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What is “redundancy”?: Difference between revisions
→Redundancy
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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 | ;;Redundancy causes wordiness by: | ||
*using unneccessary repetitions, | |||
*unneccessary repetitions, | |||
*saying the samething twice, | *saying the samething twice, | ||
* | *using unnecessary words, | ||
and | and | ||
*empty | *using empty clauses and phrases. | ||
== Avoiding Redundancy == | == Avoiding Redundancy == | ||
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;; Unneccessary Repetitions | ;; 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). | "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 effect from the reader with fewer words, the writer should" (Hodges312). | "If the writer can get an effect from the reader with fewer words, the writer should" (Hodges312). | ||
'''Example''' 1: | '''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: | '''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 | ;; 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).. | 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: | For example the writer should not use words with the same meaning or connotation: | ||
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'''Example''' | '''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.'' | ''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.'' | ''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 | ;;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)". | "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'' | ''Phrases to Avoid:'' | ||
in my opinion, | in my opinion, | ||
in today's society, and etc.... | in today's society, and etc.... | ||