concisely
C1Pronunciation
UK
- /kənsˈaɪsli/
US
- /kənˈsaɪsli/
Description
- briefly
- clearly
- in few words
To speak or write concisely means to express something in a clear and brief way, using only the necessary words. Think of it like packing for a trip—you want to bring everything essential, but leave behind anything extra! A concise explanation cuts straight to the point, avoiding rambling or unnecessary details. Lawyers often strive to present their arguments concisely to a judge, and good journalists aim to report news concisely so readers can quickly grasp the key information.
Imagine you're telling a friend about a movie. You could recount every single scene, detail every character's motivation, and describe the lighting in excruciating detail. Or, you could tell them the core story – what happened, who was involved, and whether it was good – in just a few sentences. That second approach is concise!
To express something concisely means to communicate effectively using as few words as possible without sacrificing clarity or important information. It's about precision and efficiency in language. A concise report gets straight to the facts; a concise summary highlights only the most crucial points.
The opposite of concise is verbose – meaning wordy and rambling. While detailed explanations have their place, often we need information delivered concisely, especially when time is limited or attention spans are short. Think about text messages, headlines, or executive summaries—all rely on conveying a lot in a little space.
You might say, "Please explain the problem concisely," meaning you want a brief and to-the-point explanation. Or, "The author wrote concisely, making the complex topic easy to understand." In academic writing, being concise is highly valued – it demonstrates clear thinking and respect for the reader's time.
So, if you aim to be understood quickly and effectively, strive to express yourself concisely—every word should earn its place!
Examples
- 1
Brief answer
Please answer the question concisely.
- 2
Clear explanation
She explained the new rule concisely, so nobody was confused.
- 3
Article summary
The article summarizes a difficult topic concisely without losing the main point.
- 4
Interview
During the interview, he spoke concisely and stayed focused on the question.
- 5
Email
In your email, describe the problem concisely and suggest what should happen next.
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- conciselyadverb