Too Contrived?

Question

If I want to describe an essay or a prose with many difficult words and complex sentence structures by which the writer mean to impress the readers and show how literary he can write, what words I can use? Is "too contrived" able to convey my meaning?

MrPedantic · Accepted Answer

Hello Patricklui

"Too contrived" may well describe the essay or piece of prose; but it doesn't necessarily convey elaborate syntax.

"Over-elaborate" might work; or "Euphuistic"; or simply "pretentious".

(Other members will have other suggestions!)

MrP

Marius Hancu · Answer

Too contrived, too laborious/labored/be-labored, too elaborated
might be OK

Also, think about
obfuscating

FWIW:
----
contrived

synonyms DEVISE, INVENT, FRAME, CONCOCT:

contrive may suggest ingenuity and cleverness in planning or effecting<a couple of neighboring farmers in a village will contrive and practice as many tricks to overreach each other at the next market -- Earl of Chesterfield> <the little dress that Maman had so cleverly contrived out of two Empire scarves -- Anne D. Sedgwick> <you have come here to cast me off and artfully contrive that it should appear to be my doing -- T.L.Peacock> Sometimes it applies to a deliberate cleverness in factitious works<the contrived simplicity of the novel -- C.C.Walcutt>

(19 Aug. 2006).

Patricklui · Answer

Thank you so much!

(Some students in my city like to write that kind of chunks, and I was finding a word to describle their works.)

SpongeBarb · Answer

"Too contrived" may well describe the essay or piece of prose; but it doesn't necessarily convey elaborate syntax."

Hi,

I still don't quite understand the difference between contrived and elaborate. How can a prose/essay be contrived without elaboration? And when describe a novel, does the word contrived mean unrealistic?

Inchoateknowledge · Answer

profusely ornate

Inchoateknowledge · Answer

"the difference between contrived and elaborate."
Contrived has fairly negative connotations like assuming bogus sophistication by using overly embellished language.
Elaborate is disinfected of such negative connotations

Julielai · Answer

PatrickluiThank you so much!

(Some students in my city like to write that kind of chunks, and I was finding a word to describle their works.)

Hi Patrick,

Are you an English teacher in HK? Just curious.

MrPedantic · Answer

SpongeBarb"Too contrived" may well describe the essay or piece of prose; but it doesn't necessarily convey elaborate syntax."

Hi,

I still don't quite understand the difference between contrived and elaborate. How can a prose/essay be contrived without elaboration? And when describe a novel, does the word contrived mean unrealistic?

Hello SpongeBarb

If you describe a novel as "contrived", it can mean that the plot contains improbable elements that simply make things easier for the author. Thus if a novel ends with the death of a rich aunt, who has never previously been mentioned, and who leaves a legacy to the main character which means he can marry the heroine after all, the ending is "contrived".

MrP

BarbaraPA · Answer

How about overwrought?

SpongeBarb · Answer

MrPedantic
Hello SpongeBarb

If you describe a novel as "contrived", it can mean that the plot contains improbable elements that simply make things easier for the author. Thus if a novel ends with the death of a rich aunt, who has never previously been mentioned, and who leaves a legacy to the main character which means he can marry the heroine after all, the ending is "contrived".

MrP

Well said, Mr.P. Thanks.

Thank you as always, Inchoateknowledge.

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