Tersely

Tersely is an adverb that describes speech or writing delivered in a concise, direct, and often abrupt manner. It is used to indicate that the utterance or text conveys little information beyond its essential point, sometimes implying brusqueness or impatience. The form is derived from the adjective terse, which denotes brevity and economy of words.

Etymology and form: tersely is formed by adding the diminutive suffix -ly to the adjective terse. The adjective terse itself originates from a combination of Latin and Old French influences that contributed to its sense of polished brevity in English. Over time, tersely has become the standard adverbial form used to describe the manner of speaking or writing rather than the content itself.

Usage and nuance: tersely is commonly used in descriptions of dialogue, responses, or prose that favor economy of language. It can convey a neutral sense of efficiency, but it often carries a negative or judgmental nuance, suggesting rudeness, impatience, or emotional distance. In formal or technical writing, tersely worded statements may be appropriate for clarity, whereas in narrative or character scripting, tersely delivered lines can reveal attitude or mood without explicit elaboration.

Examples: He answered tersely. The memo was tersely worded, leaving little room for interpretation. The manager spoke tersely about the project timeline.

See also: terse, conciseness, brevity, laconic, brusque, brusquely.