Note 96 – The sin of circumlocution in writing

The noun circumlocution (or periphrasis) is “roundabout speech or writing, or using a lot of words when a few will do”, writes Graham King in his book Collins Improve your Writing Skills. 

Circumlocutionists tend to write something in a long winded, roundabout way to sound knowledgeable or when they don’t want to hurt someones feelings.

The Cambridge Online Dictionary (link below) defines circumlocution as follows:

 http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/circumlocution?q=circumlocution.

• an indirect way of saying something, especially something unpleasant
• digressing and being indirect or evasive

I’m sure you can think of a few circumlocutory phrases.  Here are my favourites taken from the large list in Graham King’s book Collins Improve your Writing Skills.  Try and see if you can work out how you can say the phrases in less words (answers at the end of the blog):

1. In the near future
2. Owing to the fact that
3. Beg to differ
4. In the absence of
5. In the event that
6. Regardless of the fact that
7. At this point in time

My thoughts: I’ll be looking out for circumlocutory phrases from now on, including in my own writing.  Cutting words out is also a good way to reduce the word count on stories, articles, letters etc.

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Until tomorrow…

Sandra

This blog: https://mywritingnotebook.wordpress.com

My other blog: http://sandramadeira.wordpress.com

My website: www.tipsandluxuries.com (includes the introduction to my book ‘A Gift for Stressed and Busy Parents’)

Twitter: @madeirasandra and @tipsandluxuries

Reference list:

Graham King The Collins Improve your Writing Skills, UK

Cambridge Dictionaries Online: http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/circumlocution?q=circumlocution

Answers to circumlocutory phrases :

1. In the near future – soon
2. Owing to the fact that – because
3. Beg to differ – disagree
4. In the absence of – without
5. In the event that – if
6. Regardless of the fact that – although
7. At this point in time – now/at present