What Are Redundancies?

These nuisances are superfluous words or phrases also known as pleonasms. Rather than augment writing, they slow action scenes and increase word count — without adding constructive details.

Remember as you attempt this quiz, that one of the meanings of redundant is “unnecessary.”

About The Quiz

This quiz, the forty-first in its series, offers ten sentences containing redundancies, and ten suggested solutions.

They are edited examples from books, news media, television shows, and overheard conversations.

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Why Frowner?

Recently, someone asked me, “What would you call someone who frowns a lot?”

It was an informal discussion with a fellow writer in a Starbucks, and I volunteered a few words; but the question stuck with me. Hence, this post.

Caution: You may find story prompts in the words that follow.

The Initial Approach

Consider why someone might frown:

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It’s Inescapable

Whether your characters are disgusted by rotten meat, a person who hasn’t bathed in months, or the results of an election; if you use the word disgusted too often, your writing will disgust readers.

This post should help you avoid the inescapable.

I wrote it in response to a request on Writers: Today It’s Your Turn to Grab the Steering Wheel.

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