Which Of The Following Sentences Contain Redundant Words Or Phrases

Which of the Following Sentences Contain Redundant Words or Phrases? A Comprehensive Guide to Concise Writing

Redundancy, the unnecessary repetition of words or ideas, is a common writing flaw that can obscure your message and weaken your writing's impact. Identifying and eliminating redundant phrases is crucial for clear, concise, and impactful communication. This comprehensive guide will explore various examples of redundant words and phrases, offering insights into how to identify and correct them, ultimately helping you improve your writing's clarity and efficiency.

We'll delve into a variety of sentence structures, highlighting common redundancies and providing clear explanations of why they are unnecessary and how to rewrite them for optimal impact. This article aims to equip you with the knowledge and skills to confidently identify and eliminate redundancy in your own writing.

Understanding Redundancy: Why Less is More

Before we examine specific examples, let's establish the fundamental principle: conciseness is key to effective writing. Redundancy weakens your writing by:

• Diluting your message: Unnecessary words distract the reader from the core message.
• Creating a sense of wordiness: Lengthy, repetitive sentences bore the reader and make your writing seem less professional.
• Weakening your argument: Redundancy suggests a lack of precision and confidence in your writing.

Identifying and Eliminating Redundant Words and Phrases: Examples and Analysis

Let's analyze several sentences, identifying the redundant elements and demonstrating how to rewrite them for improved clarity. We'll categorize the redundancies for easier understanding.

Category 1: Repetitive Words and Phrases

This category includes instances where the same word or a synonymous word is used unnecessarily.

• Example 1: "The big, large house stood on the hill."

  • Redundancy: "Big" and "large" are synonyms; one is sufficient.
  • Corrected: "The big house stood on the hill." or "The large house stood on the hill."

• Example 2: "She repeated the same identical words again."

  • Redundancy: "Repeated" and "again" imply the same thing, as does "identical" with "same."
  • Corrected: "She repeated the words." or "She said the same words again."

• Example 3: "The meeting was postponed to a later date."

  • Redundancy: "Postponed" inherently implies a later date.
  • Corrected: "The meeting was postponed."

Category 2: Redundant Word Pairs

Certain word pairs inherently contain redundant meanings.

• Example 4: "The committee jointly collaborated on the project."

  • Redundancy: "Jointly" and "collaborated" both imply working together.
  • Corrected: "The committee collaborated on the project."

• Example 5: "He completely annihilated the opposition."

  • Redundancy: "Annihilated" already means complete destruction.
  • Corrected: "He annihilated the opposition."

• Example 6: "The plan is absolutely essential for success."

  • Redundancy: "Essential" already implies absolute necessity.
  • Corrected: "The plan is essential for success."

• Example 7: "That's a true fact."

  • Redundancy: "Fact" implies truth.
  • Corrected: "That's a fact."

Category 3: Redundant Modifiers

These are instances where adjectives or adverbs add unnecessary detail.

• Example 8: "The round circle was perfectly formed."

  • Redundancy: "Circle" inherently implies roundness.
  • Corrected: "The circle was perfectly formed."

• Example 9: "It was very unique."

  • Redundancy: "Unique" implies something is one-of-a-kind; "very" is redundant.
  • Corrected: "It was unique."

• Example 10: "The past history of the company is well-documented."

  • Redundancy: "History" refers to the past.
  • Corrected: "The history of the company is well-documented."

Category 4: Redundancy in Phrases and Clauses

This category highlights redundancies within larger sentence structures.

• Example 11: "Due to the fact that it was raining, the game was cancelled."

  • Redundancy: "Due to the fact that" is wordy; "because" or "since" is more concise.
  • Corrected: "Because it was raining, the game was cancelled." or "Since it was raining, the game was cancelled."

• Example 12: "He returned back to his hometown."

  • Redundancy: "Returned" already implies going back.
  • Corrected: "He returned to his hometown."

• Example 13: "The reason why he failed was because he didn't study."

  • Redundancy: "The reason why" and "because" are both causal phrases, making the sentence redundant.
  • Corrected: "He failed because he didn't study."

Category 5: Redundancy in Quantifiers

Overuse of quantifiers can lead to redundancy.

• Example 14: "I saw a total of three cars."

  • Redundancy: "A total of" is often unnecessary.
  • Corrected: "I saw three cars."

• Example 15: "There were approximately around 100 people present."

  • Redundancy: "Approximately" and "around" both suggest an estimation.
  • Corrected: "There were approximately 100 people present." or "There were around 100 people present."

Advanced Techniques for Identifying Redundancy

Beyond these categories, developing a keen eye for redundancy requires practice. Here are some advanced techniques:

• Read your work aloud: Hearing your writing helps identify awkward phrasing and wordiness.
• Use a style guide: Resources like the Chicago Manual of Style or the Associated Press Stylebook offer guidance on concise writing.
• Get feedback: Ask others to review your writing; a fresh perspective can identify redundancies you might have missed.
• Use online tools: Various online tools and grammar checkers can highlight potential redundancies. However, always review the suggestions critically, as these tools aren't perfect.

The Importance of Conciseness in Professional Writing

Eliminating redundancy significantly improves your writing's professionalism. Concise writing demonstrates clarity of thought and respect for your reader's time. In professional settings, concise writing is crucial for:

• Emails and memos: Concise communication ensures efficiency and avoids misinterpretations.
• Reports and proposals: Clear, concise writing improves readability and strengthens your argument.
• Presentations: Conciseness ensures your message is easily understood and remembered.

Conclusion: Mastering the Art of Concise Writing

Mastering the art of concise writing involves actively identifying and eliminating redundant words and phrases. By understanding the various types of redundancy and applying the techniques discussed, you can significantly improve the clarity, impact, and professionalism of your writing. Remember, less is often more – focus on delivering your message clearly and efficiently, avoiding unnecessary words that dilute your intended impact. Consistent practice and attention to detail will elevate your writing to a higher level of precision and elegance. Continuously refining your ability to identify and correct redundancy will strengthen your writing and make you a more effective communicator.