# Ask when underspecified

Ask a person only for what only a person holds.

**Is a:** [Guard](/reference/ontology/unattended-agent-failures/guard)

In Ask or Assume, separating the detection of underspecification from execution lifted task resolution from 61.2% to 69.4% ([Ask or Assume?](https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/ask-or-assume-uncertainty-aware-clarification-seeking-in-coding-a/)).

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Published 2026-10-29. Web page: https://www.mackenziebowes.com/reference/ontology/unattended-agent-failures/ask-when-underspecified