Redundancy
41 flashcards covering Redundancy for the ACT English & Reading section.
Redundancy in writing occurs when you use extra words or phrases that repeat the same idea without adding new meaning, making sentences longer and less clear. For example, saying "free gift" is redundant because a gift is already free by definition. This concept is important for effective communication, as it helps create concise and precise language that gets your point across without unnecessary repetition.
On the ACT English section, redundancy questions often appear in passages where you must choose the most streamlined answer from multiple options. Common traps include selecting wordy phrases that repeat information already stated or overlooking subtle redundancies in descriptions. Focus on identifying phrases that can be shortened without changing the meaning, as the test emphasizes clear and efficient writing to improve overall flow. Always check for repeated ideas in a sentence to avoid picking the wrong choice.
Terms (41)
- 01
Redundancy
Redundancy in writing occurs when unnecessary repetition of words, ideas, or information makes a sentence wordier than needed, often reducing clarity and efficiency.
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Tautology
Tautology is a specific type of redundancy where a phrase repeats an idea in a way that adds no new meaning, such as saying 'free gift' when 'gift' already implies it's free.
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Pleonasm
Pleonasm refers to the use of more words than necessary to express an idea, like saying 'advance forward' instead of just 'advance', which redundantly emphasizes the obvious.
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Wordiness
Wordiness is the quality of using more words than required, often overlapping with redundancy, and it can make writing less concise and harder to follow on the ACT.
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Concision
Concision means expressing ideas in the fewest words possible without losing meaning, directly opposing redundancy by promoting clear and efficient language.
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Unnecessary Repetition
Unnecessary repetition involves repeating words or phrases that do not add value, such as saying 'the red color' when 'the red' would suffice, a common ACT error.
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Redundant Adjectives
Redundant adjectives are modifiers that repeat information already implied by the noun, like 'circular circle', which wastes words in ACT writing questions.
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Redundant Adverbs
Redundant adverbs modify verbs in a way that echoes the obvious, such as 'whisper quietly', where 'quietly' is implied, leading to overly wordy sentences.
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Redundant Phrases
Redundant phrases include expressions like 'past history' where 'history' already means past events, making them targets for elimination in ACT editing.
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Tautological Expressions
Tautological expressions are phrases that restate the same idea, such as 'ATM machine' where 'ATM' means automated teller machine, creating needless repetition.
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Overly Descriptive Language
Overly descriptive language becomes redundant when it piles on details that do not enhance meaning, like describing something as 'a tiny, little, small object' on the ACT.
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Repetitive Sentence Structure
Repetitive sentence structure occurs when similar phrasing is used multiple times without purpose, such as starting every sentence with 'The reason is', which ACT tests for concision.
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Eliminating Redundancy
Eliminating redundancy involves revising sentences to remove repeated words or ideas, a key skill for improving clarity in ACT English passages.
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Common Redundant Pairs
Common redundant pairs are word combinations like 'join together' or 'cooperate together', where one word implies the other, often appearing in ACT questions.
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Redundancy in Definitions
Redundancy in definitions happens when a term is explained with unnecessary synonyms, such as defining 'happy' as 'feeling joy and happiness', which ACT identifies as error.
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Contextual Redundancy
Contextual redundancy is when information is repeated because it's already clear from the surrounding text, like restating a fact immediately after mentioning it.
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Redundant Transitions
Redundant transitions are words like 'in addition, also' used excessively in the same paragraph, making writing feel bloated on the ACT.
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Identifying Redundancy
Identifying redundancy requires checking if every word adds new information; if not, it's likely unnecessary, a strategy for ACT multiple-choice questions.
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Fixing Wordy Sentences
Fixing wordy sentences means shortening them by removing redundant elements, turning 'She returned back to her home house' into 'She returned home'.
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Redundancy vs. Emphasis
Redundancy differs from emphasis, as emphasis repeats for effect while redundancy repeats without purpose, a nuance tested on the ACT.
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Subtle Redundancy
Subtle redundancy involves indirect repetition, like using synonyms unnecessarily in the same sentence, which can be trickier to spot on the ACT.
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Redundant Examples in Writing
Redundant examples in writing provide illustrations that repeat the main point without variation, making passages less engaging and more verbose.
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Concise Alternatives
Concise alternatives are shorter ways to express ideas without redundancy, such as replacing 'at this point in time' with 'now' in ACT revisions.
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Redundancy in Lists
Redundancy in lists occurs when items repeat or overlap, like listing 'apples, fruits, and apples again', which ACT questions often ask to correct.
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Avoiding Needless Words
Avoiding needless words means cutting any that don't contribute unique meaning, a fundamental practice for clear writing on the ACT.
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Redundant Qualifications
Redundant qualifications are extra descriptors that don't add value, such as 'possible potential' instead of just 'potential'.
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Structural Redundancy
Structural redundancy happens when the organization of a passage repeats ideas across sentences without progression, affecting flow on the ACT.
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Lexical Redundancy
Lexical redundancy is the repetition of words or synonyms at the vocabulary level, like saying 'sad and unhappy', which can be streamlined.
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Redundancy in Descriptions
Redundancy in descriptions piles on similar details, such as 'a big, large, enormous house' instead of 'an enormous house'.
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Purposeful Repetition
Purposeful repetition is when repetition is used intentionally for effect, unlike redundancy, and ACT tests the ability to distinguish between them.
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Redundant Appositives
Redundant appositives are phrases that rename nouns without adding information, like 'my brother, who is my sibling', which can be shortened.
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Overstatement Through Redundancy
Overstatement through redundancy exaggerates by repeating ideas, such as 'absolutely essential and vital', which ACT identifies as poor style.
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Redundancy in Introductions
Redundancy in introductions occurs when opening sentences repeat what follows, making the text feel padded and less direct.
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Streamlining Sentences
Streamlining sentences involves removing redundant elements to make them more efficient, a common ACT task for improving readability.
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Redundant Conjunctions
Redundant conjunctions are connecting words used when they're not needed, like 'and also' instead of just 'and'.
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Implied Information
Implied information is already suggested in context, so stating it again creates redundancy, which ACT questions often require recognizing.
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Redundancy in Conclusions
Redundancy in conclusions repeats main points from earlier without new insight, weakening the ending of a passage on the ACT.
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Minimalist Writing
Minimalist writing avoids redundancy by using only essential words, promoting the clarity that ACT English values.
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Echoing Words
Echoing words are terms repeated unnecessarily within a short span, such as 'The plan is planned carefully', which should be revised.
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Redundant Idioms
Redundant idioms are phrases that include extra words not needed for meaning, like 'advance warning beforehand'.
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Balanced Sentences
Balanced sentences avoid redundancy by ensuring each part adds distinct value, helping maintain the ACT's standard of effective expression.