the underlying assumptions or perhaps walk me through the rationale behind these projections?

Thank you for your assistance.

Best regards, Oscar

Additional Remarks:

• “Tad” softens the expression of confusion, making it more polite.
• It suggests that the confusion is minor but still warrants attention.

6. It’s Somewhat Cryptic

Dear Royal,

I trust you’re doing well. I’ve had a chance to review the latest draft of the partnership agreement, and while I appreciate the effort that has gone into it, I must admit that certain sections are somewhat cryptic to me.

Specifically, the language around termination clauses seems vague, and I’m having difficulty understanding the implications for our obligations. Could you please provide some clarification or perhaps schedule a meeting to discuss this in more detail?

Thank you for your understanding.

Warm regards, Oscar

Additional Remarks:

• “Cryptic” suggests that the information is deliberately obscure or difficult to understand.
• It implies that the confusion may be due to the complexity of the subject matter.

7. It’s a Touch Ambiguous

Dear Royal,

I hope this message finds you well. I’ve had the chance to review the latest draft of the project timeline, and while I appreciate the effort that has gone into it, there are a few points that strike me as a touch ambiguous.

For instance, the milestones for Phase 2 seem loosely defined, and I’m having trouble discerning the specific deliverables. Could you please provide some clarification or perhaps elaborate on the intended outcomes?

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Best regards, Oscar

Additional Remarks:

• “Ambiguous” suggests that the information lacks clarity or precision.
• It invites the recipient to provide more specific details or explanations.

8. It’s Somewhat Convoluted

Dear Royal,

I trust you’re doing well. I’ve had a chance to review the latest version of the operational procedures, and while I appreciate the effort that has gone into streamlining our processes, I must admit that certain sections are somewhat convoluted.

Specifically, the workflow for handling customer inquiries seems overly complex, and I’m having difficulty following the sequence of steps. Could you please provide some simplification or perhaps clarify the decision-making criteria?

Thank you for your assistance.

Warm regards, Oscar

Additional Remarks:

• “Convoluted” suggests that the information is unnecessarily intricate or tangled.
• It implies that simplification or clarification is needed to improve understanding.

9. It’s Slightly Unclear

Dear Royal,

I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to touch base regarding the recent updates to the project timeline. While I appreciate the effort that has gone into refining our schedule, I must admit that certain aspects remain slightly unclear to me.

Specifically, the dependencies between tasks in Phase 3 seem ambiguous, and I’m having trouble identifying the critical path. Could you please provide some additional guidance or perhaps walk me through the logic behind these dependencies?

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Best regards, Oscar

Additional Remarks:

• “Slightly unclear” acknowledges that the confusion is minor but still warrants attention.
• It suggests a need for additional information or clarification.

Read More: Professional Ways to Say “I Forwarded the Email”

10. It’s Somewhat Enigmatic

Dear Royal,

I trust you’re doing well. I’ve had a chance to review the latest draft of the strategic plan, and while I appreciate the comprehensive approach, there are certain aspects that strike me as somewhat enigmatic.

Specifically, the long-term objectives seem ambitious but lack clarity in terms of implementation strategies. I’m having difficulty understanding how we intend to achieve these goals given our current resources. Could you please provide some insights or perhaps elaborate on the action plan?

Thank you for your understanding.

Warm regards, Oscar

Additional Remarks:

• “Enigmatic” suggests that the information is mysterious or puzzling.
• It implies that the confusion may stem from a lack of transparency or detail.

11. It’s a Bit Mystifying

Dear Royal,

I hope this message finds you well. I’ve had the opportunity to review the latest version of the employee handbook, and while I appreciate the effort that has gone into updating our policies, there are a few sections that strike me as a bit mystifying.

For instance, the guidelines around remote work seem unclear, and I’m having trouble understanding the expectations for productivity and communication. Could you please provide some clarification or perhaps organize a training session to address these concerns?

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Best regards, Oscar

Additional Remarks:

• “Mystifying” suggests that the confusion is puzzling or perplexing.
• It implies that the recipient may need to provide further explanation or guidance.

12. It’s Somewhat Befuddling

Dear Royal,

I trust you’re doing well. I’ve had the chance to review the latest draft of the client proposal, and while I appreciate the effort that has gone into it, there are certain aspects that strike me as somewhat befuddling.

Specifically, the pricing structure seems complex, and I’m having difficulty understanding how it aligns with our value proposition. Could you please provide some clarity on the rationale behind these pricing tiers?

Thank you for your assistance.

Warm regards, Oscar

Additional Remarks:

• “Befuddling” suggests that the confusion is disorienting or perplexing.
• It conveys a sense of being puzzled without assigning blame.

13. It’s Somewhat Intricate

Dear Royal,

I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to discuss the recent changes to the project scope. While I appreciate the effort to provide clarity, I must admit that certain aspects are somewhat intricate to me.

For instance, the new deliverables seem to introduce additional complexity, and I’m having trouble understanding how they fit into our existing workflow. Could you please provide some guidance on how we can integrate these changes effectively?

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Best regards, Oscar

Additional Remarks:

• “Intricate” suggests that the information is complex or detailed.
• It implies that additional assistance or clarification may be needed to navigate the complexity.

14. It’s a Touch Unintelligible

Dear Royal,

I hope this message finds you well. I’ve had the opportunity to review the latest version of the training manual, and while I appreciate the effort that has gone into it, there are certain sections that strike me as a touch unintelligible.

Specifically, the technical instructions seem overly complicated, and I’m having difficulty understanding the procedures outlined. Could you please provide some simplification or perhaps arrange a demonstration to clarify these steps?

Thank you for your assistance.

Warm regards, Oscar

Additional Remarks:

• “Unintelligible” suggests that the information is difficult to comprehend or decipher.
• It implies that simplification or demonstration may be necessary to improve understanding.

15. It’s Somewhat Impenetrable

Dear Royal,

I trust you’re doing well. I’ve had the chance to review the latest draft of the company policies, and while I appreciate the thoroughness of the documentation, there are certain sections that strike me as somewhat impenetrable.

Specifically, the legal jargon seems dense, and I’m having trouble deciphering the implications for our operations. Could you please provide some clarification or perhaps engage legal counsel to simplify the language?

Thank you for your understanding.

Warm regards, Oscar

Additional Remarks:

• “Impenetrable” suggests that the information is difficult to penetrate or understand.
• It acknowledges the complexity of legal language and suggests seeking assistance.

16. It’s Slightly Baffling

Dear Royal,

I hope this email finds you well. I’ve had the opportunity to review the latest version of the project budget, and while I appreciate the effort that has gone into it, there are certain aspects that strike me as slightly baffling.

For instance, the allocation for contingencies seems excessive given our historical data, and I’m having trouble understanding the rationale behind these figures. Could you please provide some clarification or perhaps review the assumptions underlying the budget?

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Best regards, Oscar

Additional Remarks:

• “Baffling” suggests that the confusion is bewildering or perplexing.
• It conveys a sense of being puzzled without assigning blame.

17. It’s a Touch Inscrutable

Dear Royal,

I trust you’re doing well. I’ve had a chance to review the latest version of the project timeline, and while I appreciate the effort that has gone into it, there are certain aspects that strike me as a touch inscrutable.

Specifically, the dependencies between tasks seem complex, and I’m having difficulty deciphering the critical path. Could you please provide some additional guidance or perhaps simplify the visualization for clarity?

Thank you for your assistance.

Warm regards, Oscar

Additional Remarks:

• “Inscrutable” suggests that the information is mysterious or difficult to understand.
• It implies a need for additional guidance or clarification.

18. It’s Somewhat Opaque

Dear Royal,

I hope this message finds you well. I’ve had the opportunity to review the latest version of the strategic plan, and while I appreciate the comprehensive approach, there are certain aspects that strike me as somewhat opaque.

Specifically, the performance metrics seem vague, and I’m having trouble understanding how we will measure success against our objectives. Could you please provide some clarity on the key performance indicators or perhaps refine the metrics for greater transparency?

Thank you for your understanding.

Warm regards, Oscar

Additional Remarks:

• “Opaque” suggests that the information is unclear or difficult to interpret.
• It implies a need for greater transparency or refinement of metrics.

19. It’s Slightly Hazy

Dear Royal,

I hope this email finds you well. I’ve had a chance to review the latest version of the project proposal, and while I appreciate the effort that has gone into it, there are certain aspects that strike me as slightly hazy.

Specifically, the timeline for deliverables seems optimistic given our resource constraints, and I’m having trouble understanding how we will meet our deadlines. Could you please provide some clarification or perhaps reassess the timeline based on current capacity?

Thank you for your assistance.

Best regards, Oscar

Additional Remarks:

• “Hazy” suggests that the information is unclear or uncertain.
• It implies a need for additional clarification or reassessment of assumptions.

20. It’s Somewhat Abstruse

Dear Royal,

I trust you’re doing well. I’ve had the chance to review the latest version of the project specifications, and while I appreciate the thoroughness of the documentation, there are certain sections that strike me as somewhat abstruse.

Specifically, the technical requirements seem complex, and I’m having difficulty understanding the implications for our development process. Could you please provide some simplification or perhaps arrange a technical review to clarify these points?

Thank you for your understanding.

Warm regards, Oscar

Additional Remarks:

• “Abstruse” suggests that the information is difficult to understand or grasp.
• It implies a need for simplification or further explanation to improve understanding.

Pros and Cons of Using Polite Synonyms for “Doesn’t Make Sense”

Using polite synonyms for “doesn’t make sense” can be advantageous in various contexts, but it also has its drawbacks.

Pros:

• Maintains Professionalism: Polite language preserves a respectful tone, particularly in formal communication settings such as business emails or professional discussions.
• Encourages Collaboration: By expressing confusion politely, you invite the recipient to clarify or provide additional information, fostering constructive dialogue and collaboration.
• Avoids Offense: Polite synonyms help prevent misunderstandings or offense, as they convey a lack of comprehension without implying incompetence or fault on the part of the recipient.
• Facilitates Clarity: Inviting clarification or explanation through polite language can lead to clearer communication and a better understanding of complex topics or issues.

Cons:

• May Mask Urgency: Polite language might inadvertently downplay the urgency of the situation, delaying necessary actions or responses.
• Potential Misinterpretation: Despite efforts to be polite, recipients may still perceive the message as critical or confrontational, depending on their interpretation.
• Lengthens Communication Process: Polite language may require additional phrases or explanations, leading to longer emails or discussions, which can be time-consuming.
• Risk of Ambiguity: Polite synonyms for “doesn’t make sense” may not always convey the severity of the confusion, potentially resulting in misunderstandings or incomplete resolutions.

conclusion

While using polite synonyms for “doesn’t make sense” can enhance communication etiquette and promote collaboration, it’s essential to balance politeness with clarity and efficiency to ensure effective understanding and resolution of issues.