How we change what others think, feel, believe and do

Brevitas

Techniques > Use of language > Figures of speech > Brevitas

Method | Example | Discussion | See also

Description

Brevitas is the use of a concise statement to say a lot more.

Example

Shit happens.

Ça va (French: 'It goes').

Looking good!

Really somethiing.

Big guy.

Discussion

Brevity is the soul of wit. Short and sweet. Saying something in few words may leave quite a bit to the imagination, but then your imagination is smarter than you. When the saying is well known, then not even the imagination is needed.

The words used can be given more meaning by simple body language such as a wink or a shrug. The surrounding context also may be very important.

By stripping back surrounding words, brevitas exposes the core meaning of what is said, thus enhancing it and increasing attention to it.

A simple form of brevitas is with a verb-noun combination, although other combinations may be used such as adverb-verb and adjective-noun.

Classification: Reduction