What does Agatha Christie mean with "in a telegraphic style"? Bold part of this passage from _The Mysterious Affair at Styles_. > Miss Howard shook hands with a hearty, almost painful, grip. I had an impression of very blue eyes in a sunburnt face. She was a pleasant-looking woman of about forty, with a deep voice, almost manly in its stentorian tones, and had a large sensible square body, with feet to match—these last encased in good thick boots. **Her** **conversation, I soon found, was couched in the telegraphic style.**

When people actually sent telegraphs, they were charged at so much per word. Therefore a prudent correspondent would pare the words down to the minimum necessary to communicate information. <

> Telegram style, telegraph style, telegraphic style or telegraphese[1] is a clipped way of writing that attempts to abbreviate words and pack as much information into the smallest possible number of words or characters.

Miss Howard's speech exhibits this characteristic.

> Weeds grow like house afire. Can't keep even with 'em. Shall press you in. Better be careful.

Might otherwise have been expressed as

> The weeds are growing like a house on fire, I can't keep even with them. I shall pressgang you into helping me, so you had better be careful.