Academic and administrative texts are often characterized by verbiage—the use of more words than are needed to express an idea. Verbiage does nothing but hide the real message of the text under a load of needless words, frustrate and dispirit the reader, and weaken the credibility of the author.
By Marina Pantcheva
Verbiage is usually caused by two things: the use of needless words and the unnecessary repetition of (parts of the) meaning. For example, using it is often the case that instead of often is verbiage caused by the use of needless words. The expression excessive verbiage is verbiage, too, because the word verbiage means ‘excessive use of words.’ Thus, excessive verbiage means ‘excessive excessive use of words,’ and part of the meaning is repeated.
The most notorious participant in verbose expressions is the word fact. It can nearly always be omitted.
| despite the fact that
due to the fact that given the fact that in spite of the fact that in the light of the fact that in view of the fact that owing to the fact that regardless of the fact that the fact that to be aware of the fact that to call someone’s attention to the fact |
although
because as, since although since, because as, because since, because although delete to be aware that/to know that to remind someone that/notify someone |
Other empty words are matter, case, and majority. Sometimes, they are meaningful and hence cannot be eliminated, but often they are unnecessary for the understanding of the text.
| if this is not the case
if this is the case it is rarely the case that |
if not
if so rarely |
| as a matter of fact
the fact of the matter is |
in fact
the fact is or omit the whole expression |
| in the majority of instances
the (vast) majority of |
usually
most |
Here is a list of verbose expressions commonly found in academic texts.
| a certain number of
a larger/greater/higher degree of a lesser/smaller degree of a person who is xxx along the lines of at a later date at the present time begin to notice by means of by the same token by virtue of come to an abrupt end conduct an investigation into end result few in number first and foremost for the purpose of he is a man who in a hasty manner in order to in the course of in the event of it is an aim of x to on the grounds that on the surface level the intention of X is to the manner in which the question as to whether the reason why is that there is no doubt but that this is a subject that used for xxx purposes whether or not with the exception of |
some
more less/fewer a(n) xxx person like later currently, now notice by similarly by end abruptly investigate use result unless there are intermediate results few first to he hastily to during if x aims to because on the surface X intends to the way whether because no doubt this subject used for xxx whether except |
Verbosity also arises when authors use too many verb+nominalizations instead of the simple verb.
| to be in conflict with
to be of the opinion that to make an arrangement to give consideration to to carry out a review to conduct an analysis to perform an evaluation to have an effect on to make a resolution to hold an investigation perform an assessment to effect a renewal of to exhibit tendency to be |
to conflict with
to believe to arrange to consider to review to analyze to evaluate to affect to resolve to investigate to assess to renew to tend to |
Finally, these are some examples of “excessive verbiage” — expressions where parts of the meaning are unnecessarily repeated.
| basic fundamentals
big/small in size compete with each other equal to each other exactly identical/the same first priority most important priority free gift inadvertent error intertwined together joint collaboration lag behind longer/shorter in length mental attitude merge together mix together mutual agreement necessary prerequisite reconsider again scrutinize carefully significant importance summarize briefly true fact ultimate goal unexpected surprise various different |
basics or fundamentals
big/small compete equal identical/the same priority priority gift error intertwined collaboration lag longer/shorter attitude merge mix agreement prerequisite reconsider scrutinize importance or significance summarize fact goal surprise various or different |
