Kenneth G. Wilson (1923–). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993.
CIRCUMLOCUTION
is a matter of style—sometimes a good thing, sometimes not. English offers an almost infinite number of ways of saying things, and users of Standard English do well to avail themselves of as many of those resources as will help them achieve precisely what they want their words to do for them. Some commentators argue that briefer is always better in speech or in prose, and often they’re right: at this point in time, in close proximity to, in view of the fact that, and until such time as are all wordy clichés better replaced by more succinct synonyms. But sometimes circumlocutions are useful and pleasant: Get me a drink, even with please tacked on, is to the point but not very mannerly; Will you please get me a drink? is better, and in a formal atmosphere Would you be good enough to get me a drink? sounds very fitting indeed. See also PERIPHRASTIC.
