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You say “in short”—and are still talking two minutes later. The more something matters, the more background, circumstances, and exceptions you want to add. Emails can be the same: what you meant as a careful explanation requires a scroll before the request appears. At least the writer knows where the conclusion is hiding.
Here is a line worth remembering with a small smile.
A long speech about being brief
brevity is the soul of wit
Polonius in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Act 2, scene 2. Excerpt.
Polonius promises to be brief, yet keeps explaining, until the Queen asks for more substance. This is not simply a speaking tip: the mismatch between his words and his behavior is part of the joke. Anyone writing an article about wise words may feel a little exposed, too.
Not merely shorter, but easier to follow
Applied to work, the line might prompt us to ask what the reader needs to know, rather than compete over word counts. An email requesting a check could begin: “Could you check the amounts in the attached document by tomorrow morning?” Then add the background and changes.
The reader can first understand the task and deadline. You are not throwing the explanation away; you are arranging it in the order the other person will need it. Consideration in writing is not measured by length alone.
Of course, shorter is not automatically better. “Please check” may leave someone wondering what to check. You do not need to remove important conditions or safety instructions. Keeping necessary information is different from repeating an explanation.
Find the request before pressing send
In one message today, find the sentence that says what you want the other person to do. If it is hiding in the final paragraph, try moving it to the beginning. That alone is enough.
Some days, explaining is difficult. Instead of blaming yourself, you might smile, think “a little Polonius there,” and tidy up one sentence. Let brevity help the reader find their way, rather than help the writer look clever.
Share words that have helped you communicate through our Words from Everyone submission page (Japanese-language page).
Related reading: Natsume Soseki: Different Opinions Do Not Have to Become Distance.
Source and interpretation
William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act 2, scene 2, Folger Shakespeare Library. The quotation is an excerpt from the fictional character Polonius’s speech, not a personal statement by Shakespeare. The Japanese companion supplies our own translation. The email and workplace applications are this article’s reflections, not the author’s stated advice.
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