avoiding redundancy in writing essay

8/2/2019 Avoiding Redundancy in Writing Essay

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Redundancy and Wordiness

in Writing


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Some Famous or Infamous Examples of Redundancy

"I haven't committed a crime. What I did was fail to complywith the law."

- David Dinkins, New York City Mayor, answering accusationsthat he failed to pay his taxes.

"We're going to turn this team around 360 degrees."

- Jason Kidd, upon his drafting to the Dallas Mavericks

"China is a big country, inhabited by many Chinese."

- Former French President Charles De Gaulle"I'm for abolishing and doing away with redundancy."

- J. Curtis McKay of the Wisconsin State Elections Board


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A little advice from our friend, William Strunk Jr.,

author of Elements of Style

Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence shouldcontain no unnecessary words, a paragraph nounnecessary sentences, for the same reasonthat a drawing should have no unnecessarylines and a machine no unnecessary parts.This requires not that the writer make all hissentences short, or that he avoid all detail and

treat his subjects only in outline, but that everyword tell.


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Shaking the Redundancy

Eliminate Unnecessary Adverbs

Really, Very, Quite, Extremely, Severely, Truly

John has been quite ill for a really long time.

John has been ill for a long time.
http://www.wagntrain.com/images/shaking.JPGhttp://www.wagntrain.com/images/shaking.JPG


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Eliminate or Replace Meaningless Adjectives

Good, Nice, Bad, Okay, Important, Significant

Suzy is a good teacher who makes a significantimpact on her students and faculty.

Suzy is a talented teacher who makes an impact onher students and faculty.


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Trimming the Fat

Before After

At the present time Now

Due to the fact that Because

12 midnight Midnight

In my opinion, I believe I believe


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Trimming the Fat

(Cont.)

Before After

In the event that If

In spite of the fact that Although

In the vicinity of Near

Until such time as Until


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Writing Concise Sentences

Examples:

All things considered, it seems like the new taxcut imposed by the administration will without adoubt make the wealthy wealthier and the poor

poorer. When the administrations new tax cut ispassed, the children living in poverty will be affectedthe worst.

The new tax cut imposed by the administrationwill undoubtedly make the wealthy wealthier andthe poor poorer. Consequently, children living inpoverty will be severely affected.


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Avoid Expletive Constructions

There is/are it is

There are over three thousand students attendingCollege of the Siskiyous. It is these students who

pay the salaries of the teachers.Over three thousand students attend College ofthe Siskiyous. These students pay the teachers

salaries.

Using these phrases will put your reader to


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How many times do I have to repeat myself???

Michael Jordan was the best basketballplayer ever. Jordan was slam dunk master.

Basketball star Michael Jordan was the best

basketball player ever and slam dunkmaster.

John found the job to be easy, and Jen alsothought it was simple. Mike completed the

job without difficulty too.

John, Jen, and Mike found the job to beeasy.


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The

End!

avoiding redundancy in writing essay

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