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 twenty-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.

The Answers Are in the Definitions

Redundancies multiply like rabbits. Can you cage the little critters in the following quiz?

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. He skipped over every word he didn’t understand.
2. They were surrounded on all sides by warriors brandishing spears.
3. She was tall in height — not the best candidate for stiletto heels.
4. His brother was involved in a three-way love triangle.
5. The explosion caused total destruction of all buildings within three blocks.
6. She was genuinely sincere about her desire to forget the past.
7. His lunch consisted of a tuna fish sandwich and a banana.
8. She split the apple into two equal halves.
9. The underground subway ceased operation during the unexpected emergency.
10. He completely agreed with the survey results.

Suggested Edits

Edit #1:  He skipped over every word he couldn’t understand.

skip: pass over; omit

Alternate wording: He [frowned at, looked up, mispronounced] every word he didn’t [know, like, recognize].

Edit #2: They were surrounded on all sides by warriors brandishing spears.

surround: enclose on all sides; encompass

Alternate wording: Warriors brandishing spears [besieged, encircled, threatened] the [Argentinosaurus, Earthmen’s ship, platoon].

Note the change from passive to active voice.

Edit #3: She was tall in height — not the best candidate for stiletto heels.

tall: of greater than average height

It’s common practice to refer to stiletto heels simply as stilettos.

Alternate wording: Her extreme [hammertoe, height, plantar fasciitis,] made her a poor candidate for [flip-flops, sandals, stilettos].

Edit #4: His brother was involved in a three-way love triangle.

triangle: a situation involving three people or things

Alternate wording: His brother [mixed up the names of his twin girlfriends, was charged with bigamy, dated two women at the same time, sent apology flowers to the wrong girlfriend].

Edit #5: The explosion caused total destruction of all buildings within three blocks.

destruction: eradication; extinction; obliteration

If the buildings were eradicated, obliterated, or rendered extinct, the destruction would, of course, be total.

Alternate wording: The explosion [broke the eardrums of everyone in, cracked the foundation of, knocked out the power in] all structures within three blocks.

Edit #6: She was genuinely sincere about her desire to forget the past.

genuine: sincere (referring to a person’s emotions or actions)

sincere: genuine; free of dishonesty or deceit

Alternate wording: She vowed to forget [her ex, her humiliation, her unhappy childhood, the attack].

Edit #7: His lunch consisted of a tuna fish sandwich and a banana.

tuna: a type of fish belonging to the mackerel family

Alternate wording: He [devoured, picked at, turned down] [fried frog legs with chocolate-covered ants, Kepler roots with toasted granotte toes, shark fin soup flavored with mermaid scales] for lunch.

Edit #8: She split the apple into two equal halves.

half: one of two equal parts of something

Alternate wording: She [chopped, cleaved, hacked] the apple, and then [the gardener, the huckster, the pool boy, the table] into halves.

Edit #9: The underground subway ceased operation during the unexpected emergency.

subway: an underground railway system

emergency: a serious, unexpected situation that requires quick action

Alternate wording: The [air cars, taxis, wagon train] [holed up, sought refuge, took cover] during [the dust storm, the Marsquake, the tornado].

Edit #10: He completely agreed with the survey results.

agree: have the same opinion as someone or something else

same: identical; not different

If a person has the same opinion as someone or something else, it would be complete agreement.

Alternate wording: He [abided by, accepted, went along with] the [analysis, public sentiment, scientific community].

Master List of Redundancy Quizzes for Writers