Grice's conversational maxims

Maxim of quality- Speakers should tell the truth. They should not say what they think is false, or make statements for which they lack evidence.

Maxim of quantity – A contribution should be as informative as is required for the conversation to proceed. It should be neither too little, nor too much. (It is not clear how one can decide what quantity of information satisfies the maxim in a given case.)

 

Maxim of relevance – Speakers’ contributions should relate clearly to the purpose of the exchange.

 

Maxim of manner – Speakers 'contributions should be perspicuous: clear, orderly and brief, avoiding obscurity and ambiguity.