Do You Employ Redundancy? #7

The last of these ventures into the land of redundant words, repetitions and silly syntax. If you’ve travelled with me, you should know what to do with Fowler’s Modern English Usage!

Absolutely guaranteed: Any guarantee that isn’t absolute (as it should be) isn’t worth the paper that describes it.

Advance warning: Warnings, by their nature, occur before an event; qualifying them with ‘advance’ is superfluous. A warning issued after the event is pointless.

At the present time: ‘At present’ means now. Enough said.

Merge together: If you merge things, you bring them together. You can’t merge apart.

Completely finished: Something finished is complete, that’s what ‘finished’ means. And I’m finished with this definition.

During the course of: ‘During’ means ‘throughout the duration or course of’. Let’s cut out the inessential.

Free gift: A gift is, or should be, free. Though I accept that some gifts are given more freely than others. But marketers can usually be relied upon to distort all language to their advantage.

Written down: If you’ve written it, you’ve taken it down. You no more need write it down than up, unless, of course, you’re using the expression in the accountants’ manner.

Final rant in this series. But there’ll be other series! 

I’m looking at the very frequent use of ‘very’, very soon.

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Yet another adventure in the land of redundant words, repetitions and guilty grammar. If you’re doing this, you should try a serious session with Fowler’s Modern English Usage!

Actual experience: An experience is something that happened. It can only be ‘actual’, unless, of course, it’s vicarious. But there’s no reason you should admit to that is there?

Advance reservations: Reservations are, by their nature, actions that occur before the event, so cut the ‘advance’, please: it’s superfluous.

Meet together: A group, whether it consists of people or things, is a coming together. I can’t imagine a situation, other than ‘virtual’ in which you could meet apart.

Completely opposite: Something opposite isn't always diametrically opposed, but the modifier is nevertheless extraneous.

Consensus of opinion: Consensus is agreement, though not necessarily about an opinion. So ‘consensus of opinion’ isn’t entirely redundant, but the qualifier is generally unnecessary.

Few in number: Few refers to a number. Using ‘number’ here is simple repetition.

Ten p.m. in the evening: The abbreviations p.m. identifies the time of day. You don’t need ‘in the evening’. Use one or the other, not both.

Possibly might: Might suggests possibility. Unless you’re using it for effect, cut the ‘might’ or the ‘possibly’.

Added bonus: A bonus is something added. In the case of a banker, it’s also undeserved, but that’s a different issue.

One more rant done with. But there will be another!

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One more venture into the land of unwarranted words, repetitions and sinful syntax. If you’re a guilty party, you’re sentence is a series of serious sessions studying Fowler’s Modern English Usage!

Advance planning: Planning, by its very nature nature, is done in advance, otherwise it’s not planning, is it? Keep ‘advance’ for your language studies.

Filled to capacity: If you fill something, you do so to capacity. No need for both words to describe this.

Join together: You know, you can’t ‘join apart’, you can, in fact, only join things, people etc., in a manner that brings them together. ‘Together’ isn’t needed.

New beginning: Something begins when it’s new. ‘New’ is superfluous.

Completely filled: See above. Something that’s filled is thoroughly so. Whilst you need a modifier if something is only partially filled, you don’t need it when the deed is completed.

Forever and ever: A dubious duplication encouraged by some fairy tales and, unbelievably, the Lord’s Prayer! If it’s forever, it can’t be for any longer, so the second ‘ever’ is redundant.

Same identical: Something that is the same is identical. Enough said.

Therapeutic treatment: Off you go to the therapist for treatment. If it isn’t therapeutic, you aren’t getting your money’s worth, are you?

Unintended mistake: A mistake is an error, a slip-up, an accident. By its nature such a thing is not intended.

Absolutely sure: Sure about something? Then you have no doubt. Certainty (or being sure) is an absolute state, so ‘absolute’ is superfluous.  

Yet another rant done with. But there will be more!

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Another adventure in the land of unwanted words, repetitions and gory grammar. If you’re guilty, the sentence is a serious session absorbing Fowler’s Modern English Usage!

Absolutely essential: Something essential is necessary. ‘Absolutely’ is an unnecessary appendage; cut it out.

Advance notice: Notices, by their nature, proclaim a future event. Once the event is done with, they become redundant, rather like the use of ‘advance’ here.

Ask a question: If you pose a question, you are seeking an answer. You can ask, or you can question; to do both is a tautology. Please chose one.

Collaborate together: Collaboration requires connection with others. You can’t collaborate alone.

False pretence: Pretence is deception; it’s already false.

Foreign imports: Imports originate in another country; their foreign nature is therefore implicit. Don’t make them feel unwelcome by repeating the fact, eh?

Protest against: Protest is opposition: simple as that, really.

Suddenly exploded: Ain’t no such animal as a slow explosion. It can’t be any more immediate than it is.

For a number of days: ‘Days’ is a plural. You can’t have 1 days, so, if you’re spending days, there must be more than one. Okay?

As for example: ‘As’ implies an example is provided; use ‘as’ or ‘for example’ or ‘e.g.’, but not together, please.

One more rant done with. But there will be more!

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