Though major is not directly redundant, the notable nature of the event is implicit.ģ3. Major breakthrough: A breakthrough is a significant progress in an effort. Invited guests: Guests are intrinsically those who have an invitation, so invited is redundant.ģ2.
Sounds like a plan you should never use free#
Free gift: A gift is by definition free (though cynics will dispute that definition), so free is extraneous.ģ1. Forever and ever: Ever is an unnecessary reduplication of forever.ģ0. Foreign imports: Imports are products that originate in another country, so their foreign nature is implicit and the word foreign is redundant.Ģ9. It’s better to specify the number of days or to generalize with many.Ģ8. For a period/number of days: Days is plural, so a duration is implied “a period of” or “a number of” is redundant. First began, new beginning: A beginning is when something first occurs, so first and new are superfluous terms in these cases.Ģ7. Final outcome: An outcome is a result and is therefore intrinsically final.Ģ6. Few in number: Few refers to a small number do not qualify few with the modifier “in number.”Ģ5. False pretense: A pretense is a deception, so false is redundant.Ģ4. Estimated at about/roughly: An estimate is an approximation. Enter in: To enter is to go in, so throw in out.Ģ2. End result: A result is something that occurs at the end, so omit end as a modifier of result.Ģ1. Direct as a qualifier in this case is redundant.Ģ0. Direct confrontation: A confrontation is a head-on conflict. Difficult dilemma: A dilemma is by nature complicated, so omit difficult as a modifier.ġ9. Definite decision: Decisions may not be final, but when they are made, they are unequivocal and therefore definite, so one should not be described as “a definite decision.”ġ8. (During the) course (of): During means “in or throughout the duration of”), so “during the course of” is repetitive.ġ7. Consensus of opinion: A consensus is an agreement but not necessarily one about an opinion, so “consensus of opinion” is not purely redundant, but the phrase “of opinion” is usually unnecessary.ġ6. Something that is opposite isn’t necessarily diametrically opposed, especially in qualitative connotations, but the modifier is still extraneous.ġ5. Completely filled/finished/opposite: Something that is filled or finished is thoroughly so completely is redundant. To speak of joining or merging together is, likewise, redundant.ġ4. Collaborate/join/meet/merge together: If you write of a group that collaborates or meets together, you imply that there’s another way to collect or confer. Close proximity/scrutiny: Proximity means “close in location,” and scrutiny means “close study,” so avoid qualifying these terms with close.ġ3. Came at a time when: When provides the necessary temporal reference to the action of coming “at a time” is redundant.ġ2. (Filled to) capacity: Something filled is done so to capacity, so describing something as “filled to capacity” is repetitive.ġ1. Basic fundamentals/essentials: Fundamentals and essentials are by their nature elementary, so remove basic from each phrase.ġ0. At the present time: “At present” means “at this time,” so avoid the verbose version.ĩ. Ask a question: To ask is to pose a question, so question is redundant.Ĩ. As for example: As implies that an example is being provided, so omit “an example.”ħ. Advance notice/planning/reservations/warning: Notices, planning, reservations, and warnings are all, by their nature, actions that occur before some event, so qualifying such terms with advance is superfluous.Ħ. Added bonus: A bonus is an extra feature, so added is redundant.ĥ. Add an additional: To add is to provide another of something. Actual is extraneous in these instances.ģ. A fact is something confirmed to have happened. Actual experience/fact: An experience is something that occurred (unless otherwise indicated).
A guarantee is by nature absolute (or should be). Something that is essential is intrinsically absolute. Absolutely certain or sure/essential/guaranteed: Someone who is certain or sure is already without doubt. In writing, redundancy is less forgivable but fortunately easy to rectify. In conversation, it’s easy in the midst of spontaneous speech to succumb to verbosity and duplication. Kathy and Ross Petras are the brother-and-sister co-authors of "Awkword Moments," "You're Saying It Wrong" and "That Doesn't Mean What You Think It Means." Their work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post and Harvard Business Review.
It's a filler phrase that means nothing - and actually irritates a lot of people.Īlong the same lines, avoid starting sentences with puffy phrases like "It's important to note that …" All you're doing is adding useless words. We've seen so many people end sentences with "if you know what I mean," or its truncated near-twin "know what I mean?" If you're one of them, stop now.
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