Spissformulert

Spissformulert is an adjective of Norwegian origin that describes speech, writing, or argumentation that is concise, sharp, and precisely articulated. It is typically used in contexts where brevity and clarity are valued, such as academic writing, journalism, or formal debate. The term is sometimes used interchangeably with words like kortfattet, konsis, or treffende, but it carries an additional nuance of incisiveness—something that hits the point without superfluous detail.

The word is a compound of spiss, meaning “pointed” or “acute”, and formulert, the past participle of formulere, meaning “to formulate”. Together, they convey the sense of a point being formulated with acute precision. While spissformulert is commonly understood by speakers of Norwegian, it is rarely used in English discourse, except in translations of Norwegian literature or rhetoric. In English, one might translate it as “pithy” or “to the point”, but these renderings do not capture the full nuance of the Norwegian word.

In modern Norwegian discourse, spissformulert is applied across both spoken and written mediums. Politicians might be praised for delivering spissformulert speeches that address complex issues succinctly, while scholars might critique a thesis for lacking spissformulertness if it contains too much digression. The term also appears in literature reviews, editorial commentary, and media analysis where the skill of distilling complex information into clear, impactful statements is highlighted.

Synonyms include kortfattet, konsis, og treffende. Antonyms would be uansvarlig, overflødig, or forsynten. The term remains in active use in contemporary Norwegian, supporting the broader linguistic tradition that values clarity and directness.