pleonasm
/ˈpliːənæzəm/
noun
- The use of more words than are needed to express an idea; redundancy in speech or writing.
- In everyday speech, pleonasms like 'I saw it with my own eyes' are common.
- The writer's pleonasm made the essay longer but not clearer.
- Saying 'free gift' is a pleonasm because a gift is already free.
- An instance of such redundancy; a word or phrase that repeats an idea unnecessarily.
- The phrase 'advance warning' is a pleonasm since a warning is always given in advance.
- He used a pleonasm when he said 'the reason is because' instead of just 'because'.
- Teachers often point out pleonasms in student writing to encourage conciseness.
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