Write Right - Defence Academy of the United Kingdom

TautologyThey laughed happily as they collaborated together on the project.AnonTautology is the repetition of the same idea or meaning in a phrase orsentence, as in a free gift (all gifts are free), a new innovation and lonelyisolation. We tend to commit this fault when we want to be emphatic.Avoid for instance, associating most or very with such words as ideal orperfect, which are themselves the highest degree possible. Soexpressions such as exclusive monopoly or most absolute would also bewrong.Here are some examples. Redundant words are shown in brackets:The work of this branch is not limited (only) to legal matters.Only one additional (new) pilot has joined the sqn.The regiment returned (back) to its starting point.The reason is (because) there are none left.We continued (on) with our 2 (fellow) companions.The Stn Cdr is in a position of (lonely) isolation.The words in brackets can be dropped from their sentence without anyloss of sense because their meanings are contained in other words. Thiskind of tautology is not good style and you should avoid it, especially inwriting.19