Which word describes a mode of speaking that is brief and to the point?

Which word describes a mode of speaking that is brief and to the point?

• A. Laconic
• B. Edify
• C. Abject
• D. Irascible

Answer: (A)

Conciseness in speech is being tested here. Laconic describes a mode of speaking that is brief and to the point, using few words and avoiding unnecessary detail. It conveys a crisp, direct, and economical way of communicating, which matches the idea of being brief and to the point. The term comes from the Spartans’ reputation for terse speech, but in everyday use it simply means succinct and pithy in expression. The other words point to different ideas: edify means to instruct or improve morally or intellectually; abject describes something miserable or degraded; irascible means easily angered. Those meanings don’t center on how succinct or word-efficient the speech is, so laconic is the best fit.

Conciseness in speech is being tested here. Laconic describes a mode of speaking that is brief and to the point, using few words and avoiding unnecessary detail. It conveys a crisp, direct, and economical way of communicating, which matches the idea of being brief and to the point. The term comes from the Spartans’ reputation for terse speech, but in everyday use it simply means succinct and pithy in expression. The other words point to different ideas: edify means to instruct or improve morally or intellectually; abject describes something miserable or degraded; irascible means easily angered. Those meanings don’t center on how succinct or word-efficient the speech is, so laconic is the best fit.