Posted: 2018-10-05 18:49:01
English is funny. As it gets used, we start to leave out words that we recognize should be there. "Can not" becomes "cannot" becomes "can't".
Some phrases are like that. Your phrase can be interpreted as:
Unless (the) otherwise (is) stated
or:
Unless (it is) stated otherwise
The difference? The first way supposes a choice between two options, because the "otherwise" is known and previously stated/implied. The second supposes an exception that will be defined/agreed.
Both can be correct, and common usage has blurred the distinction between them. As others have said, the context is important.
BTW Ben might chide you on "So this is my grammar pickle i have.
Which of the following to statements are correct???"
It should be "So this is THE grammar pickle THAT I have: which of the following TWO statements IS correct???"
But cellphones are terrible with auto-correct...and so are grammar Nazis with uninvited-correct!