Terseness: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe a style of speaking or writing that is brief and to the point, often in a way that seems curt or brusque.

• His terseness in emails can sometimes come off as rude.
• The teacher's terseness made the instructions unclear to some students.

Describes a style of presenting information that is succinct and free of unnecessary detail, often used in formal and academic settings.

• The professor praised the conciseness of her thesis.
• Conciseness in legal writing is appreciated for its clarity.

Refers to the quality of being brief in communication. It is often used in a positive sense to describe conciseness and clarity.

• The brevity of his speech made it memorable and impactful.
• For clarity and brevity, please summarize your report in one page.

Used to describe expression that is compact and precise, without any wasted words. It is considered a positive attribute in most communications.

• Your succinctness in explaining the project saves us a lot of time.
• The article's succinctness made it a quick and easy read.

Used in the same vein as earlier but with a nuanced undertone that can often come across as brusque or curt, potentially offending others.

• The terseness of her reply was almost insulting.
• He preferred terseness in communication, but it sometimes alienated his peers.

Used when describing someone's ability to communicate clearly and succinctly without wasting words; a positive trait emphasizing clarity.

• The conciseness of his speech impressed the audience.
• To improve your writing, focus on conciseness and clarity.

Used to describe a style of speaking or writing that is both brief and meaningful, often with a witty or impactful quality.

• His pithiness made his remarks memorable.
• The slogan's pithiness contributed to its widespread popularity.

Used in formal or literary contexts to describe the efficient use of words to convey meaning without unnecessary elaboration.

• Her economy of language made her poetry powerful and impactful.
• In journalism, an economy of language is crucial to maintain reader engagement.