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What is “redundancy”?: Difference between revisions
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== Redundancy == | |||
" A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail, but that every word tells. If a writer fails to do this his paper may suffer from redundancy"(Grammar). | |||
;;Redundancy causes wordiness by: | |||
*using unneccessary repetitions, | |||
*saying the samething twice, | |||
*using unnecessary words, | |||
and | |||
*using empty clauses and phrases. | |||
== Avoiding Redundancy == | |||
;; Unneccessary Repetitions | |||
"Writers often repeat certain lines or words in their writing to captivate the reader or just for an effect; however, these repetitions may seem awkward if there is a more concise version"(Hacker,125). | |||
"If the writer can get an effect from the reader with fewer words, the writer should" (Hodges312). | |||
'''Example''' 1: | |||
''Incorrect:'' Our fifth patient, in room six, is a mentally ill patient. | |||
''Correct:'' Our fifth patient, in room six, is mentally ill. | |||
'''Example''' 2: | |||
''Incorrect:'' The best teachers help each student to become a better student both academically and emotionally. | |||
''Correct:'' The best teachers help each student grow both academically and emotionally. | |||
;; Saying the Same Thing Twice | |||
Restating a key point in different words can help the reader understand it; however, there is no need to rephrase readily understood terms. It is redundant(Hodge312).. | |||
For example the writer should not use words with the same meaning or connotation: | |||
''cooperate together'' | |||
''close proximity'' | |||
''basic essentials'' | |||
or | |||
''true fact, and etc.....'' | |||
;; Wordy Sentences | |||
"A wordy sentence is a sentence composed of unneccessary words in attempt to convey its meaning. | |||
When one word will do the job of several words in a sentence, the writer should use the one word"(OWL). | |||
'''Example''' | |||
''Incorrect:'' There well always be a person or group who will test the legislature and publish libelous statements as long as they can until they are caught. | |||
''Eliminating "there" and "be" and putting the subject and verb in their proper place will make the sentence more concise.'' | |||
''Better:'' People will always test the legislature and publish libelous statements as long as they can until they are caught. | |||
''Better, but there remains a repetition of the word "they." Get rid of the repetition.'' | |||
''Correct:'' People test the legislature by publishing libelous statements as long as they can.(OWL) | |||
;;Empty Clausing and Phrases | |||
"An empty clause is one that can be reduced to a phrase, and an empty phrase is one that can be reduced to a simply phrase or a single word (Grammar)". | |||
''Phrases to Avoid:'' | |||
in my opinion, | |||
in today's society, and etc.... | |||
== Work Cited == | |||
*Hacker, Diana. A writer's Reference. New York:Bedford/St.Martin's 2003 | |||
*Hodge, John C.. Hodges' Harbrace Handbook. 5th Edition. United States of America: Handle, a part of the Thomson Corporation. 2004 | |||
*Macon State College. Tutorial. Eliminating Wordiness.2005 <http://tutorials.maconstate.edu/owl/wp/wp40.asp> | |||
*Darling, Professor Charles.Concise Grammar. Capital Community College. <http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/concise.htm> | |||