Verbiage means using too many words to say something, especially words that don't add much meaning. When a student writes “due to the fact that” instead of simply “because,” or “at this point in time” instead of “now,” they're using verbiage. The extra words make writing feel puffy and unclear, like filling a backpack with crumpled paper instead of books.

Writers and speakers sometimes hide behind verbiage when they're unsure of their ideas or trying to sound more important than they are. A simple instruction like “close the door” might become “please ensure that the door is brought to a fully closed position.” All those extra words just get in the way.

Good writing strips away verbiage. Notice how the best authors use just enough words to paint a clear picture or express an idea. Compare The Phantom Tollbooth or Charlotte's Web to a wordy instruction manual, and you'll feel the difference immediately. Those stories use rich, interesting words, but they never waste them.

When you edit your own writing, look for verbiage: phrases you can cut, fancy words where simple ones work better, and sentences that circle around instead of landing on their point. Clear thinking leads to clear writing, and clear writing has no room for unnecessary verbiage.