Avoid Redundancy to Improve Your Writing

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Redundancy

Redundancy means repetition of the same meaningful words in a single sentence. It is an unnecessary part of the sentence structure. The use of redundant words or phrases in a sentence may harm the beauty of the structure of the sentence.

Besides, redundant words or phrases do not contribute to the meaning rather removing them improves readability. So it should be avoided during structuring a sentence.

Generally, redundancy occurs in Noun, Pronoun, Verb, Adjective, Preposition, or any other Phrases. Given here are some words or phrases that are always redundant, and thus should never be used.

Redundant Words/ Phrases Correct Usage Remarks
As for example As/ for example as and for example refers to the same meaning ‘like/such as’. So both of them can’t be used at the same time.
Advance forward
Proceed forward
Progress forward
Advance
Proceed
Progress
advance, proceed, and progress all refers to “to move in a forward direction”; thus the word forward is not necessary
Return back
Revert back
Return
Revert
return and revert mean “to go back or to send back”; thus back is not necessary
Absolutely certain/
correct/ right
certain/ correct/ right certain, correct and right refer “to definite or particular”; thus absolutely is unnecessary
Add an additional Add add means “to unite or join”; so an additional is wrong to use
Ask a question Ask ask refers “to put a question to”, so a question with ask is unnecessary
At the present time At present at present refers to “at this time”; therefore at the present time is wrong to use
Await for Await/ wait for await is used without preposition so we should use wait for instead of await for
Basic fundamentals Basic/ fundamentals basic means “fundamental” and fundamentals refer to “a foundation or basis”; thus both of them can’t be used
Close proximity proximity proximity indicates “nearness in place, time order”; so close cannot be used with proximity
Compete together Compete compete refers “to strive to outdo another”; so we cannot use together with compete
Completely filled/
finished/ opposite
filled/ finished/ opposite filled, finished and opposite point something which is already complete. So completely before these words is unnecessary to use
Dictionary book Dictionary the dictionary is a word book, so book should not be used with the word dictionary
End result/ final outcome Result/ outcome result and outcome refer to the “final findings of a task”, so end or final cannot be used with these words
Few in number few the word number is included in the meaning of the word few
Foreign import import import refers to “bring in something from a foreign country”, so the word foreign should be avoided
New innovation/
invention/ discovery
innovation/ invention/ discovery innovation means “a new idea”, so new innovation/discovery/invention is wrong
Past history/ record history/ record history or record is that which is “happened in the past”
Repeat again Repeat repeat means “to say again”
Two twins twins twins refer to “two siblings”, so it is unnecessary to use two before twins
Matinee performance Matinee matinee means “a performance in the afternoon”; performance is already with the meaning of the word matinee
The place where Where/ place where and the place point to the same thing; one or the other should be used
The time when time/ when when and the time refer to the same thing; one or the other should be used

Examples of redundant sentences:

Incorrect: What is the end result of the game?
Correct: What is the result of the game?
Incorrect: Artificial Intelligence is a new invention in technology.
Correct: Artificial Intelligence is an invention in technology.
Incorrect: Bale has bought a new dictionary book.
Correct: Bale has bought a dictionary book.
Incorrect: We should know the past history of our nation.
Correct: We should know the history of our nation.
Incorrect: The work is nearly almost finished.
Correct: The work is almost finished. or
The work is nearly finished.
Incorrect: The two twins have the same identical birthmarks on their backs.
Correct: The twins have the identical birthmarks on their backs.
Incorrect: Matthews repeated the question slowly again so that Jim would understand.
Correct: Matthews repeated the question slowly so that Jim would understand.
Incorrect: Helen and her sister competed together in the musical talent show.
Correct: Helen and her sister competed in the musical talent show.

 

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