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Literary notes about Succinct (AI summary)

The term "succinct" is widely appreciated in literature to denote clarity and brevity without sacrificing meaning. It often describes narratives, historical accounts, or even metaphoric expressions that deliver their message in a compressed yet impactful manner. For instance, writers employ it to highlight that a description or account is both complete and brief, as seen when a catastrophe is rendered in such terms that nothing more could be said [1], or when historical narratives are commended for being "succinct and valuable" [2]. The word also finds a place in character dialogue and advice, suggesting a style that is direct and resolute, as in the case of a terse counsel delivered with precision [3] or a character summarizing events with an economy of words [4]. This versatility shows that, across varied contexts—from literary analysis to historical exposition and everyday speech—"succinct" serves not as a mere marker of shortness, but as a celebration of focused, efficient expression [5][6].
  1. Nothing could be more succinct or terse than this description [Pg 306] of the catastrophe.
    — from Complete Story of the San Francisco Horror by Richard Linthicum
  2. The book, while making no pretensions to literary attainment, is yet a clear, succinct, and valuable account of the fur trade and his own expeditions.
    — from The Remarkable History of the Hudson's Bay Company Including that of the French Traders of North-Western Canada and of the North-West, XY, and Astor Fur Companies by George Bryce
  3. Miss Field's reply was still more succinct and decided: "I don't know what you mean by chez nous .
    — from The Ladies Lindores, Vol. 3 (of 3) by Mrs. (Margaret) Oliphant
  4. The house was just such as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes’ succinct description, but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected.
    — from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
  5. It is, however, impossible to give a definition which would be at the same time succinct and satisfactory.
    — from Sea-Power and Other Studies by Bridge, Cyprian, Sir
  6. Such is a succinct account of the military gymnastics of the French.
    — from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson

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