overexplaining

Overexplaining refers to the habit of providing more information than is necessary to convey a point. It often involves detailing irrelevant context or justifications, which can confuse the audience rather than clarify.

The phenomenon appears in everyday conversation, academic writing, professional communication, and instructional settings. Causes include a desire to be thorough, fear of being misunderstood, cognitive biases toward redundancy, social dynamics, and attempts to demonstrate expertise.

Common signs include long-winded explanations, unnecessary digressions, repetition, and mixing essential points with tangential facts. The behavior can reduce listener engagement, increase cognitive load, and undermine credibility or trust if the audience feels talked down to or overwhelmed.

Strategies to avoid overexplaining include identifying the core message, tailoring detail to the audience, using a clear structure (main idea followed by supporting points), and editing for brevity. Asking for feedback, using questions to check comprehension, and practicing concise phrasing can help. In writing, outlining and removing redundant phrases improves efficiency and clarity.

Related concepts include verbosity, redundancy, and information overload. While some contexts reward thoroughness, excessive detail is generally seen as a barrier to effective communication.