“Inane gaudiness” is a phrase used in connection with neo-classicism by ________

The correct option is William Wordsworth.

Step-by-step Explanation:

1. Identifying the Source:
The phrase "inane gaudiness" (often coupled as "inane gaudiness and vague-glossy phraseology") is used by the Romantic poet William Wordsworth in his famous critical essay, the Preface to Lyrical Ballads (first published in the 1800 edition).

2. Historical Context (Rebellion against Neo-classicism):
In the 18th century, Neo-classical poetry was characterized by a highly artificial, stylized, and ornate language known as "poetic diction." Neo-classical poets often avoided everyday language, believing that elevated subjects required elevated, formal, and classical phrasing.

3. Wordsworth's Argument:
Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge launched the Romantic Movement to bring poetry back to common humanity. In his Preface, Wordsworth argues that poetry should be written in "a selection of language really used by men." He asserts that he has deliberately avoided the artificial devices and cliches of 18th-century verse so as not to present the reader with "inane gaudiness" — meaning empty, senseless, and superficial ornamentation that lacks genuine feeling or truth to human experience.