concise

Concise refers to language that expresses meaning with a minimum number of words, removing superfluous detail while preserving clarity. It describes how information is communicated efficiently and clearly. Conciseness is valued across genres, including journalism, business writing, technical documentation, and academic abstracts, where reader attention and quick comprehension are important.

Etymology traces the term to Old French concis, from Latin concisus, the past participle of concidere meaning “to cut down” or “to cut up.” The English word concise appeared in the 16th century and has since signified a quality of economy in expression.

Usage and examples: The aim is to retain essential content while eliminating redundancy. Examples of conciseness include replacing “due to the fact that” with “because,” “in order to” with “to,” and “at this point in time” with “now.” In practice, concise writing favors precise nouns and strong verbs, avoids filler words, and uses shorter sentences when possible without sacrificing meaning.

Guidelines for achieving conciseness include using active voice, favoring specific terms over vague ones, and limiting nominalizations and qualifiers unless they add clarity. In editing, it helps to review for meaning first and length second, ensuring that every word contributes to the message. Caution is needed to avoid over-conciseness, which can strip nuance or cause ambiguity.

See also: brevity, succinctness, terseness; related contrasts include wordiness and prolixity. Conciseness is a stylistic and rhetorical goal that enhances readability and precision in communication.