>> ZG·Lingua >  >> Theoretical Linguistics >> Syntax

What is a syntactical redundance in English?

Syntactical redundancy, also known as pleonasm, is the use of unnecessary words or phrases in a sentence. It occurs when words or phrases are used that add no new information or meaning to the sentence.

Here are some examples of syntactical redundancy in English:

* "He went back home." "Home" is already implied in "back," so "back home" is redundant.

* "He was completely destroyed." The word "completely" is unnecessary because "destroyed" already implies totality.

* "The reason why is because..." The phrase "the reason why" is already synonymous with "because."

* "At this point in time..." "At this point" is already implied in "in time," so it's redundant.

Why is syntactical redundancy undesirable?

* It makes writing wordy and unnecessarily long.

* It can sound repetitive and unpolished.

* It can weaken the impact of your writing.

However, there are situations where redundancy can be used effectively:

* Emphasis: Sometimes, redundancy can be used to emphasize a point. For example, "He was completely and utterly devastated."

* Clarity: Redundancy can sometimes be used for clarity, especially when talking about complex concepts. For example, "The reason why I am here is because..."

* Informal speech: In informal speech, redundancy is more common and may not be considered a major issue.

In general, it's best to avoid syntactical redundancy in formal writing. By using concise language, you can make your writing clearer and more impactful.

Copyright © www.zgghmh.com ZG·Lingua All rights reserved.