176
Mrs. Bluezette's Grammar Guide
"die" drowning, drown "to death," electrocuted "to
death," murdered "to death," autopsy performed
"to determine the cause of death"
To drown is to die, so to "die drowning" or to "drown to death" is
redundant.
v
The truck crashed through the bridge railing, and the driver
drowned.
A person may be hit by lightning and be shocked and badly burned
and live to tell about it.
But a person does NOT survive electrocution.
To be electrocuted is to die.
To be "electrocuted to death" is redundant.
v
The west side woman was moving an aluminum ladder next to
the house when she bumped it into a power line and was
electrocuted.
A reader who calls himself "Illinois Newsguy" writes:
"One more redundancy for your list: `murdered to death.' Yes!
I've heard it out of the mouths of several newscasters."
Diana Roberts in Columbus complains that reporters saying this
drives her crazy:
"`An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of
death.' Now isn't that the whole reason for an autopsy???"
A simple "An autopsy will be performed" is sufficient.
