Have you ever said that you would like to see something completely destroyed? Or maybe you have said that you would be in close proximity to someone or something. Possibly you have said that you need to circle around the block. If so, did you realize that you were using redundant expressions?
redundant expressions, www.slideshare.net
A pleonasm, or redundant expression, uses more words than necessary to get an idea across. Maybe one of your characters could have a habit of always using pleonasms.
After explaining why each expression is redundant, I will give you two sentences. The first will have the redundant expression; the second will not.
circle around, circulate around
When you circle something, you rotate or move completely around it. When you have an item that you circulate, you pass it around from place to place or from person to person.
We need to circle around the block.
We need to circle the block.
The bigger the lie, the quicker it will circulate around the neighborhood.
The bigger the lie, the quicker it will circulate through the neighborhood.
Classify It!, sciencelinks.com
classify into groups
Classify means to organize, or sort into groups or categories.
It was probably a long, tedious process to classify into groups all of the plants and animals.
It was probably a long, tedious process to classify all of the plants and animals.
close proximity
Proximity is nearness or closeness.
She didn’t realize that she had been in close proximity to the thief.
She didn’t realize that she had been in proximity to the thief.
fist, www.freestockphotos.biz
closed fist
Hmm. Have you ever seen an open fist? A fist is a hand that is tightly closed with the fingers doubling over into the palm.
A closed fist was shaken in the liar’s face.
A fist was shaken in the liar’s face.
collaborate together, combine together
When you collaborate with someone, you work together on a project.
Combine means to unite or mix.
Sara and Rebecca agreed to collaborate together on the novel.
Sara and Rebecca agreed to collaborate on the novel.
In order to make the cake, you have to combine together the ingredients.
In order to make the cake, you have to combine the ingredients.
commute back and forth
Commute means to travel back and forth.
If you move to the country, you will have to commute back and forth to work.
If you move to the country, you will have to commute to work.
U.S. Army soldiers compete in Tae Kwon Do tournament, wikimedia commons
compete with each other
When you compete with someone, you are in a contest with him/her to see who can do the best.
Jordan and Micah will compete with each other in the race.
Jordan and Micah will compete in the race.
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