diff --git a/applications/test/foamToEnsight-check/foamToEnsight-check.C b/applications/test/foamToEnsight-check/foamToEnsight-check.C
index 8759fcf8db..18b0dbb131 100644
--- a/applications/test/foamToEnsight-check/foamToEnsight-check.C
+++ b/applications/test/foamToEnsight-check/foamToEnsight-check.C
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     // Less frequently used - reduce some clutter
     argList::setAdvanced("decomposeParDict");
 
-    argList::addVerboseOption("Additional verbosity");
+    argList::addVerboseOption();
 
     #include "addAllRegionOptions.H"
 
diff --git a/applications/utilities/miscellaneous/foamHasLibrary/foamHasLibrary.C b/applications/utilities/miscellaneous/foamHasLibrary/foamHasLibrary.C
index 523f892b3d..371cc46d6a 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/miscellaneous/foamHasLibrary/foamHasLibrary.C
+++ b/applications/utilities/miscellaneous/foamHasLibrary/foamHasLibrary.C
@@ -78,10 +78,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         "detail",
         "Additional detail"
     );
-    argList::addVerboseOption
-    (
-        "Additional verbosity"
-    );
+    argList::addVerboseOption();
 
     argList::addArgument("lib...");
     argList::noMandatoryArgs();  // Arguments are optional
diff --git a/applications/utilities/miscellaneous/foamRestoreFields/foamRestoreFields.C b/applications/utilities/miscellaneous/foamRestoreFields/foamRestoreFields.C
index 124b549f79..862329b6cd 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/miscellaneous/foamRestoreFields/foamRestoreFields.C
+++ b/applications/utilities/miscellaneous/foamRestoreFields/foamRestoreFields.C
@@ -235,10 +235,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     (
         "Report action without moving/renaming"
     );
-    argList::addVerboseOption
-    (
-        "Additional verbosity"
-    );
+    argList::addVerboseOption();
 
     // Arguments are optional (non-mandatory)
     argList::noMandatoryArgs();
diff --git a/applications/utilities/parallelProcessing/decomposePar/decomposePar.C b/applications/utilities/parallelProcessing/decomposePar/decomposePar.C
index 8916b01f6f..bd77c4096c 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/parallelProcessing/decomposePar/decomposePar.C
+++ b/applications/utilities/parallelProcessing/decomposePar/decomposePar.C
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         "Test without writing the decomposition. "
         "Changes -cellDist to only write VTK output."
     );
-    argList::addVerboseOption("Additional verbosity");
+    argList::addVerboseOption();
     argList::addOption
     (
         "domains",
diff --git a/applications/utilities/parallelProcessing/reconstructPar/reconstructPar.C b/applications/utilities/parallelProcessing/reconstructPar/reconstructPar.C
index 2ab54d02bd..bae8f635a5 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/parallelProcessing/reconstructPar/reconstructPar.C
+++ b/applications/utilities/parallelProcessing/reconstructPar/reconstructPar.C
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
     #include "addAllRegionOptions.H"
 
-    argList::addVerboseOption("Additional verbosity");
+    argList::addVerboseOption();
     argList::addOption
     (
         "fields",
diff --git a/applications/utilities/parallelProcessing/reconstructParMesh/reconstructParMesh.C b/applications/utilities/parallelProcessing/reconstructParMesh/reconstructParMesh.C
index 4f87ea6d94..feb14f0c40 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/parallelProcessing/reconstructParMesh/reconstructParMesh.C
+++ b/applications/utilities/parallelProcessing/reconstructParMesh/reconstructParMesh.C
@@ -594,7 +594,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
     argList::noParallel();
 
-    argList::addVerboseOption("Additional verbosity");
+    argList::addVerboseOption();
     argList::addBoolOption
     (
         "addressing-only",
diff --git a/applications/utilities/parallelProcessing/redistributePar/redistributePar.C b/applications/utilities/parallelProcessing/redistributePar/redistributePar.C
index c29210a46f..b1ee6a5d71 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/parallelProcessing/redistributePar/redistributePar.C
+++ b/applications/utilities/parallelProcessing/redistributePar/redistributePar.C
@@ -1020,7 +1020,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     #include "addOverwriteOption.H"
     argList::addBoolOption("decompose", "Decompose case");
     argList::addBoolOption("reconstruct", "Reconstruct case");
-    argList::addVerboseOption("Additional verbosity");
+    argList::addVerboseOption();
     argList::addDryRunOption
     (
         "Test without writing the decomposition. "
diff --git a/applications/utilities/postProcessing/dataConversion/foamToEnsight/foamToEnsight.C b/applications/utilities/postProcessing/dataConversion/foamToEnsight/foamToEnsight.C
index f666628618..6f0cdc0dfc 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/postProcessing/dataConversion/foamToEnsight/foamToEnsight.C
+++ b/applications/utilities/postProcessing/dataConversion/foamToEnsight/foamToEnsight.C
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     // Less frequently used - reduce some clutter
     argList::setAdvanced("decomposeParDict");
 
-    argList::addVerboseOption("Additional verbosity");
+    argList::addVerboseOption();
 
     #include "addAllRegionOptions.H"
 
diff --git a/applications/utilities/postProcessing/dataConversion/foamToVTK/foamToVTK.C b/applications/utilities/postProcessing/dataConversion/foamToVTK/foamToVTK.C
index 0e0b1b4f67..779d0de545 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/postProcessing/dataConversion/foamToVTK/foamToVTK.C
+++ b/applications/utilities/postProcessing/dataConversion/foamToVTK/foamToVTK.C
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     // Less frequently used - reduce some clutter
     argList::setAdvanced("decomposeParDict");
 
-    argList::addVerboseOption("Additional verbosity");
+    argList::addVerboseOption();
 
     argList::addBoolOption
     (
diff --git a/applications/utilities/postProcessing/lagrangian/particleTracks/particleTracks.C b/applications/utilities/postProcessing/lagrangian/particleTracks/particleTracks.C
index 9d38c16dcc..6270c10a84 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/postProcessing/lagrangian/particleTracks/particleTracks.C
+++ b/applications/utilities/postProcessing/lagrangian/particleTracks/particleTracks.C
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         "The writer format "
         "(default: vtk or 'setFormat' from dictionary)"
     );
-    argList::addVerboseOption("Additional verbosity");
+    argList::addVerboseOption();
 
     #include "setRootCase.H"
     #include "createTime.H"
diff --git a/applications/utilities/postProcessing/lagrangian/steadyParticleTracks/steadyParticleTracks.C b/applications/utilities/postProcessing/lagrangian/steadyParticleTracks/steadyParticleTracks.C
index 26af769a45..ba7aa1c56f 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/postProcessing/lagrangian/steadyParticleTracks/steadyParticleTracks.C
+++ b/applications/utilities/postProcessing/lagrangian/steadyParticleTracks/steadyParticleTracks.C
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         "file",
         "Alternative particleTrackDict dictionary"
     );
-    argList::addVerboseOption("Additional verbosity");
+    argList::addVerboseOption();
 
     #include "setRootCase.H"
     #include "createTime.H"
diff --git a/applications/utilities/postProcessing/lumped/lumpedPointZones/lumpedPointZones.C b/applications/utilities/postProcessing/lumped/lumpedPointZones/lumpedPointZones.C
index d5cc691d79..09088046b3 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/postProcessing/lumped/lumpedPointZones/lumpedPointZones.C
+++ b/applications/utilities/postProcessing/lumped/lumpedPointZones/lumpedPointZones.C
@@ -72,10 +72,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         "Suppress calculation/display of point interpolators"
     );
 
-    argList::addVerboseOption
-    (
-        "Additional verbosity"
-    );
+    argList::addVerboseOption();
 
     #include "addRegionOption.H"
     #include "setRootCase.H"
diff --git a/applications/utilities/preProcessing/smoothSurfaceData/smoothSurfaceData.C b/applications/utilities/preProcessing/smoothSurfaceData/smoothSurfaceData.C
index 7ca090ed43..2e615ee8d8 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/preProcessing/smoothSurfaceData/smoothSurfaceData.C
+++ b/applications/utilities/preProcessing/smoothSurfaceData/smoothSurfaceData.C
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     );
 
     argList::noCheckProcessorDirectories();
-    argList::addVerboseOption("Additional verbosity");
+    argList::addVerboseOption();
 
     argList::addArgument("input", "The input surface file");
 
diff --git a/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceAdd/surfaceAdd.C b/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceAdd/surfaceAdd.C
index 0db4feefd1..be8a3dd413 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceAdd/surfaceAdd.C
+++ b/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceAdd/surfaceAdd.C
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Copyright (C) 2011-2016 OpenFOAM Foundation
-    Copyright (C) 2016-2021 OpenCFD Ltd.
+    Copyright (C) 2016-2023 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         "factor",
         "Geometry scaling factor on input surfaces"
     );
+    argList::addVerboseOption();
 
     argList args(argc, argv);
 
@@ -87,6 +88,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     const auto inFileName2 = args.get<fileName>(2);
     const auto outFileName = args.get<fileName>(3);
 
+    const int  optVerbose   = args.verbose();
     const bool addPoint     = args.found("points");
     const bool mergeRegions = args.found("mergeRegions");
 
@@ -284,7 +286,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     }
 
     // Merge all common points and do some checks
-    combinedSurf.cleanup(true);
+    combinedSurf.cleanup(optVerbose);
 
     Info<< "Merged surface:" << endl;
 
diff --git a/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceCheck/surfaceCheck.C b/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceCheck/surfaceCheck.C
index 278b84825a..fd6e5dbbca 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceCheck/surfaceCheck.C
+++ b/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceCheck/surfaceCheck.C
@@ -308,10 +308,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         "Split surface along non-manifold edges "
         "(default split is fully disconnected)"
     );
-    argList::addVerboseOption
-    (
-        "Additional verbosity"
-    );
+    argList::addVerboseOption();
     argList::addBoolOption
     (
         "blockMesh",
diff --git a/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceClean/surfaceClean.C b/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceClean/surfaceClean.C
index f1e6264231..8af8a1780c 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceClean/surfaceClean.C
+++ b/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceClean/surfaceClean.C
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Copyright (C) 2011-2013 OpenFOAM Foundation
-    Copyright (C) 2020-2021 OpenCFD Ltd.
+    Copyright (C) 2020-2023 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         "Suppress surface checking/cleanup on the input surface"
     );
     argList::addOptionCompat("no-clean", {"noClean", -2006});
+    argList::addVerboseOption();
 
     argList::addOption
     (
@@ -87,6 +88,8 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     const auto minQuality = args.get<scalar>(3);
     const auto outFileName = args.get<fileName>(4);
 
+    const int optVerbose = args.verbose();
+
     Info<< "Reading surface " << inFileName << nl
         << "Collapsing all triangles with" << nl
         << "    edges or heights < " << minLen << nl
@@ -106,7 +109,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     if (!args.found("no-clean"))
     {
         Info<< "Removing duplicate and illegal triangles ..." << nl << endl;
-        surf.cleanup(true);
+        surf.cleanup(optVerbose);
     }
 
     Info<< "Collapsing triangles to edges ..." << nl << endl;
diff --git a/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceConvert/surfaceConvert.C b/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceConvert/surfaceConvert.C
index e9851a432f..58ccc167fb 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceConvert/surfaceConvert.C
+++ b/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceConvert/surfaceConvert.C
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Copyright (C) 2011-2016 OpenFOAM Foundation
-    Copyright (C) 2020-2022 OpenCFD Ltd.
+    Copyright (C) 2020-2023 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -144,6 +144,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         "The output precision"
     );
     argList::addOptionCompat("precision", {"writePrecision", 1812});
+    argList::addVerboseOption();
 
     argList args(argc, argv);
 
@@ -161,6 +162,8 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     const auto importName = args.get<fileName>(1);
     const auto exportName = args.get<fileName>(2);
 
+    const int optVerbose  = args.verbose();
+
     if (importName == exportName)
     {
         FatalError
@@ -207,7 +210,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     if (args.found("clean"))
     {
         Info<< "Cleaning up surface" << endl;
-        surf.cleanup(true);
+        surf.cleanup(optVerbose);
 
         Info<< "After cleaning up surface:" << endl;
         surf.writeStats(Info);
diff --git a/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceMeshConvert/surfaceMeshConvert.C b/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceMeshConvert/surfaceMeshConvert.C
index 3b81e3545a..4466825513 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceMeshConvert/surfaceMeshConvert.C
+++ b/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceMeshConvert/surfaceMeshConvert.C
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Copyright (C) 2011-2016 OpenFOAM Foundation
-    Copyright (C) 2018-2022 OpenCFD Ltd.
+    Copyright (C) 2018-2023 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         "clean",
         "Perform some surface checking/cleanup on the input surface"
     );
+    argList::addVerboseOption();
     argList::addOption
     (
         "read-format",
@@ -177,13 +178,14 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         "Triangulate surface"
     );
 
-
     argList args(argc, argv);
     Time runTime(args.rootPath(), args.caseName());
 
     const auto importName = args.get<fileName>(1);
     const auto exportName = args.get<fileName>(2);
 
+    const int optVerbose  = args.verbose();
+
     if (importName == exportName)
     {
         FatalError
@@ -298,7 +300,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
         if (args.found("clean"))
         {
-            surf.cleanup(true);
+            surf.cleanup(optVerbose);
         }
 
         if (fromCsys)
diff --git a/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceMeshExport/surfaceMeshExport.C b/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceMeshExport/surfaceMeshExport.C
index 260ae19217..57310daedb 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceMeshExport/surfaceMeshExport.C
+++ b/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceMeshExport/surfaceMeshExport.C
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Copyright (C) 2011-2016 OpenFOAM Foundation
-    Copyright (C) 2018-2022 OpenCFD Ltd.
+    Copyright (C) 2018-2023 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         "clean",
         "Perform some surface checking/cleanup on the input surface"
     );
+    argList::addVerboseOption();
     argList::addOption
     (
         "name",
@@ -157,6 +158,8 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     const auto exportName = args.get<fileName>(1);
     const auto importName = args.getOrDefault<word>("name", "default");
 
+    const int optVerbose  = args.verbose();
+
     const word writeFileType
     (
         args.getOrDefault<word>("write-format", getExtension(exportName))
@@ -273,7 +276,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
     if (args.found("clean"))
     {
-        surf.cleanup(true);
+        surf.cleanup(optVerbose);
     }
 
     if (fromCsys)
diff --git a/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceMeshImport/surfaceMeshImport.C b/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceMeshImport/surfaceMeshImport.C
index 03cb91a96e..8ebae3ebfe 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceMeshImport/surfaceMeshImport.C
+++ b/applications/utilities/surface/surfaceMeshImport/surfaceMeshImport.C
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Copyright (C) 2011-2016 OpenFOAM Foundation
-    Copyright (C) 2018-2022 OpenCFD Ltd.
+    Copyright (C) 2018-2023 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         "clean",
         "Perform some surface checking/cleanup on the input surface"
     );
+    argList::addVerboseOption();
     argList::addOption
     (
         "name",
@@ -169,6 +170,8 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     const auto importName = args.get<fileName>(1);
     const auto exportName = args.getOrDefault<word>("name", "default");
 
+    const int optVerbose  = args.verbose();
+
     const word readFileType
     (
         args.getOrDefault<word>("read-format", getExtension(importName))
@@ -268,7 +271,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
     if (args.found("clean"))
     {
-        surf.cleanup(true);
+        surf.cleanup(optVerbose);
     }
 
     if (fromCsys)
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/global/argList/argList.C b/src/OpenFOAM/global/argList/argList.C
index c8d2a498ee..81e4d0403f 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/global/argList/argList.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/global/argList/argList.C
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Copyright (C) 2011-2017 OpenFOAM Foundation
-    Copyright (C) 2015-2022 OpenCFD Ltd.
+    Copyright (C) 2015-2023 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -514,7 +514,14 @@ void Foam::argList::addVerboseOption
     bool advanced
 )
 {
-    argList::addBoolOption("verbose", usage, advanced);
+    if (usage.empty())
+    {
+        argList::addBoolOption("verbose", "Additional verbosity", advanced);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        argList::addBoolOption("verbose", usage, advanced);
+    }
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/global/argList/argList.H b/src/OpenFOAM/global/argList/argList.H
index ebc3bf836a..8a101e8781 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/global/argList/argList.H
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/global/argList/argList.H
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Copyright (C) 2011-2017 OpenFOAM Foundation
-    Copyright (C) 2016-2022 OpenCFD Ltd.
+    Copyright (C) 2016-2023 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -628,7 +628,7 @@ public:
         //- Enable a 'verbose' bool option, with usage information
         static void addVerboseOption
         (
-            const string& usage,  //! usage information (expected)
+            const string& usage = "", //! usage information (optional)
             bool advanced = false
         );