be laconic

USAGE SUMMARY

"be laconic" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when advising someone to be brief or concise in their speech or writing. Example: "In your presentation, try to be laconic to keep the audience engaged." Alternative expressions include "be concise" and "be brief."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

After such desolation Moody can afford to be laconic about his latest minor facial scrapes.

The Guardian - Sport

Its rhetoric may be laconic and folksy, but its fury and its nobility seem distilled from Shakespeare.

The New Yorker

Tomb inscriptions generally are the most numerous of all but tend to be laconic in style and lacking even in purely statistical data.

Encyclopedia Britannica

I had always imagined cowboys, former and otherwise, to be laconic men, who, if they overcame their reluctance to speak at all, did so without much expression.

The New Yorker

He is, as he seems always to be, laconic, sardonic, vaguely incredulous, as if confronting a bizarre set of circumstances he has had no part in creating.

The Guardian

As JP collected his prize to wild cheers, the bookmakers did their best to be laconic: "He needs the money, of course".

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Dostoevsky's comment is laconic and ambiguous.

The New York Times

He was laconic, quiet, and chronically fatigued.

The Guardian - Arts

He's laconic on Chuck Berry's "You Never Can Tell".

The New York Times - Arts

The most ironic word is laconic (#4), which means "concise".

The New Yorker

The lyrics Mr. Charles purrs through are laconic but telling.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When giving instructions, "be laconic". Clarity is key, but unnecessary detail can confuse the recipient. Short, direct commands are often the most effective.

Common error

Avoid undermining your laconic statement with excessive follow-up explanation. If brevity serves the initial communication, resist the urge to immediately elaborate unless directly asked.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be laconic" primarily functions as an imperative, urging someone to adopt a concise and brief style of communication. Ludwig AI indicates this usage aligns with standard grammatical rules.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be laconic" serves as a direct instruction to communicate briefly and concisely. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and readily usable in various written contexts. While not extremely common, this phrase effectively conveys the importance of brevity. It's commonly found in News & Media. When using "be laconic", it's advisable to avoid undermining the intended conciseness with unnecessary elaborations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be brief

A direct synonym, focusing solely on shortness.

be concise

Highlights precision and avoidance of unnecessary details.

express oneself succinctly

Focuses on the act of expressing rather than the state of being brief.

get to the point quickly

Emphasizes the speed of reaching the main idea.

keep your remarks brief

Specifically refers to spoken comments.

keep it short and sweet

An idiomatic way to say be brief and pleasant.

be economical with words

Highlights efficiency in word usage.

avoid unnecessary verbosity

Focuses on avoiding excessive wordiness.

cut to the chase

An idiom that means to get straight to the important point.

stick to the essentials

Implies focusing on the most important information and omitting the rest.

FAQs

How can I use "be laconic" in a sentence?

You can use "be laconic" to advise someone to speak or write using few words. For example, "In your presentation, try to be laconic to keep the audience engaged."

What does it mean to "be laconic"?

To "be laconic" means to use very few words; to be concise or terse.

Which is correct: "be laconic" or "being laconic"?

"Be laconic" is an imperative, a direct command. "Being laconic" is a gerund phrase that refers to the state of using few words.

What can I say instead of "be laconic"?

Alternatives include "be brief", "be concise", or "get to the point quickly".