wordsmalapropos

Wordsmalapropos is a neologism used in linguistic and stylistic discussions to describe a tendency to express ideas with concise, highly relevant vocabulary, prioritizing topical alignment over ornament or exhaustive description. The term combines words for “word,” “small,” and “apropos” to signal the use of small but fitting words chosen to stay on topic.

Origin and scope: Wordsmalapropos arose in online forums and style discussions in the early 2020s, where writers and editors debated how to balance brevity with relevance. It is not yet established in major dictionaries, but the concept has been referenced in editorial guidelines and academic commentary on concise writing.

Definition and characteristics: Key features include short content words, minimal use of modifiers, avoidance of filler, and a preference for direct, active-voice sentences. Every element of the sentence is tuned to the stated topic, with connectors that reinforce relevance. Practitioners aim to reduce both wordiness and digressions, producing text that communicates essential information quickly.

Usage and applications: Wordsmalapropos is discussed in technical writing, documentation, journalism briefs, and online communication where quick comprehension is valued. It aligns with plain language and concision while emphasizing explicit topical relevance. Guidelines often involve identifying core propositions, removing nonessential qualifiers, and selecting precise nouns and verbs.

Relation to other styles: It shares goals with telegraphic and plain-language styles but is distinguished by its deliberate focus on relevance to the subject (apropos) rather than mere brevity.

See also: Telegraphic style, plain language, concision, editorial style.