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-seventh 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 block those useless redundancies and declare checkmate.

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. The eclipse of the third moon happened on a yearly basis.
2. The sheep returned back to the fold.
3. They were fine where they were at, at least for the moment, but they knew they would have to relocate again to a new place when winter came.
4. The struggles they continue to face right now will make them stronger.
5. As an eight-year-old kid, he won his first chess championship.
6. It will take decades to rebuild the cities again.
7. Huge fines were meted out as punishment for their flagrant disregard of the masking recommendations.
8. Several tasty tidbits caused her to salivate, but she refused to go off her diet.
9. The semi shrank to diminutive toy-like proportions as it disappeared into the distance.
10. They clapped their hands together and stomped their feet.

Suggested Edits

Edit #1: The eclipse of the third moon happened on a yearly basis.

yearly: once a year; every year

You might prefer: The eclipse of the third moon happened every year.

Alternate wording: The [banishment, dematerialization, disappearance] of the [celestial orb, light in the sky, radiant glow] happened [whenever the wizard appeared, once daily, when the gods were angry].

Edit #2: The sheep returned back to the fold.

return: to go back or come back

Alternate wording: The [lemmings, lions, deer] [burrowed into the snow, returned to their thicket, slept with their noses tucked under their hind legs].

Edit #3: They were fine where they were at, at least for the moment, but they knew they would have to relocate again to a new place when winter came.

Does the sentence still mean the same thing without at? Then do you need it? Ditto for knew they. Context should make it clear that characters know something.

relocate: to move to a new place; to locate again

Alternate wording: They were [protected, safe, secure] at least for now, but they would have to [find a new cave, move south, build a warmer cabin] when [winter winds arrived, the sun disappeared, snow filled the valley].

Edit #4: The struggles they continue to face right now will make them stronger.

continue: to proceed without interruption

continuous: uninterrupted

Is continue to necessary? Read the following sentence to see if it makes sense: The struggles they face will make them stronger.

Alternate wording: The [adversities, ordeals, trials] they [conquer, encounter, confront] will [harden, strengthen, toughen] them.

Edit #5: As an eight-year-old kid, he won his first chess championship.

kid: a child or young person

If the person is eight years old, he is by definition a kid.

Alternate wording: While he [was in Grade 3, attended Junior Wizardry School, attended Space Cadets in Training] he won his first [spelling bee, magic wand, laser saber].

Edit #6: It will take decades to rebuild the cities again.

rebuild: to build something again after it has been destroyed or damaged

Alternate wording: It will [require 10,000 slaves, take eons, take at least three seasons] to [rebuild the dinosaur habitat, restore the planet’s atmosphere, reconstruct the dams].

Edit #7: Huge fines were meted out as punishment for their flagrant disregard of the masking recommendations.

mete: dispense or give out punishment

Many editors would recommend deletion of flagrant as well.

Alternate wording: Huge [sentences, sanctions, restrictions] were [ordered, decreed, announced] for their [disobedience to the Grand Master, disdain of the boundaries, nonpayment of protection tariffs].

Edit #8: Several tasty tidbits caused her to salivate, but she refused to go off her diet.

tidbit: a small bit of tasty food

Although tidbit refers to tasty food, you might want to describe scent instead of taste with adjectives such as aromatic or sweet-smelling.

Alternate wording: The [diamond cache, blood gelatin, chocolate pie] caused her to [drool, froth at the mouth, slobber], but she refused to [yield to temptation, succumb to her primal desires, gorge again].

Edit #9: The semi shrank to diminutive toy-like proportions as it disappeared into the distance.

diminutive: tiny, toy-like

Alternate wording: The [tornado, Yeti, spaceship] shrank to [a sprite-sized whirlwind, leprechaunish height, the size of a firefly] as it [twisted, loped, sped] into the distance.

Edit #10: They clapped their hands together and stomped their feet.

clap: to strike one’s palms together repeatedly, especially to indicate approval

stomp: to thud the feet heavily and noisily

Alternate wording: They [whistled and cheered, applauded and waved, laughed and jumped].

Master List of Redundancy Quizzes for Writers