Word Tip Archived Item
WORD TIP: Let’s Kill Redundancy Dead!
Redundancy, or the art of repeating oneself, has the potential to turn a serious message into silliness.
Example:
This is a true fact - our printer prints faster than the competition's.
Note: (I'm certainly glad this company is not telling false facts!)
Redundancy typically occurs because you are trying to stress a point. Usually, the word being stressed can and should stand on its own.
Example:
The company's latest software program is a new innovation that will ...
Note: If it is an innovation – it must be new!
Tip: By repeating yourself needlessly, your writing comes across as fuzzy, not well thought out and, at times, illogical. Avoid over emphasizing words that already mean what they say.
