All The Tropes:Brevity Is Wit: Difference between revisions

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.
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[[Hypocritical Humor|I will be brief.]]''|'''[[Hypocritical Humor|Polonius]]''', ''[[Hamlet]]''}}
[[Hypocritical Humor|I will be brief.]]''|'''[[Hypocritical Humor|Polonius]]''', ''[[Hamlet]]''}}


{{quote|''[[Trope Namer|Brevity is... wit.]]''|Banner at a [[Bland Name Product|Reading Digest]] convention, ''[[The Simpsons]]'', "Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington"}}
{{quote|''[[Trope Namer|Brevity is... wit.]]''|Banner at a [[Bland-Name Product|Reading Digest]] convention, ''[[The Simpsons]]'', "Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington"}}


Which quote's more readable?
Which quote's more readable?
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Conversely, however, [[Zero Context Example|Zero Context Examples]] or a noun followed by "That is all/Enough said" is boring. The use of few words isn't witty when they're ''the same few words with no meaning pertaining to the subject''.
Conversely, however, [[Zero Context Example|Zero Context Examples]] or a noun followed by "That is all/Enough said" is boring. The use of few words isn't witty when they're ''the same few words with no meaning pertaining to the subject''.


This is the motto of [[Laconic Wiki]]. For use of this guideline as a trope, see [[Beige Prose]].
This is the motto of [[Laconic]]. For use of this guideline as a trope, see [[Beige Prose]].


[[Hamlet|Polonius]] [[Hypocritical Humor|does not follow his own advice]]. [[Lost in Imitation|Most don't realize]].
[[Hamlet|Polonius]] [[Hypocritical Humor|does not follow his own advice]]. [[Lost in Imitation|Most don't realize]].
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[[Category:Administrivia]]
[[Category:Administrivia]]
[[Category:Brevity Is Wit]]
[[Category:Brevity Is Wit]]
[[Category:Trope]]
[[Category:Trope]][[Category:Pages with comment tags]]

Revision as of 16:19, 9 January 2014

My liege, and madam, to expostulate

 What majesty should be, what duty is,

What day is day, night night, and time is time,

Were nothing but to waste night, day, and time;

Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,

And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,

I will be brief.
—Polonius, Hamlet
Brevity is... wit.
—Banner at a Reading Digest convention, The Simpsons, "Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington"

Which quote's more readable?


Adding more words to something doesn't justify it: in fact, the more you write, the more they can't read. Avoid Word Cruft, Purple Prose and empty descriptions in writing your examples or engaging in conversation.

Conversely, however, Zero Context Examples or a noun followed by "That is all/Enough said" is boring. The use of few words isn't witty when they're the same few words with no meaning pertaining to the subject.

This is the motto of Laconic. For use of this guideline as a trope, see Beige Prose.

Polonius does not follow his own advice. Most don't realize.

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