Language/English/Grammar/More-on-Tautology

Further Advice on Avoiding Tautology

This is a completion of the lesson on tautology.

Rearrange the sentence if necessary:

• The reason she fell down was because she tripped. (not so good)
• She fell down because she tripped.

There are other expressions that result in tautology. These include:

• Eject out
• Cope up with
• Reverse back
• Lend out
• But, however
• Past history
• Essential necessity
• Combine together
• Eventualities that would occur
• Can be able
• Should in case
• Square in shape
• Joint partnership
• Scamper about
• Appealing to the eye

Finally, avoid using words that describe something which can do without the explanation as it is inherent.

• When he woke up, he watched the sun rise from the east. (wrong)
• When he woke up, he watched the sun rise. (correct)
• When he woke up, he watched the sunrise. (correct)

Related Lessons

• POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS
• Collocations with catch
• Legitimate Ellipsis and False Ellipsis
• When use If or Whether
• Turn an Adjective into an Adverb
• In: place
• Afraid
• Positions of Reflexive Pronouns in Sentences
• Prepositions of Time
• After as an adverb