Overelaboration: meaning, definitions and examples

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overelaboration

[ˌoʊvərɪˌlæbəˈreɪʃən ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

in writing

The excessive and unnecessary use of detail or elaboration in writing, often leading to a lack of clarity or conciseness.

Synonyms

excessiveness, redundancy, verbosity.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
overelaboration	This term is often used when discussing situations where too much detail or complexity is added, making something more complicated than necessary. It is commonly used in critique of projects, plans, or designs. The overelaboration of the design made the project hard to complete on time. Her overelaboration of the story details bored the audience.
excessiveness	This word is used to describe anything that goes beyond what is normal, reasonable, or necessary. It can be applied in various contexts like behavior, amounts, costs, etc. The excessiveness of his spending habits led him into debt. Her excessiveness in criticism discouraged the team.
verbosity	This term specifically refers to the use of more words than needed and is often seen in a negative light when discussing writing or speech. It implies that the communication could be made clearer or more concise. His verbosity made the instructions difficult to follow. The essay was marked down for verbosity and lack of clarity.
redundancy	Redundancy is often used to refer to unnecessary repetition or superfluous information, particularly in contexts like writing, speech, or technical processes. The report was full of redundancy, repeating the same points multiple times. Many technical documents suffer from redundancy, making them hard to read.

Examples of usage

His overelaboration of the plot details made the story difficult to follow.
The article suffered from overelaboration, with unnecessary descriptions taking away from the main points.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

in design

The act of adding too many unnecessary elements or features in a design, making it cluttered or confusing.

Synonyms

excessiveness, ornateness, overcomplication.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
overelaboration	Used when describing something that has been given too much detail or made unnecessarily complex, especially in explanations or designs. The presentation suffered from overelaboration, making it hard to follow the main points
overcomplication	Specifically refers to making something more complicated than it needs to be, which can often lead to confusion. The new software's interface was criticized for its overcomplication, making it difficult for new users to navigate
ornateness	Describes something that is elaborately or excessively decorated, often used with physical objects or artistic designs. The ornateness of the cathedral's interior left the visitors in awe
excessiveness	Refers to an amount or degree that goes beyond what is usual, proper, or necessary. Often used in a broader context than just detailing things, like behavior or cost. The excessiveness of the spending led to budget cuts in other areas

Examples of usage

The overelaboration of the logo design resulted in a cluttered and unappealing look.
The overelaboration of the website layout made it difficult for users to navigate.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from the prefix 'over-', meaning too much, and 'elaboration', which means to explain or add details.
The earliest use of 'elaboration' can be traced back to the early 16th century, when it referred to carefully explaining ideas.
In languages like Latin, 'laborare' means to work, linking to how elaboration involves extra work.

Psychology

Studies suggest that excessive detail can confuse rather than clarify, leading to cognitive overload.
Overelaboration can often lead to analysis paralysis, where too much information causes indecision.
The psychological principle of 'parsimony' encourages simplicity, suggesting that the simplest explanation is often the best.

Communication

In writing or speaking, clarity is key; overelaborating can distort the main message and confuse the audience.
Effective communication is often about being concise, making overelaboration a common mistake in presentations.
Experts advise using simple language and clear examples to enhance understanding, avoiding unnecessary complexity.

Education

Teachers encourage students to be clear and direct in their writing to avoid losing readers in details.
Overelaboration can disrupt effective learning by overwhelming students with too much information.
Instructional design often seeks to simplify content delivery to enhance comprehension and retention.

Art

In literature, excessive detail can detract from the main themes or plot, making the narrative feel bogged down.
In visual arts, overelaboration may clutter a piece, shifting the focus away from the intended subject.
The minimalist movement in art and design emerged as a reaction against overelaboration, advocating for simplicity and clarity.

Translations

Translations of the word "overelaboration" in other languages:

🇵🇹 elaboração excessiva

🇮🇳 अतिप्रवर्तन

🇩🇪 Überelaboration

🇮🇩 elaborasi berlebihan

🇺🇦 надмірна деталізація

🇵🇱 nadmierna elaboracja

🇯🇵 過剰な詳述 (かじょうなしょうじゅつ)

🇫🇷 élaboration excessive

🇪🇸 elaboración excesiva

🇹🇷 aşırı detaylandırma

🇰🇷 과도한 정교화 (gwadohan jeonggyohwa)

🇸🇦 الإفراط في التفصيل

🇨🇿 nadměrná elaborace

🇸🇰 nadmerná elaborácia

🇨🇳 过度阐述 (guòdù chǎnshù)

🇸🇮 pretirana elaboracija

🇮🇸 ofmikið útfjöllun

🇰🇿 артық деталдау

🇬🇪 ზედმეტი განმარტება

🇦🇿 həddindən artıq təfsilat

🇲🇽 elaboración excesiva