using System.Reflection;
using System.ComponentModel;

/// <summary>
/// Returns the enum description (if any), otherwise returns the name of the enum value
/// </summary>    
internal static string GetEnumDescription<TEnum>(TEnum enumObj)
{
    FieldInfo fi = enumObj.GetType().GetField(enumObj.ToString());
    DescriptionAttribute[] attributes = (DescriptionAttribute[])fi.GetCustomAttributes(typeof(DescriptionAttribute), false);

    if (attributes != null && attributes.Length > 0)
    {
        return attributes[0].Description;
    }
    else
    {
        return enumObj.ToString();
    }
}

/// <summary>
/// Returns the enum description (if any), otherwise returns the name of the enum value
/// </summary>    
internal static string GetEnumDescription<TEnum>(TEnum enumObj)
{
    FieldInfo fi = enumObj.GetType().GetField(enumObj.ToString());
    DescriptionAttribute[] attributes = (DescriptionAttribute[])fi.GetCustomAttributes(typeof(DescriptionAttribute), false);

    if (attributes != null && attributes.Length > 0)
    {
        return attributes[0].Description;
    }
    else
    {
        return enumObj.ToString();
    }
}

<p>Returns the description set in an enum value, or if not description is found it returns the name of the enum value. Use this without worrying about passing the enum type, you should only pass the enum value</p>

<p>Example</p>

<pre><code>internal enum Duration
{
    [Description("Every 12 Months")] Year = 1
    [Description("Every 6 Months")] Semester = 2
}

GetEnumDescription(Duration.Year) returns "Every 12 Months"
</code></pre>

Enum Description

C#