Virtus verborum is the excellence of words – language so wellchosen, clear and alive that it seems to “do” something in the listener the moment it is heard. It is the discipline of crafting words that carry weight, not just noise.
What is virtus verborum?
In Latin, virtus suggests strength, excellence, and moral force, while verba are words; together, virtus verborum points to the inner power and quality of expression itself. It is not about having many words, but about having words whose meaning, sound and timing are so aligned that they actually move people.
Rather than treating speech as decoration, virtus verborum treats language as an instrument: precise enough to cut through confusion, and humane enough to honour the people who hear it. Excellence of words is not ornamental; it is functional.
The 5 Pillars of Excellent Words
Clarity
Excellent words make it impossible to misunderstand you. They name things plainly, avoid needless jargon, and choose simplicity without becoming simplistic.
Precision
Precision means being clear and exact with your words. It is about choosing the right verb and the right example so your message is understood the way you intend it. When words are precise, there is little room for confusion.
Imagery and concreteness
Strong language allows listeners to see, not just to hear. Abstract ideas are anchored in concrete pictures, stories, and examples that stay with the mind long after the sentence ends.
Rhythm
The excellence of words also lives in how they sound together. Balanced phrases, intentional pauses, and varied sentence lengths give speech a rhythm that carries listeners along instead of tiring them.
Integrity of tone
Integrity of tone means speaking in a way that fits the message and respects the listener. Your voice and attitude should match the truth you are sharing – calm when calm is needed, firm when honesty is required.
Practising Excellence in Your Own Words
Developing virtus verborum is less about talent and more about deliberate revision and attention.
Write, then refine: Let the first draft be free, but never let it be final. Return to your sentences asking, “Can this be said more simply, more honestly, more vividly?
Prefer the concrete and active: Replace “issues were addressed” with “we sat down and rewrote the policy.” Active, concrete phrasing gives your words grip on real life.
Read your words aloud: The mouth exposes what the eye excuses. If a sentence trips your tongue or bores your ear, it needs reshaping for rhythm and energy.
Align word choice with your values: Excellence is not just about beauty; it is about moral direction. Use your verbal skill to clarify, encourage and challenge, not to obscure or manipulate.
When practiced over time, virtus verborum turns ordinary communication into a craft. Your words stop being fillers in the air and become deliberate acts – each one chosen to build understanding and trust.
Note: Excellence of words allows you to say less while achieving more, because every syllable has been asked to justify its presence.
For leaders and creators, this matters ethically as well as strategically. Language that is sharp but not kind can wound, and language that is kind but not sharp can confuse; virtus verborum insists on being both clear and humane. When words are excellent, they do not just impress; they illuminate.
