Pleonasm - The Department of Redundancy Department

In the English language pleonasm is a rhetorical device that is a stylistic choice and a common error in speech. The title of this post is a good example. The department of redundancy department is in itself a redundant statement since the word redundant is unnecessarily repeated.

Pleonasm is the use of more words than are necessary to express an idea. 

You use pleonastic phrases every day without even realizing it. They often feel natural because they are so deeply embedded in the English language. For instance, consider the phrase I saw it with my own eyes. The phrase with my own eyes is redundant because the act of seeing inherently implies the use of your eyes. However, the addition of this phrase emphasizes your personal experience.

Here are a few more examples of pleonasm used mistakely in everyday speech ....

Free gift ~ A gift, by definition, is something given freely.

Past history ~ History is something that happened in the past.

End result ~ A result is the final outcome of a process, so the word end is unnecessary.

Unexpected surprise ~ A surprise is something unexpected.

Totally unique ~ Something is either unique or it isn't, there are no degrees of uniqueness.

Added bonus ~ A bonus is an addition, so the word added is redundant.

Completely surrounded ~ To be surrounded means you are completely encircled.

The Dangers of Using Pleonasm

While pleonasm is used for emphasis or stylistic effect, it is more often a sign of careless speech. Using pleonastic phrases makes your speech wordy, imprecise, and unprofessional.

Here are a two important reasons why it's best to avoid pleonasm.

• When you add unnecessary words, you dilute the impact of your message. 

• While many pleonasms are harmless, some lead to confusion. For example, the phrase true fact suggests that there might be such a thing as a false fact, which is a contradiction.

The goal is not to eliminate all pleonastic phrases from your vocabulary, after all, they are a part of the natural rhythm of English. However, becoming aware of them allows you to be more intentional with your language.

When you're speaking in English, take a moment to think about what you're saying! Are there words that could be removed without changing the meaning? If so, you've found a pleonasm.

By being mindful of these redundancies, you will speak English with greater clarity, precision, and impact.

If two people always agree, one of them is redundant !

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