by Tamela Hancock Murray
We all say them occasionally but should avoid redundancies in writing. I still see redundancies in query letters, and sometimes even in published novels — and I don’t mean an endearing speech marker a writer has bestowed upon a character. Here are just a few:
tiny little
add up
very unique
nodded his head
fiction novel
advance warning
close proximity
safe haven
hurry up
lag behind
nape of her neck
compete with each other
write down
Your turn:
What redundancies have you seen lately?
Do you use any you are trying to avoid?
Redundant, yes, but many of those you mentioned are part of our language. I suppose you are saying they shouldn’t be. Sometimes we use them for emphasis. Sometimes we use them because they remove emphasis. Sometimes they help the flow of a sentence. And yes, sometimes they are of no value at all.
Also, “compete with each other” is not redundant. Two people who are competing may be competing with other people, but not each other.
“Write down” is redundant, and yet, it means something different than “write.” You would never hear someone say, for example, “I’m going to write down a novel.” You would hear someone say, “I’m going to write down your phone number.”
Boiling hot
Freezing cold
Bright sunshine
Rock hard
Pillow soft
Slimy lawyer- KIDDING! I know plenty of lovely, wonderful lawyers who are fantastic people and do their job with integrity.
This will be a fun post…
I have no time to add my own redundancies because I am now scurrying to my manuscript to search for redundancies. Oh, my. Thanks for the reminder.
Past history!
“Fiction novel” drives me crazy! I want to shake every person who says it. Last time I checked there was no such thing as a non-fiction novel.
Again, Tamela, I love the picture. It’s wonderful when a blog post makes you smile. I never thought of “nape of her neck” as redundant, but Google defines nape as “the back of a person’s neck.” As the cliche goes, you learn something new every day. I know, I know – cliches are as bad as redundancies! Thanks for a great post.
Irregardless
Sit down.
Oh dear! Ten minutes ago I used “lag behind!”
Guilty. Really quite guilty.
Blessings,
Becky
What excellent examples! Y’all made me smile! (I decided not to post what would be a redundant smiley).
Oh, I can’t resist!
I love that picture!
whispered softly
added bonus
plan ahead
enter in
I scored scored admirably on avoiding the first list of redundancies, but not so well with these four. Ouch!
“Stand up” is stronger as “stand.” He stood up to show his respect. He stood to show his respect. Rhythmically it’s better, too.
As someone from the north woods, I might object to “freezing cold,” though. We know 40 degrees is cold, or in our way of thinking, mild! But anything below zero is “freezing cold” in these parts.
Higher up=higher
Descended down the stairs=descended the stairs
Locked up=locked
Reminds me of the redundancy of my childhood station wagon days when we kids begged to sit in the way very back!
Yeah, I am trying to get rid of words like: “very”, “really”, “a little”, and “kind of”. If your’e going to say it, just say it and get it over with. I am obviously still having trouble with redundancy!
Yeah, I am trying to get rid of words like: “very”, “really”, “a little”, and “kind of”. If your’e going to say it, just say it and get it over with. I am obviously still having trouble with redundancy!