Why use one word when sixteen will do?

At this moment in time (now)

Americans are really good at it - I had a couple of American friends who really threw me when I first met them, in the 80s. It sort of washes over me now. I've got used to it, I suppose. However I have just this minute remembered my old English teacher saying exactly the same thing about americans, maybe I am prejudiced!

Shouldn't the title of this thread have been "Verbosity"?

crun

I can't recall any at the moment but DH gets annoyed when I shout at TV announcers because of this.

Sorry, I quess my reply to the question 'any more examples' should be.

No

crun, you're quite right! I should have thought of that - condemned out of my own mouth ...

What about "prior to" instead of "before"?

"In the fullness of time ..."

As an aside (and this is the opposite of why use one word ...) I still chuckle to myself at the euphemism "May I have a word?" - cause you're gonna get lots of words and usually a telling off! The reason I chuckle to myself is at the memory of the innocent I was the first time someone said that to me (I made a faux pas at work). I was unfamiliar with what it actually means. Usually said ever so politely too!

Oh dear when I think that might have been the lovely Carol she often says that. American films drive me mad when they are all gabbling at once whilst striding down a corridor.

The stridingdownacorridortalking habit reminds me of Alec Guinness's comment apropos Shakespearean productions in general that he had very few conversations on the staircase of his own home.