Clarity & Style
Redundancy (Pleonasm)

Remove needless repetition that adds no meaning.

Last updated

What it is

The unnecessary repetition of meaning through multiple words or phrases that say the same thing. While some repetition aids comprehension, redundancy wastes time and weakens impact. Eliminating pleonasm makes communication more concise and professional.

Before & after

Before

“Redundant: "We need to completely finish the final end result of the project by the deadline date."”

After

“Concise: "We need to complete the project by the deadline."”

When you’ll use it

Time references: "10 AM in the morning" → "10 AM" (morning is implied)

Meeting language: "End result" → "result" (results are inherently final)

Project descriptions: "New innovation" → "innovation" (innovations are inherently new)

Status updates: "Past history" → "history" (history is always past)

Pro tip

Say it once, with the word that carries the meaning.

Questions & answers

3 questions

What is redundancy or pleonasm in communication?

Redundancy (pleonasm) uses unnecessarily repetitive words or phrases that express the same idea t...

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How do I identify and eliminate redundancy in my presentations?

Look for phrases where words mean the same thing, unnecessary qualifiers, or repeated concepts. E...

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What's the difference between helpful repetition and redundancy?

Helpful repetition reinforces key messages for emphasis or clarity across different contexts. Red...

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