Editing: Reasoning of Redundancies

Redundancy: repetition which makes wordiness
Redundant: exceeding what is needed or natural


HIDDEN REDUNDANCIES

Redundancies become sneaky problems in writing. Some hide themselves so skillfully, it makes one wonder what happened to brain cells during that writing spurt! Others stick out so obviously--at least if a writer looks for them. One that becomes hidden might be:

interactions with others

By definition, interaction means some communication or engaging with others.

Conversely, "Mary spent time talking..." needs some clarification. Was she talking with others, to others, to herself, or to no one in particular?


SOCIAL REDUNDANCIES

Some redundancies come from social programs and professional writing. For example, medicine and nursing, along with lawyers, started using: advance planning / advanced planning.

To plan means to decide "in advance." We do not plan for the past. We plan for the future, in advance of doing. Therefore, we need to change advance planning / advanced planning to = plan, planning. Writing combines many second words with "advance" to create similar problems.

advance forward
advance notice
advance warning

Each of these simply needs the second word to stand alone.

A writer could make my last sentence redundant by changing it to this: Each of these simply needs the second word to stand alone, by itself. Unless a writer wants to add emphasis, and the writing clearly needs the emphasis, be wary of linking a repetitive phrase to words with similar meaning.

RIDICULOUS REDUNDANCIES

Some redundancies sound ridiculously funny when writers realize what they wrote.

Maggie sat inside listening to a car zipping by outside.

That's clearly redundant but writers often miss it. A car can ONLY zip by OUTSIDE, unless your child has built a raceway through your apartment's hallways!

A car zipping by outside awoke Martin from his nap.

The above is still redundant (for the same reason), but it might slide by unnoticed because Martin could also be outside taking his nap. Here, I'd leave "by outside" in the sentence, unless another I inserted another clue for Martin's location.

A car zipping by awoke Martin from his nap. He rolled over toward the half-open window and looked out.

Writers must learn to control the information they give writers. Just as a writer wants readers to see, feel, smell, etc., writers also do not want their readers bogged down in repetitive description.

LEGALIZESE & COMPOUND REDUNDANCIES

Many compound repetition arises from legal wording, in which a writer (or lawyer) tries to cover every contingency. The simple fix, usually, is to pick one, whichever fits the writing and purpose best.

always and forever = pick one
and also = use either and or also but not both, etc.
and etc. = etc. OR use either and or also but not both, etc.
anything over and above this =anything more
authorize and direct = pick one


EMPHATIC REDUNDANCIES

Children read some compound forms in fairy tales, or stories where writers desired emphasis.
The king wanted each and every citizen’s loyalty.
The king wanted every citizen’s loyalty.
each and every one =each, every, all

We speak redundancies as attempts to prove our truthfulness.

John professed his undying love, affection, devotion, and connection to Joyce.

If Joyce needs that much reassurance, John has little chance in coming years!


Lastly, initialisms cause redundancies, especially when new phrases enter speech.

4WD drive - (i) Four Wheel Drive =write 4WD (or it reads “Four Wheel Drive drive”)

ATM machine = (i) Automated Teller Machine =write ATM (or it reads “Automated Teller Machine machine”)


These are only some forms of redundant writing. Others are trickier to spot, but quickly fixed.
The tickets cost only 12.00 for 4 people, or $3.00 per person.


Can you identify why these repeat?

inner feelings

imagine a picture

surrounded on all sides

written document


As you learn to "hear" redundancies when reading your own writing, you will be surprised how many you will spot. Soon, you'll notice when newscasters use them, or when newspaper editors missed them. For any writing, read each sentence critically. Have you (or the writer) said what was intended? Does a phrase stand out as silly when you re-read it?

Watch for direction - location writing.
"He looked up toward the sun" has a redundancy.

Watch for "who" after nouns and pronouns.
Joyce was a person who liked marshmallows. = Joyce liked marshmallows
He is a person who never enjoyed housecleaning. = He never enjoyed housecleaning.
*Note: Correcting "who is" constructions also rearranges passive voice to active voice.

Strive for clarity, rather than repetition!

Judith