Word: prolix (adjective)

Associations

"Prolix" means using too many words, often making something boring or hard to follow because it is too long.

• In a speech: "His speech was prolix, and many people lost interest." Here, it means the speech was too long and wordy.
• In writing: "The essay is prolix; it could be much shorter and clearer." This means the essay has too many unnecessary words.
• In conversation: "She tends to be prolix when explaining things, which can confuse listeners." This means she talks too much and is not clear.

A well-known synonym is "verbose." Both mean using many words. The difference: "prolix" often sounds more formal and can suggest a negative idea of boring or long-winded. "Verbose" is more common and neutral but still means wordy.

Substitution

You can replace "prolix" with:

• verbose (similar meaning, more common)
• long-winded (more informal, negative)
• wordy (neutral to negative) Changing the word can make the sentence sound more formal or casual:
• "His speech was verbose." (neutral, formal)
• "His speech was long-winded." (informal, negative)

Deconstruction

"Prolix" comes from Latin:

• "pro-" means "forward" or "forth"
• "lix" comes from "ligare," meaning "to bind" or "tie" Together, it suggests something stretched out or extended forward, like a long, drawn-out speech or text.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when someone was prolix in speaking or writing? How did it make you feel?
• How is being prolix different from being clear and concise?
• When might it be okay to be prolix, and when is it better to be brief?