"Free vacancy", "own autobiography" and 13 more pleonasms, which it is time to throw out of the speech

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Pleonasms are called turns, words in which are repeated in meaning. "The crowd of people", "the best" - you probably met them. Such excesses only spoil speech.

I have collected a small collection of pleonasms, the use of which is more than ridiculous. Nevertheless, they can be found both in the media and in scientific articles. It's time to end this.

Let's get started.

1. Test tests

One of my favorites. The definition of "test" is not needed here: testing already involves testing something.

Replaced by: tests.

2. Service

The word "service" is a borrowing from English (service - service, provision of services), therefore "service" is a lexical redundancy.

Replaced by: service, maintenance.

3. Work colleagues

Here you can argue, saying that colleagues can be called all people of a related profession, and colleagues at work are people who work directly with you. But this is not the case. Without compromise, you need to leave out this stupid "work".

Replaced by: colleagues.

4. Distinctive features

Are the features indistinguishable? Unlikely.

Replaced by: features, distinctive features.

5. Additional options

You hear this a lot from illiterate marketers. Options and so are something complementary, concomitant.

Replaced by: options.

6. Own autobiography

Even an educated person can blurt out this. Pay attention to the root "auto" - it already carries the meaning "own, own".

Replaced by: autobiography.

7. Habitat

Let's turn to the definition. Habitat - an area of natural distribution of phenomena, animals, plants and the like. The question of using the word "habitat" disappears by itself.

Replaced by: area.

8. Address of location

If we are talking about a place of work, we will most likely need the word "address", since "place of work" usually implies the name of the company. And in the case of this phrase, "address" can be thrown away and not regretted about it.

Replaced by: location.

9. Deposit

In English, deposit means "deposit". It should be noted that the contributions are different, but this is not about that - we are executing pleonasm here.

Replaced by: deposit.

10. Free vacancy

Even reputable employers allow themselves such things that they do not paint at all. Don't be like that. By the way, let's dive into etymology: vacant already means "free".

Replaced by: vacancy.

11. Oversupply

The word "excess" itself means excessiveness, so the prefix "over-" is not necessary here at all.

Replaced by: excess.

12. National team

"Team" is a completely independent noun. No clarifications are needed.

Replaced by: team.

13. Criminal offense

Any crime (not to be confused with an offense) implies criminal liability. Don't pile up!

Replaced by: the crime.

14. A short moment

Show me a long moment and I will apologize. In the meantime, only illiterate people say so.

Replaced by: instant.

15. Pork meat (beef and so on)

What could be worse? Any name for meat suggests that we are talking about meat. And so it turns out "meat of pig meat".

Replaced by: pork, beef and so on.

Share in the comments the pleonasms that you hear and see around. I will be glad.