Redundant phrases: why we use them and how to avoid them

The text explores redundant phrases — expressions that repeat the same idea twice, making them unnecessarily wordy. Let’s break down the key points and provide a structured overview.

Why do we use redundant phrases?

People often use redundant phrases for several reasons:

• Habit. We repeat phrases we’ve heard countless times without questioning their logic.
• Rhythm. Some redundancies sound natural or poetic in speech.
• Clarity. We might think adding extra words makes the meaning clearer.
• Formal tone. In an attempt to sound professional or thorough, we over‑complicate our language.
• Social influence. We mimic the language we hear around us, even if it’s redundant.

While some redundancies are harmless, they can make writing feel cluttered or vague. Learning to spot and remove them helps sharpen communication.

Common redundant phrases and their fixes

Here’s a list of frequent redundancies, why they’re redundant, and how to improve them:

Forever and ever

1. Why it’s redundant: Forever already means “without end.” Adding and ever is unnecessary.

Fix: Use just forever.

Example:

1. Redundant: “I’ll love you forever and ever.”
2. Better: “I’ll love you forever.”

1. New innovations
   1. Why it’s redundant: An innovation is, by definition, something new.
   2. Fix: Drop new.
   3. Example:
      1. Redundant: “The company unveiled several new innovations.”
      2. Better: “The company unveiled several innovations.”
2. Completely annihilate
   1. Why it’s redundant: Annihilate means to destroy utterly — there’s no “partial” annihilation.
   2. Fix: Use just annihilate.
   3. Example:
      1. Redundant: “The storm completely annihilated the village.”
      2. Better: “The storm annihilated the village.”
3. Blatantly obvious
   1. Why it’s redundant: Both blatant and obvious mean “clearly visible or understood.”
   2. Fix: Choose one word: obvious or blatant.
   3. Example:
      1. Redundant: “His mistake was blatantly obvious.”
      2. Better: “His mistake was obvious.”
4. Fiction novel
   1. Why it’s redundant: A novel is a type of fictional prose.
   2. Fix: Use novel alone.
   3. Example:
      1. Redundant: “She wrote a fiction novel.”
      2. Better: “She wrote a novel.”
5. Passing fad
   1. Why it’s redundant: A fad is temporary by nature.
   2. Fix: Just say fad.
   3. Example:
      1. Redundant: “TikTok dances are just a passing fad.”
      2. Better: “TikTok dances are just a fad.”
6. Period of time
   1. Why it’s redundant: A period is a span of time.
   2. Fix: Use time or period.
   3. Example:
      1. Redundant: “We waited for a long period of time.”
      2. Better: “We waited a long time.”
7. Please RSVP
   1. Why it’s redundant: RSVP stands for the French Répondez s’il vous plaît, which means “Please respond.”
   2. Fix: Say just RSVP.
   3. Example:
      1. Redundant: “Please RSVP by Friday.”
      2. Better: “RSVP by Friday.”
8. Safe haven
   1. Why it’s redundant: A haven is a place of safety.
   2. Fix: Use haven.
   3. Example:
      1. Redundant: “The shelter was a safe haven for refugees.”
      2. Better: “The shelter was a haven for refugees.”
9. Advance warning
   1. Why it’s redundant: Warnings are always given before the event they concern.
   2. Fix: Use warning.
   3. Example:
      1. Redundant: “They issued an advance warning about the storm.”
      2. Better: “They issued a warning about the storm.”
10. Unexpected surprise
    1. Why it’s redundant: All surprises are, by definition, unexpected.
    2. Fix: Use surprise.
    3. Example:
       1. Redundant: “It was an unexpected surprise.”
       2. Better: “It was a surprise.”
11. Sudden impulse
    1. Why it’s redundant: An impulse is an involuntary, spontaneous urge.
    2. Fix: Use impulse.
    3. Example:
       1. Redundant: “He had a sudden impulse to quit his job.”
       2. Better: “He had an impulse to quit his job.”
12. End result
    1. Why it’s redundant: The result is the final outcome — it comes at the end.
    2. Fix: Use result.
    3. Example:
       1. Redundant: “The end result was disappointing.”
       2. Better: “The result was disappointing.”