# Search Strategy Handling Ambiguity

> Sub-skill of search-strategy: Handling Ambiguity.

- Skill: `vamseeachanta/search-strategy-handling-ambiguity` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add vamseeachanta/search-strategy-handling-ambiguity`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/vamseeachanta/search-strategy-handling-ambiguity/raw
- Safety review: PASS (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: vamseeachanta (https://skillmd.com/u/vamseeachanta)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/vamseeachanta/search-strategy-handling-ambiguity

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# Handling Ambiguity

## Handling Ambiguity


When a query is ambiguous, prefer asking one focused clarifying question over guessing:

```
Ambiguous: "search for the migration"
→ "I found references to a few migrations. Are you looking for:
   1. The database migration (Project Phoenix)
   2. The cloud migration (AWS → GCP)
   3. The email migration (Exchange → O365)"
```

Only ask for clarification when:
- There are genuinely distinct interpretations that would produce very different results
- The ambiguity would significantly affect which sources to search

Do NOT ask for clarification when:
- The query is clear enough to produce useful results
- Minor ambiguity can be resolved by returning results from multiple interpretations