prolixity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prolixity" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a style of writing or speech that is excessively lengthy or wordy. Example: "The prolixity of the author's writing made it difficult for readers to stay engaged with the story."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

His prolixity is a legend, yet he emerges as an original thinker and iconoclast, more familiar than his master with Afghanistan and Pakistan and more willing to challenge the military's most basic assumptions, such as the one that maintains that America's vital interests are still at stake in a country from which Osama bin Laden has long since fled.

The Economist

Heaven knows we don't want a return to the portentous prolixity of Star Wars or the philosophical blather of the Matrix trilogy, but some small relevance to the world we live in would have been appreciated.

Independent

Much of the point of Emin's work is in its hurried prolixity, its urgent rush of words: words stitched on blankets, scrawled in Biro, mono-printed, appliquéd, embroidered on the walls of tents, spun out in neon tubes.

Independent

Simonides was known for his tendency toward concision and his rejection of prolixity.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Despite its prolixity and many contradictions, it is an impressive work.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He tried to refine his language, but, to judge by the prolixity of his later theoretical writings, his efforts resulted in no permanent improvement.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He complains of their prolixity, their reliance on characters' suicides, their "leering tropism for the border dividing sex from violence," their tendency "to dash expository cold water on a character's fevered exclamations from narrative ambush," and their breakdown "in voice, pacing, proportion, energy of character, psychological credibility, and moral vision".

The New Yorker

Botstein's prolixity does not preclude conversational generosity: he compulsively credits you with making good points that were in fact his.

The New Yorker

Well, at least there are more good books about tennis (I like the stoner prolixity of "Infinite Jest") than there are good movies about tennis.

The New Yorker

Albarracín's specificity and economy expose, by contrast, the coyness and prolixity of much other work in the show.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

"I think of it as it should have been, with its prolixities docked, its dullnesses enlivened, its fads eliminated, its truths multiplied," he wrote in dedicating it to his brother's memory.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In academic writing, pair "prolixity" with its antonym, "concision", to create a balanced stylistic analysis.

Common error

Do not use "prolixity" as a synonym for 'difficult' or 'intellectual'. A text can be highly complex yet concise; "prolixity" specifically targets the unnecessary volume of words, not the depth of the ideas themselves.

Linguistic Context

As an abstract noun, "prolixity" functions as a subject or object in a sentence to denote a specific stylistic quality. According to Ludwig AI, it is primarily used to identify a perceived flaw in composition or rhetoric.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Encyclopedias

20%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Social Media

2%

Wiki

3%

Science

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "prolixity" is a robust and formal noun used to describe an excessive use of words that often leads to boredom or confusion. Ludwig AI identifies it as a staple of high-end journalism and academic critique, where it is frequently contrasted with "brevity" or "concision". While it is a sophisticated choice for formal writing, one should be careful not to fall into the very trap it describes by overusing it in simple contexts. Use it to provide sharp, academic feedback on writing styles that lack discipline and efficiency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

verbosity

Focuses more on the state of being wordy without necessarily implying a tedious structure

wordiness

A more common and less formal term for the same concept

long-windedness

A hyphenated everyday alternative emphasizing the duration of the speech or text

loquacity

Specifically refers to talkativeness or the habit of talking a lot

garrulity

Often implies excessive talkativeness on trivial matters

diffuseness

Focuses on the lack of conciseness and the way the point is spread thin

circumlocution

Refers specifically to the act of using many words where fewer would do, especially to be evasive

pleonasm

A technical linguistic term for using more words than necessary to convey meaning

logorrhea

A more clinical or derogatory term for pathologically excessive communication

turgidity

Implies language that is not just wordy but also pompous and overblown

FAQs

How to use prolixity in a sentence?

You can use it as a noun to describe a style, for example: "The professor's "prolixity" often led to students losing interest during the lecture."

What is the difference between prolixity and verbosity?

While often interchangeable, "prolixity" frequently carries a slightly more formal or literary connotation, whereas "verbosity" is more common in general professional contexts.

Is prolixity a negative word?

Yes, it is generally pejorative. It implies that the amount of words used is excessive and detrimental to the communication, unlike "eloquence".

Can I use wordiness instead of prolixity?

Yes, "wordiness" is a perfectly valid and more accessible alternative, especially in informal writing or when you want to avoid sounding overly academic.