concision: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Academic, Literary, Professional
Quick answer
What does “concision” mean?
The quality of being concise.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The quality of being concise; brevity, especially in writing or speech.
The practice of expressing an idea in the fewest possible words without sacrificing clarity or essential meaning, often viewed as a stylistic virtue.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In American English, 'conciseness' is significantly more common, though 'concision' is understood. In British English, 'concision' is also formal but less starkly overshadowed by its synonym.
Connotations
Identical in both: positive, suggesting efficiency, clarity, and intellectual rigour. 'Concision' can feel slightly more technical or literary.
Frequency
Low frequency in both varieties. 'Conciseness' is the more frequent choice in everyday and professional contexts across the Anglosphere.
Grammar
How to Use “concision” in a Sentence
[verb] + concision (e.g., achieve concision)[adjective] + concision (e.g., admirable concision)concision + [prepositional phrase] (e.g., concision of expression)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “concision” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The report needs concising before it goes to the committee. (Rare/Informal)
- Could you concise your remarks to five minutes? (Rare/Informal)
American English
- Let's concise the proposal into a one-pager. (Rare/Informal)
- He concised the chapter into a single paragraph. (Rare/Informal)
adverb
British English
- He writes concisionally. (Extremely Rare/Non-standard)
- The instructions were concisionally drafted. (Extremely Rare/Non-standard)
American English
- She spoke concisionally, covering key points in two minutes. (Extremely Rare/Non-standard)
- The manual is concisionally written. (Extremely Rare/Non-standard)
adjective
British English
- A concisional style is prized in legal drafting. (Very Rare/Non-standard)
- Her concisional edits improved the text. (Very Rare/Non-standard)
American English
- We need a more concisional approach to the memo. (Very Rare/Non-standard)
- His writing is highly concisional. (Very Rare/Non-standard)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Valued in executive summaries, reports, and presentations. 'The board praised the concision of the proposal.'
Academic
Highly valued in abstracts, thesis statements, and scholarly writing. 'Her argument is noted for its logical rigour and concision.'
Everyday
Rare in casual speech. Might be used when discussing writing style. 'I wish emails from management had more concision.'
Technical
Used in editing, journalism, and communication training. 'The editor's primary feedback was a need for greater concision.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “concision”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “concision”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “concision”
- Misspelling as 'concision' (confusion with 'decision').
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'a concision'). It is uncountable.
- Confusing with 'precision'. While related, precision is about accuracy, concision is about brevity.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in meaning they are perfect synonyms. 'Conciseness' is generally more common in modern usage, while 'concision' can sound slightly more literary or technical.
Yes, absolutely. While often applied to writing, it validly describes speech that is brief and to the point, e.g., 'The CEO's concision during the Q&A was impressive.'
Not always. While generally a virtue, excessive concision can lead to ambiguity, a loss of nuance, or perceived rudeness. The goal is to be as concise as possible *without sacrificing clarity or necessary detail*.
'Brevity' simply means shortness in duration or length. 'Concision' implies brevity achieved through the *skillful omission of superfluous content*, focusing on efficiency of expression. All concision is brief, but not all brevity is concise (it could just be incomplete or abrupt).
The quality of being concise.
Concision is usually formal, academic, literary, professional in register.
Concision: in British English it is pronounced /kənˈsɪʒ(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /kənˈsɪʒən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To cut to the chase (related in spirit, but not containing the word)”
- “In a nutshell (exemplifies the concept)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a **surgeon** making a precise, clean **incision** – 'concision' is like that for language: a precise cut to remove unnecessary words.
Conceptual Metaphor
LANGUAGE IS A PHYSICAL OBJECT / WRITING IS SCULPTING (carving away excess material to reveal the clear form).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST synonym for 'concision' in a formal context?