excess verbiage

USAGE SUMMARY

"excess verbiage" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to describe writing that is overly wordy and redundant. For example, "The writer should edit out the excess verbiage and make their paper more concise."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Suspense is there: "The Sirens of Baghdad" is nerve-racking despite its excess verbiage.

The New York Times - Books

Type what you need, display the result, and if necessary, move the excess verbiage to the comments for the next exposure.

Harvard University

Sometimes the excess verbiage weighs the novel down; just as often, it gives it the pleasingly busy feel of a 19th-century classic (it's no surprise that de Bernières has cited "War and Peace" as a model for his work).

The New York Times - Books

We get it, or we would if we were listening: however diminished in a living room context, the oil-slick palette of Hoyte van Hoytema's photography and the film's brash, clashing sound mix still pull focus from the excess verbiage.

The Guardian - Film

He also, decisively, altered the central metaphor, from the writing of books to the recording of a set of records, which allowed him to exchange excess verbiage for lively performance numbers by Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong, Lionel Hampton, and a host of other jazz stars.

The New Yorker

Avoid excess verbiage and stick to the essential facts of your presentation.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Verbiage: Foliage that's still green.

Huffington Post

Avoid excessive verbiage or tangential information that will only confuse the reader.

WikiHow

He hates conservative verbiage.

The Guardian

"That's just verbiage.

The New York Times

gleam among the tangled verbiage.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When editing your work, use a tool like a readability checker to identify sentences with "excess verbiage" and areas where you can be more concise.

Common error

Be mindful of labeling every instance of longer sentences as "excess verbiage". Sometimes, detail and nuance are necessary. Focus on clarity and impact rather than blindly shortening sentences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excess verbiage" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as the object of a verb or the subject of a sentence. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it correctly identifies a surplus of words that detract from clear communication. Examples in Ludwig's data demonstrate its use in critiquing writing styles.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Academia

27%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "excess verbiage" refers to the presence of unnecessary or redundant words in writing or speech. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a grammatically correct and useful phrase for critiquing wordiness. While its usage isn't extremely common, it appears across various authoritative sources, including news media and academic texts. To avoid "excess verbiage", writers should focus on clarity and conciseness, using tools to identify areas for improvement. Related phrases include "unnecessary wordiness" and "verbosity", each offering a slightly different nuance. Recognizing and eliminating "excess verbiage" enhances communication by making it more direct and impactful.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unnecessary wordiness

Focuses on the aspect of using more words than needed.

redundant language

Highlights the repetition and duplication of information.

verbosity

A more concise, single-word alternative.

circumlocution

Emphasizes indirect and roundabout speech.

rambling discourse

Draws attention to the lack of clear focus and direction.

overly descriptive language

Focuses on the use of too many adjectives and details.

long-windedness

Highlights the characteristic of speaking or writing at excessive length.

superfluous vocabulary

Emphasizes the use of unnecessary or excessive vocabulary.

unnecessary jargon

Focuses on the use of overly technical or specialized language.

inflated prose

Highlights the use of pretentious and elaborate writing style.

FAQs

How can I identify "excess verbiage" in my writing?

Look for sentences that are overly long, use redundant words, or contain phrases that don't add significant meaning. Try to simplify complex sentences and replace multiple words with a single, more precise term.

What are some alternatives to using "excess verbiage"?

Consider using more concise phrases like "wordiness", "redundancy", or "verbosity". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it always bad to have "excess verbiage" in writing?

While conciseness is generally valued, sometimes additional detail or explanation is necessary for clarity or to emphasize a point. The key is to strike a balance between being thorough and avoiding unnecessary wordiness.

How does "excess verbiage" differ from descriptive writing?

"Excess verbiage" refers to unnecessary and redundant words that don't add value, whereas descriptive writing uses vivid language to create a clear picture for the reader. Descriptive writing aims to enhance understanding, while "excess verbiage" hinders it.