What does wordage mean?
Wordage is an uncommon noun meaning the total number of words in a piece of writing, a manuscript, or a speech. It is especially associated with editorial and publishing contexts, where a work's length may be discussed in terms of its word count, although the slightly literary tone gives it more personality than the ordinary phrase “word count.” In another, broader sense, wordage refers to the words used in a text or by a person considered collectively. That usage can suggest a body of language rather than a precise tally. Because wordage can imply both the amount of writing and the language itself, careful readers may distinguish it from wording, which means the particular choice and arrangement of words. In ordinary conversation, “word count” is usually clearer and more familiar. Wordage is nevertheless a useful word when discussing the scale, extent, or texture of prose.
nounThe total number of words in a piece of writing, a manuscript, or a speech. In a broader literary sense, it can also refer to words collectively.
- The total number of words in a piece of writing or speech.
- The words of a text or speaker considered collectively, especially when regarded as a body of language.
"The editorial team trimmed the manuscript's wordage without changing its argument."
"The editorial team trimmed the manuscript's wordage without changing its argument."
"The poet's wordage is dense, but every phrase carries its weight."
The plural is grammatically possible but uncommon; wordage is normally used as a mass noun.
"The editors report wordages of 40,000 and 60,000 for the two drafts."
Wordage turns the elusive length of prose into a measurable quantity.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of wordage
Wordage was formed in English by adding the suffix -age to the word “word.” The base word comes from Old English word, which has relatives in other Germanic languages, while the suffix -age is used in English to form nouns denoting an amount, collection, or action. In this formation, it produces a noun meaning an amount of words; related derivatives such as wording, wordless, and wordy preserve the same English root.
How wordage is actually used
Wordage is uncommon and has a literary, mildly formal tone. It is especially associated with discussions of writing, manuscripts, and publishing, while the everyday phrase “word count” is more familiar in neutral contexts.
Easily confused with wordage
Wordage refers to the number or collective body of words, whereas wording refers to the particular words chosen and how they are arranged.