Discursiveness

Discursiveness refers to the quality or characteristic of rambling from topic to topic, lacking a structured or focused approach to a subject. It describes a style of communication or thought that is marked by digressions, deviations, and a tendency to wander off the main point. This can manifest in writing, speech, or even thought processes, often characterized by a lack of concise expression. The extent of discursiveness can vary, from mild digressions to lengthy and convoluted tangents that obscure the central idea.

Discursiveness meaning with examples

• The professor's lectures were notorious for their discursiveness; she'd start with one historical event, then launch into a series of anecdotes, often unrelated, before finally circling back—sometimes—to the original topic. This made note-taking a challenge for students.
• Her blog posts, while engaging, suffered from discursiveness. Instead of sticking to the recipe, she'd include detailed descriptions of her kitchen decor and philosophical musings about cooking, distracting from the actual instructions.
• During the meeting, the CEO's discursiveness frustrated the board; he struggled to stay on track and often derailed discussions with irrelevant personal stories, making it hard to arrive at any concrete decisions.
• Reading the manuscript revealed significant discursiveness; the author explored numerous subplots and character backstories that, while interesting, did not effectively advance the main narrative, bogging it down with tangents.