overelucidation

Overelucidation is the practice of providing explanations that are excessively explicit, extended, or repetitive beyond what is necessary to convey a point. It often involves extensive restatement of simple ideas, exhaustive listing of examples, or preemptive clarification of issues that are unlikely to cause confusion. While aimed at transparency or precision, overelucidation can impede rather than aid understanding by increasing cognitive load and breaking the flow of communication.

Etymology and usage context: The term is a neologism formed from over- plus elucidation, and it appears in contemporary discourse rather than in formal lexicons. It is used to critique communication that goes beyond prudent clarification, sometimes as a shorthand for pedantic or overly cautious rhetoric. In some professional contexts, a degree of elaboration is valued for safety or rigor, but excessive elaboration is generally seen as counterproductive.

Contexts and effects: In education, overelucidation can overwhelm students with unnecessary details and obscure core concepts. In scientific or technical writing, it may slow readers and reduce engagement, even when accuracy is maintained. Conversely, in high-stakes environments where misinterpretation is costly, additional clarification can be warranted; the challenge is to balance sufficiency with conciseness. Critics describe overelucidation as a form of pedantry or information overload that undermines efficiency and audience agency.

See also: verbosity, overclarification, pedantry, information overload.