brachylogy

Brachylogy is a rhetorical and linguistic term that denotes the use of concise, abbreviated, or terse expression. The word derives from the Greek brachy (βραχύς) meaning “short” and logos (λόγος) meaning “speech” or “discourse”. In classical rhetoric, brachylogy is praised for its ability to convey meaning efficiently, often by omitting unnecessary words while retaining clarity. It contrasts with periphrasis, the opposite tendency to speak at length.

In linguistic analysis, brachylogy refers to morphological or syntactic shortening, such as the use of truncated forms, contractions, or ellipsis. Examples include Latin phrases like “cui bono?” instead of “cui bono est?” and English contractions such as “can't” for “cannot”. The phenomenon is observed across languages and historical periods, frequently arising in informal speech, poetry, and legal or technical jargon where brevity is valued.

Critics argue that excessive brachylogy can obscure meaning or appear curt, especially in contexts that demand precision. Nevertheless, many stylistic guides endorse measured brachylogy as a means to enhance readability and rhetorical impact. Related concepts include aposiopesis, asyndeton, and succinctness, all of which involve the strategic reduction of language to achieve a specific communicative effect.