What term refers to excessive verbiage or irrelevant matter in a proceeding?

The term that refers to excessive verbiage or irrelevant matter in a proceeding is surplusage. This word is commonly used in legal contexts to describe unnecessary or superfluous information that does not contribute meaningfully to the matter at hand. In legal documents and discussions, surplusage can lead to confusion or ambiguity, making it essential for professionals, such as surveyors, to present clear and concise information.

In contrast, obfuscation refers to the act of making something obscure or unclear, often intentionally, which is different from simply having excessive or irrelevant content. Redundancy involves repeating information, which may not qualify as irrelevant but rather as unnecessary repetition. Verbose describes a style that uses more words than needed but doesn’t specifically highlight the irrelevance of the content as surplusage does. Thus, surplusage is the precise term used to denote irrelevant matter in legal or formal proceedings.