Redundancy

When you pick up a magazine and begin to read an article, at what point do you lose interest? My bet is that you put it aside when, a. you realize the subject is beyond your intellect, b. the subject is beneath your intellect, c. the subject is boring, or d. the writer has begun to repeat what you already got.

The last problem is called redundancy. On occasion, it has merit. On most occasions, however, it does not. Redundancy is a way to remind the reader of key points, insult the reader's intelligence, or bore the reader into a stupor.

There are three main types of redundancy, and you want to pare your writing of any unnecessary repetition before you lose your reader. If you are not sure whether something bears repeating, have a trusted friend read it for you. Tell them to cross out with red ink anything that seems like filler or an otherwise waste of space. In speeches or textbooks, however, these rules don't necessarily apply.

Redundancy Within Sentences

This is likely the most common and overlooked sort of redundancy. Find the unnecessary words in the following sentences.

Harry was quite bald and very superstitious. The dog raced swiftly down the soggy wet track after the heartless electronic hare.

If you read many sentences like the above two, you will fall asleep. After all, if Harry is bald and superstitious we get a clear picture; better than quite bald and very superstitious. If Harry was balding and slightly superstitious, you can give a description of his hair pattern, (if it is important), and exactly what superstitions he holds. As far as the dog goes, how many race other than swiftly? If the track is soggy, then we know it is wet, and how many electronic hares have hearts, anyway?

Better: The dog raced down the soggy track after the heartless hare.

Redundancy Within Paragraphs

Paragraphical repetition usually takes the form of a summarizing sentence, but we frequently encounter other forms. Unless you are writing a how-to book, check the last sentence of each paragraph. Does it repeat what you said at the beginning? If so, does it add a necessary emphasis? Be honest. If it isn't necessary, don't use it. If in any paragraph you find yourself at a loss for words, take care to avoid emphasizing what will only cause people to roll their eyes and think Allright, already! I know that. Example:

Dogs make ideal pets. They come when you call, fetch your paper, and are loyal to a fault. Many dogs have become famous for their loyalty by traversing continents to reunite with former masters or loved ones. Dogs are easily trained, making them useful for many services: seeing eye dogs, police dogs, watch dogs, airport security, etc. You can also easily train your dog to fetch household items, do tricks, and show off for your friends. Everyone should own a dog. They are the perfect pets for almost everyone.

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