Have spelling problems between verbiage and verbage? The only spelling variation that you should always use is verbiage; verbage is not an alternate spelling of verbiage. In this article, we’ll examine the meaning of this word and its correct usage.
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What Is Verbiage?
Verbiage (pronounced ver-bee-ij, NOT ver-bij) is a noun. When someone uses this word, they are referring to speech or writing that is more complex or wordy than necessary.
For instance, if someone takes a long time to get to the point or uses big and fancy words that are not necessary, you might say that their speech contains a lot of verbiage.
Verbiage can be used as a neutral word that plainly refers to the way someone words things without having any negative meaning attached to it.
The origin of the word verbiage comes from the French word “verbier,” which means “to trill” or “to warble.” This connection makes sense because when someone talks excessively in a trivial way, we might say that they are twittering like a bird.
Example sentences:
- I didn’t appreciate all the verbiage in that indie film, but I did enjoy the visuals.
- John was known for his signature verbiage—once he started talking, nobody could get a word in.
- Despite the professor’s grand verbiage, his students could tell he didn’t really know what he was talking about.
- Jessica used vague verbiage to avoid coming out with the truth that she had cheated on the exam.
- I tried that popular book, but I found the author’s love for excessive verbiage annoying, so I couldn’t finish it.
When and How to Use Verbiage?
You can use this word to refer to the manner in which someone communicates or to imply that someone is being too wordy in their expression.
Since many people use this word negatively, you should avoid using it if you want to genuinely compliment someone’s speech. For instance, if someone is speaking with big words in a way that you enjoy, you might choose to describe their speech as articulate or intellectual rather than using the word “verbiage.”
Since “verbiage” can refer to excessively wordy speech, you may wonder if the phrase “excess verbiage” is redundant. The answer is that it is not because it makes it clear to your reader or listener which meaning of the word “verbiage” you are trying to use.
Trick to Remembering the Correct Spelling
Don’t forget that when it comes to verbage vs verbiage, verbiage is the only correct spelling in both American English and British English. Verbage is not an alternate spelling variant.
If you have trouble remembering the correct word, here are two quick tips that may help jog your memory:
- Verbiage refers to speech that goes on for too long. Since the spelling “verbiage” has one more letter than the spelling “verbage,” you can remember that the version that “lasts longer” (verbiage) is the correct form of this word.
- Verbiage refers to speech that is too wordy. If someone is talking too much, their speech would probably contain a lot of verbs. In other words, it would be very “verb-y.” If you remember what the made-up word “verb-y” sounds like, then you can remember how the word “verbiage” begins.
Final Thoughts
Feeling confused between verbage vs verbiage is common, but once you get the hang of using the correct spelling—verbiage—you can effortlessly include this word in your writing and speech. Don’t forget the two meanings of verbiage—it can be the overabundance of words or excessive language and someone’s way of speaking.
