Words Are Ambiguous

Contracts are wordy things, and words are inherently ambiguous. How ambiguous? Here is a classic example.

I never said she stole my money. Someone else may have said it, but it wasn't me.

I never said she stole my money. I didn't make the claim at any point in time.

I never said she stole my money. I may have implied or thought it, but didn't say it.

I never said she stole my money. Someone else may have stolen it, but it wasn't her.

I never said she stole my money. She may have borrowed or been given it.

I never said she stole my money. She stole someone else's money.

I never said she stole my money. She may have stolen something else.

Moral: when you are putting together the clauses of a contract, it is a good idea to test them (mentally) for ambiguity. If there is a likelihood of confusion, a few extra words will usually fix the problem.

24 June 2025