verbiage

Verbiage refers to language that is overly wordy, inflated, or meaningless relative to the information conveyed. The term can describe either the content of the words (the words themselves) or the sheer volume of words. It carries a negative connotation, implying unnecessary fillers, redundancies, or pretentious phrasing. Etymologically, verbiage derives from verbum, Latin for 'word,' with the English suffix -age indicating a collection or use of words.

It is commonly associated with bureaucratic, legal, or marketing writing, where long sentences and jargon can obscure meaning. Critics distinguish verbiage from legitimate verbosity: the latter may be sustained emphasis or detail, the former is inefficient language. Common examples include tautological phrases ('end result'), pleonasms ('free gift'), redundant pairs ('each and every'), and nominalizations that mask action ('implementation of the plan').

To reduce verbiage, editors favor conciseness and plain language: remove unnecessary modifiers, prefer active voice, replace multiword terms with simpler equivalents, and break long sentences into shorter ones. Readability checks and style guides can help. The goal is clarity: content that informs without superfluous ornamentation.