Less is more!

Less is more!
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Do you use an abundance of redundance? An overflowing flow of superfluous surplus? Quit being so extra!

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Forever and ever

Forever and ever
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Did you ever describe someone as droning on and on (and on!) forever and ever? Or have you ever promised to love someone forever and ever? Either way, no need to add “and ever” to descriptions of forever. Daily Writing Tips recommends you avoid using the phrase, because forever is, by definition, endless. No need to extend it.

Here are 10 commonly misused words you need to stop getting wrong. 

New innovations

New innovations
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According to Oxford Dictionaries, “new” already exists within the definition of innovation – which is a new method, idea or product. So if you want to win the prize for redundancy, go ahead and describe something as a “fresh new idea innovation product method.” How innovative!

Check out these 10 old-time compliments we wish would make a comeback!

Completely annihilate

Completely annihilate
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So, when you annihilate something you cancel it out and make it void. You basically reduce it to nonexistence. You can’t annihilate something more. Your work is complete! There’s no need to add “completely.” Richard Norquist at ThoughtCo lists other redundant words that get linked with “completely” like destroyed, filled and engulfed. So completely redundant!

Things that are not redundant? These 12 synonyms that will make you a better writer. 

Blatantly obvious

Blatantly obvious
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According to Grammarist, redundancies are “word overflows.” That sounds almost poetic, in addition to being blatantly obvious, but it’s best to avoid overstatement. Blatant and obvious mean the same thing. There’s no need to descriptively modify one term with the other – unless you want a deluge of word overflow, then by all means, go for it!

Here are the grammar mistakes editors hate.

Fiction novel

Fiction novel
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Less is more. Cut the fluff. Avoid repetition. Use one word instead of two wherever possible. Editor Benjamin Dreyer advises precision in writing, and he finds the phrase “fiction novel” an appalling affront. Who wouldn’t? Fiction is not always a novel, but a novel is always a fiction – or in the case of a “fiction novel,” a prose affliction. The delete key is your friend.

Advance warning

Advance warning
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It’s not really a warning if it doesn’t occur before whatever it is you’re being warned about. The weather centres don’t give warnings about storms that have already moved on. Your dad doesn’t give you his final warning after he’s already revoked your privileges and the car keys – although he has the right! All proper warnings happen in advance.

Here are 13 of the most common idioms in the English language. 

Passing fad

Passing fad
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Fads are those hyper-popular cultural crazes like Beanie Babies, mullet hairdos and Angry Birds. Granted, you’re still snuggling your Beanie plush and rockin’ your bi-level hairstyle while launching screamy birds on your phone app. However, for most people, those behaviours have passed. Fads are by nature temporary. Like waves, fads reach to a swell, then crash upon the rocks of culture before receding from society. Don’t be a hanger-on – or add the word “passing” to “fad.” It’s already implied.

Period of time

Period of time
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According to APA style, you can avoid redundancy by eliminating unnecessary words. Despite the sense that your authority grows in relation to the number of words you deploy, in brief, less is always more. Also, time is relative (thanks, Einstein!) in addition to constantly elapsing – or occurring across a period, or flying, or crawling by. No need for “moments of time” or “periods of time,” when just the single word time will do.

Here are some of the funniest words to be added to the dictionary in the last decade. 

Please RSVP

Please RSVP
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You know you should RSVP for parties, but what do the letters stand for? Respond So Verification Promulgates? Actually, it’s a French phrase, excusez-moi. RSVP refers to “Répondez s’il vous plaît,” which translates to “respond if you please.” Adding the “please” is redundant, but it never hurts to be polite.

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