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.

About The Quiz

This quiz, the twentieth 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.

The Answers Are in the Definitions

It’s time to take aim and target those needless redundancies.

In most cases, you should recognize the superfluous words when you scrutinize the definitions provided with each edit.

And maybe your muse will find story ideas among the changes and suggestions.

Can You Find Every Redundant Word or Phrase?

1. It was Jolene’s own personal opinion that nobody should be allowed to challenge the certification exam.
2. His proposed plan contained no allowance for contingencies.
3. The computer’s RAM memory was insufficient for her needs.
4. Voters re-elected the mayor for another term.
5. Out of ten questions, Alex got nine right and one wrong.
6. The boulders were smooth and round in shape.
7. In a damp cave, they found safe sanctuary from the raging storm.
8. After two years of being separated apart from each other, their reunion was almost as awkward as their first date.
9. A small speck of blood landed on his chin.
10. The electrician spliced the wires together.

Suggested Edits

Edit #1:  It was Jolene’s own personal opinion that nobody should be allowed to challenge the certification exam.

own: personal

personal: own; referring to, affecting, or belonging to one particular person

opinion: a view or conclusion developed in a person’s mind about a particular issue

Since the opinion was Jolene’s, it’s obvious it was her own and also that it was personal.

Alternate wording: Jolene [contended, insisted, maintained, swore] that nobody should be [authorized, encouraged, urged] to challenge the certification exam.

Maybe the type of exam should be specified. AI psychologist? Cat psychologist? Spaceflight theory? ASL (Alien as a Second Language) certification?

Edit #2: His proposed plan contained no allowance for contingencies.

plan: a proposal for accomplishing something

Alternate wording: His [pitch, proposition, recommendations, scheme] didn’t allow for [catastrophic weather events, insect invasions, nuclear contamination, pandemics].

Edit #3: The computer’s RAM memory was insufficient for her needs.

RAM: random-access memory

Alternate wording: Her [neural implant, PID (personal interface device), virtual assistant] [failed her expectations, malfunctioned every Wednesday, misbehaved during intense solar activity].

Edit #4: Voters re-elected the mayor for another term.

re-elect: elect someone for another term of office

Alternate wording: Voters re-elected the [Victorian Book Club Historian, PTA President, Space Union ECO (Earth Control Officer), Poe Fan Club Horrormonger].

Edit #5: Out of ten questions, Alex got nine right and one wrong.

If Alex got nine out of ten questions right, it’s obvious he got one wrong, right?

Alternate wording: Alex [impressed nine out of ten judges at the Galaxy’s Got Talent auditions, made a killing — actually nine out of ten — at his gang initiation, scored 90% on the chef’s exam].

Edit #6: The boulders were smooth and round in shape.

round: shaped like a circle or a ball

Alternate wording: [His eyes, The boulders, The pumpkins] were as round as [his attacker’s fists, his victim’s skull, Breanna’s butt].

Edit #7: In a damp cave, they found safe sanctuary from the raging storm.

sanctuary: a place that offers safety or refuge

refuge: safety or shelter from danger; sanctuary

Alternate wording: In a [cold root cellar, moldy cavern, ramshackle cabin], they found [protection, respite, shelter] from the [falling ash, ice storm, rainy tempest, wind-driven snow].

Edit #8: After two years of being separated apart from each other, their reunion was almost as awkward as their first date.

separated: apart; detached

Alternate wording: After two years of [dating from a distance, online conjugal visits, prison sentences in different cities], their reunion was almost as awkward as their first [encounter in the supply closet, overseas mission, flight to Kepler-1606b].

Edit #9: A small speck of blood landed on his chin.

speck: a small spot; fleck; pinpoint

Alternate wording: A speck of blood [dripped from the ceiling, flew from the knife, spun from the circular saw] and landed [in his eye, on his laser blaster, on his new silver Mercedes].

Edit #10: The electrician spliced the wires together.

splice: to join together or unite

Alternate wording: The [carjacker, handyman, intruder, prison guard] spliced the wires and [_____].

Master List of Redundancy Quizzes for Writers