[jschwartzi]

Ambiguity is one of the most fascinating things about natural language, because it leads to all kinds of misunderstandings, and so much of our knowledge of each other is constructed from how we speak to each other and what we say. Yet still, through all of the ambiguity, I suspect that we all understand each other much better than we believe or not much of value would have ever been created.

So much of how we talk to each other is about faith that we are understood. If you lose that faith, you start to question whether other people know who you are and what you mean. In reality, I don't think anyone can ever know, although some people may come close.

Formal language tries to eliminate ambiguity, because throughout history many people have realized what you have. There's nothing wrong with eliminating ambiguity, but it is important to recognize its purpose and place, and to get comfortable with informal language where it is needed. Artistry also lies in knowing what to leave undone, after all.