Wordiness: meaning, definitions and examples

This entry is a duplicate of the first one.

Choose 'verbosity' when talking about excessive wordiness where the use of too many words hinders the clarity and effectiveness of communication. It often carries a negative connotation.

• Her verbosity made the meeting drag on much longer than necessary.
• The book's verbosity detracted from its main points.

Apply 'redundancy' to describe the use of unnecessary words that add no additional meaning or emphasis, often leading to repetition.

• The redundancy in his speech made it quite repetitive.
• Remove redundancy to make your writing clearer and more concise.

Select 'circumlocution' when someone is talking in circles, using many words to say something simple, often to avoid a direct answer or to obscure the truth.

• The politician's circumlocution made it difficult to understand his stance on the issue.
• Using circumlocution, she danced around the topic without ever addressing it directly.

This term is often used to describe speech or writing that uses too many words. It implies unnecessary length or detail, often making the message harder to understand.

• Her essay was criticized for its wordiness, making it difficult to follow the main argument.
• The professor asked for a concise summary, not an example of wordiness.

This is used to describe someone who is very talkative, but it does not necessarily have a negative connotation. It can be used more neutrally or even positively, depending on the context.

• Her loquaciousness made her a great choice for the role of the host.
• He is known for his loquaciousness, often entertaining others with his stories.

This term is used in a formal context to denote speech or writing that is tediously long and wordy. It usually has a negative implication, suggesting that the content is overly detailed to the point of being boring.

• The judge reprimanded the lawyer for the prolixity of his closing argument.
• His lectures are often criticized for their prolixity, putting students to sleep.

This word is used to describe someone who talks a lot, often about trivial matters. It has a slightly negative connotation, implying an annoying level of talkativeness.

• His garrulousness at the party made it hard for anyone else to get a word in.
• People often avoid sitting next to her because of her garrulousness.