Redundancy is a bane that many writers fall to, especially during first drafts. The trick, for most of us, is not to avoid ever committing them. Instead, it’s more important to be able to identify these mistakes and correct them before turning your work in.
Want a blatant example of redundancy? Check out the example below:
“Apparently, it appears that…”
See how obvious we made that? Not only is it already “apparent,” but it also “appears.” Unfortunately, most redundancies in your writing aren’t likely to be that obvious, making it a much more difficult task to identify and correct the offending phrases.
The Problem With Redundancies
More than making you look like an incompetent writer, redundancies often waste readers’ time. When you catch a redundant phrase while reading, it isn’t unusual to pause and try to ascertain what it meant – it’s simply the way people respond to something that doesn’t make sense. Sometimes, you’ll even have to backtrack a few sentences before to understand that it’s just a misuse of words, instead of an important point that you failed to grasp.
Fixing Redundancies
Like we said, it’s better to catch redundancies after pulling off your first draft (same time you use your English writing software), instead of during the writing process, as it’s something that’s difficult to avoid altogether. Make sure to read your work carefully, being particularly sensitive to word meanings as you go over your text. Eventually, you’ll be able to develop a visceral sense for similar errors, which should help you use them less and less.
Tags: redundancy, redundant thoughts
