In professional communication, articulating that something “doesn’t make sense” requires a tactful approach to ensure clarity without offending. Whether you’re addressing confusion over a document, a proposal, or a conversation, selecting the right phrase can enhance understanding and maintain a collaborative atmosphere. This article provides 19 professional synonyms for “doesn’t make sense”, each paired with a detailed scenario to illustrate its application. These alternatives are designed to fit various contexts and convey the necessary feedback diplomatically.
List of Professional Synonyms for “Doesn’t Make Sense”
- Doesn’t Add Up
- Seems Illogical
- Lacks Clarity
- Is Confusing
- Is Not Clear
- Doesn’t Seem Logical
- Appears to Be Inconsistent
- Doesn’t Fit the Context
- Seems Unreasonable
- Is Difficult to Understand
- Does Not Align
- Is Unclear
- Seems Misaligned
- Is Unfounded
- Doesn’t Make Sense
- Appears Unfounded
- Seems Inaccurate
- Is Discrepant
- Doesn’t Correlate
1. Doesn’t Add Up
Scenario:
Subject: Clarification Needed on Budget Allocation
Hi Leo,
I hope this message finds you well.
I’ve reviewed the latest budget report, and there are a few figures that don’t add up. Specifically, the expense totals for Q2 seem inconsistent with the projected figures from our last meeting. Could you please provide further details or a revised report to clarify these discrepancies?
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Best regards, Henry
Addition: Use this phrase when discussing numerical data or calculations that seem incorrect or inconsistent.
2. Seems Illogical
Scenario:
Subject: Feedback on Project Timeline
Hi Leo,
I’ve been going through the proposed project timeline, and some elements seem illogical. For instance, the deadlines for the initial phases appear too close to the project start date, given the complexity of the tasks involved. Could we discuss these timelines to ensure they are feasible?
Looking forward to your thoughts.
Best, Henry
Addition: Use this when the sequence or reasoning behind a plan or process seems flawed.
3. Lacks Clarity
Scenario:
Subject: Request for More Details on Proposal
Hi Leo,
Thank you for sending over the proposal. However, some sections lack clarity on the implementation strategy. For instance, the steps outlined in the execution phase are a bit vague. Could you provide more detailed information to help us better understand the approach?
I appreciate your assistance.
Best regards, Henry
Addition: Use this to describe information that is ambiguous or not fully explained.
4. Is Confusing
Scenario:
Subject: Clarification Needed on Recent Meeting
Hi Leo,
I wanted to follow up on our recent meeting. Some of the points discussed are confusing and require further explanation. Specifically, the rationale behind the new marketing strategy was not clear to me. Could you provide a more detailed breakdown?
Thank you.
Best, Henry
Addition: Use this when information is presented in a way that is hard to follow or understand.
5. Is Not Clear
Scenario:
Subject: Follow-Up on Contract Terms
Hi Leo,
I’ve reviewed the contract, but the terms regarding deliverables are not clear. Could you clarify what is included in the scope of work and the deadlines for each phase? This will help ensure we are aligned and can proceed smoothly.
Thanks in advance.
Best regards, Henry
Addition: Use this for contractual or formal documents where specifics need to be better defined.
6. Doesn’t Seem Logical
Scenario:
Subject: Concerns About Marketing Plan
Hi Leo,
After reviewing the marketing plan, it doesn’t seem logical that we would allocate resources to the least-performing channels. Can we revisit the strategy to better align with our target audience and objectives?
Looking forward to your feedback.
Best, Henry
Addition: Use this when the approach or strategy seems unreasonable or counterintuitive.
7. Appears to Be Inconsistent
Scenario:
Subject: Inconsistencies in Sales Report
Hi Leo,
I noticed that the latest sales report appears to be inconsistent with our previous data. Specifically, the sales figures for Q3 do not align with our forecasts. Can you help resolve this discrepancy?
Thank you for your help.
Best regards, Henry
Addition: Use this for discrepancies or contradictions in data or information.
8. Doesn’t Fit the Context
Scenario:
Subject: Feedback on Proposal
Hi Leo,
The solution proposed in the document doesn’t fit the context of our current project requirements. It seems more aligned with a different scenario. Could we adjust the proposal to better address our specific needs?
I appreciate your understanding.
Best, Henry
Addition: Use this when an idea or solution does not align with the intended purpose or context.
9. Seems Unreasonable
Scenario:
Subject: Review of Budget Proposal
Hi Leo,
Upon reviewing the budget proposal, some of the cost allocations seem unreasonable given our current financial constraints. Can we discuss these allocations in more detail to ensure they are justified?
Thank you.
Best regards, Henry
Addition: Use this when the proposed plan or figures seem impractical or excessive.
10. Is Difficult to Understand
Scenario:
Subject: Clarification on Technical Specifications
Hi Leo,
The technical specifications document is difficult to understand. The jargon and technical terms used are quite complex. Could you provide a summary or a more simplified version?
Thanks for your assistance.
Best, Henry
Addition: Use this when the language or terminology used is too complex or unclear.
11. Does Not Align
Scenario:
Subject: Discrepancies in Project Goals
Hi Leo,
I’ve noticed that the project goals do not align with the initial objectives outlined in our strategic plan. Can we review these goals to ensure they are consistent with our overall strategy?
Looking forward to your input.
Best regards, Henry
Addition: Use this when goals or objectives differ from initial plans or expectations.
12. Is Unclear
Scenario:
Subject: Follow-Up on Financial Summary
Hi Leo,
The financial summary report is unclear regarding the breakdown of operational expenses. Can you provide a more detailed explanation of these costs?
Thank you for your help.
Best, Henry
Addition: Use this for documents or reports where the information is not explicitly detailed.
13. Seems Misaligned
Scenario:
Subject: Concerns About Strategy Proposal
Hi Leo,
The proposed strategy seems misaligned with our market research findings. Can we revisit the proposal to ensure it aligns with the data and our strategic goals?
I look forward to your feedback.
Best regards, Henry
Addition: Use this when a strategy or plan does not match with research or data findings.
14. Is Unfounded
Scenario:
Subject: Review of Policy Changes
Hi Leo,
Some of the assumptions in the policy changes are unfounded based on our current data. Could you provide additional evidence or reasoning behind these assumptions?
Thank you.
Best, Henry
Addition: Use this when claims or assumptions are not supported by evidence.
15. Doesn’t Make Sense
Scenario:
Subject: Questions About Proposal Details
Hi Leo,
I have reviewed the proposal, but some of the details don’t make sense in the context of our project requirements. Can we schedule a meeting to go over these points in more detail?
Looking forward to your response.
Best regards, Henry
Addition: Use this for general confusion about details or logic in a proposal or document.
16. Appears Unfounded
Scenario:
Subject: Clarification Needed on Performance Metrics
Hi Leo,
The performance metrics provided appear unfounded without the appropriate context or supporting data. Can you provide a detailed explanation of the underlying data for these metrics?
Thank you for your assistance.
Best, Henry
Addition: Use this for metrics or claims that lack sufficient background or justification.
17. Seems Inaccurate
Scenario:
Subject: Review of Financial Projections
Hi Leo,
The financial projections provided seem inaccurate when compared to our historical data. Could you review these projections and provide corrections or additional explanations?
Thanks in advance.
Best regards, Henry
Addition: Use this when projections or estimates do not match historical data or expectations.
18. Is Discrepant
Scenario:
Subject: Discrepancies in Project Report
Hi Leo,
Several areas in the project report are discrepant from the data we gathered. Can we address these discrepancies to ensure the report accurately reflects our findings?
Looking forward to your insights.
Best, Henry
Addition: Use this for differences or inconsistencies between reported data and actual data.
19. Doesn’t Correlate
Scenario:
Subject: Follow-Up on Sales Data
Hi Leo,
The sales data presented doesn’t correlate with our marketing efforts over the same period. Could we review the data together to understand the discrepancies?
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Best regards, Henry
Addition: Use this when there is a lack of correlation between different sets of data or efforts.
