descriptivelywhat

Descriptivelywhat is a neologism used to denote a specific style of description that prioritizes objective, feature-based detail. In a descriptivelywhat description, the subject is defined by its essential characteristics, functions, and relations, with an emphasis on clarity and reproducibility rather than evaluation, instruction, or narrative flair.

Origin and usage. The term blends descriptive language with the interrogative 'what', signaling its aim to answer the question 'what is this?' in a precise way. It is not widely attested in scholarly literature and is considered a constructed or niche term used mainly in discussions about information design and automated text generation.

Applications. In practical terms, descriptivelywhat can guide the generation of neutral definitions, metadata entries, product summaries, or ontology entries. It favors enumerating attributes such as type, properties, material, size, and relationships, rather than giving praise, criticism, or usage instructions.

Examples. A descriptivelywhat description for a chair might read: 'A chair is a piece of furniture designed for seating, typically consisting of a seat, a back, and legs, made to support a person while seated.' For the planet Mars: 'Mars is a terrestrial planet in the solar system, with a rocky surface, iron oxide dust giving it a reddish appearance, a thin atmosphere, and a polar ice cap.'

Limitations. As a coined term with limited adoption, descriptivelywhat may be unfamiliar to readers and can be interpreted differently depending on context. It is best used as a stylistic label rather than a formal methodology.

See also. Description, Definitional description, Feature-based description, Information design.