The Hidden Danger of Over-Explaining: Why Too Much Clarity Can Actually Confuse Readers
Infographic Suggestion: A decision flowchart.
- Question 1: Does the reader already know this detail? (Yes/No)
- Question 2: Can I replace this phrase with a single, stronger verb? (Yes/No)
- Action: If Yes to either, delete or replace to improve clarity.
How can you identify the line between necessary context and wordiness?
The line is found through the “deletion test.” If you remove a word or phrase and the fundamental meaning of the sentence remains intact, that word was likely over-explaining.
