aussagekräftig

Aussagekräftig is a German adjective meaning informative, meaningful, or expressive, used to describe information, evidence, or communication that clearly conveys a message or supports a conclusion. It implies credibility and persuasiveness without appealing to emotion.

Etymology and nuance: the term is formed from aus- (out of) + sagen (to say) + kräftig (strong). Literally, it suggests something is strong enough to speak for itself, i.e., it makes its point clearly and forcefully.

Usage and domains: aussagekräftig is common in academic writing, journalism, business reports, and everyday language. It is often applied to data, findings, or visuals to signal that they provide a clear, compelling basis for a claim. Examples include aussagekräftige Belege, aussagekräftige Daten, and eine aussagekräftige Grafik. The word can describe arguments, summaries, or statements that effectively communicate their message.

Related terms and distinctions: sagen-related forms include aussagefähig (capable of making a statement) and aussagekräftig emphasizes the strength and clarity of the conveyed message. In statistics, the concept of significance is usually expressed with statistisch signifikant; aussagekräftig focuses on communicative impact rather than purely numerical thresholds.

Overview: aussagekräftig denotes the quality of information or presentation that clearly speaks for itself and supports a conclusion in a convincing, credible way. It is a versatile term across disciplines, signaling that what is presented is not only true but also effectively interpretable and persuasive.