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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
recondite writing
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "recondite writing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe writing that is obscure, difficult to understand, or intended for a specialized audience. Example: "The professor's recondite writing often left students puzzled, as it was filled with complex theories and jargon."
✓ Grammatically correct
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
60 human-written examples
"He who would learn astronomy, and other recondite arts," wrote the Protestant Reformer John Calvin, "he should go elsewhere" than the biblical text.
News & Media
Peter Davison, reviewing it in The New York Times Book Review, had high praise: the book "shimmers with play, the play of mind, the play of recondite information," he wrote.
News & Media
He afterward devoted himself exclusively to writing and to studying such recondite subjects as the Arthurian legends, which were to provide the material for his books.
Encyclopedias
We learn (also characteristically) a lot about forensics — a difficult and recondite occupation that stands in, as such work always does for Ondaatje, for the art of writing.
News & Media
One wonders what Mozart would have made of today's musical scene, when "American Idol" contestants cover Elvis hits and university composers write super-complex, mathematically recondite works, and the happy medium seems, on most days, deserted.
News & Media
The book "shimmers with play, the play of mind, the play of recondite information over ordinary experience, the play of observation and sensuous detail," Peter Davison wrote here in 2002.
News & Media
Leslie Dunton-Downer, a former lecturer at Harvard, and Alan Riding, the European cultural correspondent for The Times, have written a guide to the poems and plays that is scholarly without being recondite, succinct without being superficial.
News & Media
Comparing the limited oeuvre of the recondite New England genius Carl Ruggles to that of his famously prolific friend Charles Ives, the composer Lou Harrison wrote that the individual works in Ruggles's output are "like a family in which each member says to the other, Yes".
News & Media
After Perelman's death, William Shawn wrote of his chief humorist: "Along with being funny, his allusions and wordplay could be as recondite as Joyce's, Pound's, or Nabokov's.
News & Media
That, plus the inclusion of a scene in which Daisy Parker writes a series of her thoughts on the walls in permanent marker, concluding with the superbly recondite "All the bees are ded", which still has me snorting with laughter every time I read it, put them top of the tree for me as far as literary families are concerned.
News & Media
His writing is recondite, fluent, his sentences jive and dazzle on the page; he was consumer-conscious, clever, hip.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Use "recondite writing" when you want to emphasize that the writing is not easily understood and requires specialized knowledge or deep thinking to comprehend. It is particularly useful in academic or literary contexts where complexity is appreciated.
Common error
Avoid using "recondite writing" when simpler terms like "complex" or "difficult" would suffice. Overusing sophisticated vocabulary can make your writing seem pretentious or inaccessible to a broader audience. Choose clarity over perceived intelligence.
Source & Trust
60%
Authority and reliability
4.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "recondite writing" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. "Recondite" describes the type of writing, indicating it is obscure or difficult to understand. Ludwig suggests the term is grammatically correct and the contexts below highlight its function.
Frequent in
Science
0%
News & Media
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Formal & Business
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Less common in
Science
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News & Media
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Formal & Business
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Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, "recondite writing" refers to writing that is obscure and difficult to understand, often because it deals with specialized or complex topics. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct but infrequent in usage. It is best suited for formal contexts where precision and sophistication are valued. While the phrase itself is not widely used, related phrases such as "esoteric writing" and "obscure writing" can serve as alternatives, depending on the specific nuance you aim to convey.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
esoteric writing
Replaces "recondite" with "esoteric", emphasizing the specialized and difficult-to-understand nature of the writing.
obscure writing
Uses "obscure" instead of "recondite", highlighting the lack of clarity and accessibility in the writing.
abstruse writing
Substitutes "recondite" with "abstruse", stressing the difficulty in comprehending the writing due to its complexity.
impenetrable writing
Replaces "recondite" with "impenetrable", emphasizing the inability to understand the writing.
inscrutable writing
Uses "inscrutable" instead of "recondite", highlighting the mysterious and unreadable quality of the writing.
arcane writing
Substitutes "recondite" with "arcane", suggesting that the writing is known or understood by very few.
complex writing
Replaces "recondite" with "complex", focusing on the intricate and elaborate nature of the writing.
difficult writing
Uses "difficult" instead of "recondite", simply indicating the challenge in understanding the writing.
deep writing
Suggests writing that requires serious thought or study, differing from "recondite" by implying depth rather than obscurity.
specialized writing
Focuses on the writing being tailored to a specific field or area of expertise. Differs from "recondite" by emphasizing its target audience rather than obscurity.
FAQs
What does "recondite writing" mean?
"Recondite writing" refers to writing that is obscure, difficult to understand, and often deals with specialized or abstruse subjects.
How can I use "recondite writing" in a sentence?
You might say, "The professor's lecture was filled with "recondite writing" on quantum physics, leaving many students confused."
What are some alternatives to "recondite writing"?
Alternatives include "esoteric writing", "obscure writing", or "abstruse writing", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.
Is "recondite writing" formal or informal?
"Recondite writing" is generally considered a formal term, best suited for academic, literary, or professional contexts where precision and sophistication are valued.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
60%
Authority and reliability
4.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested