“Verbiage” and “verbosity” both refer to an overabundance of words, but they are used in different contexts. “Verbiage” generally refers to excessive wordiness in writing, while “verbosity” is often used to describe overly lengthy or dull speech.
Verbiage
Definition:
Verbiage refers to an excess of words, especially in writing, where clarity is lost due to unnecessary wording.
Examples of use:
The legal document was filled with unnecessary verbiage, making it difficult to understand.
His essay was criticized for including too much verbiage and not enough substance.
The instruction manual’s verbiage made it confusing to follow the steps clearly.
Verbosity
Definition:
Verbosity refers to excessive wordiness in spoken communication, often making the message long-winded and boring.
Examples of use:
The professor’s verbosity during the lecture left many students struggling to stay focused.
Her verbosity at meetings often annoyed her colleagues, who preferred brief discussions.
The guest speaker’s verbosity stretched the presentation far beyond its scheduled time.
In summary, verbiage applies to written wordiness, while verbosity is used for overly lengthy or tedious speech. Both terms indicate an excessive use of words, but in different forms of communication.
