NewsBlues mrsbgrammar Page 185
Chapter 5 Redundancies
175
"both" had an understanding, constantly "all the
time," five "different" women, "and" etc.,
"close" proximity, "old" adage
Mrs. B calls on Baltimore journalist Robyn Marks to jump right in
here today and vent her frustration.
"Redundancies and superfluous words kill me! How about these:
We both had an understanding.
He was constantly calling the Assistant Attorney General all
the time.
He used 18 different spices in our sauce.
He has fathered children by five different women."
An "understanding" is an agreement between two people, so "both"
is unnecessary.
"Constantly" means "all the time," so one or the other would have
been sufficient.
"18 spices" and "five women" get the message across just fine
without adding the redundant "different."
And here are a few more from Mrs.B's redundancy repertoire.
"Et Cetera" means "and so forth," so "AND etc." is redundant.
It's like saying, "and and so forth."
"Close proximity" is redundant since proximity means closeness.
"Old adage" is redundant since an adage is an old saying.
