By Farooq A. Kperogi, Ph.D. Read the Part I here Read the Part II here I apologize for my inability to write my column these ...
By Farooq A. Kperogi, Ph.D.
I apologize for my inability to write my column
these past weeks. I visited Nigeria and didn’t have the time to write. This
week, I continue with the series I started on December 1. I am writing this
from Nigeria, but by the time you will read this, I’ll be back to my base in
the United States.
58.
The RAS syndrome. The phrase stands for Redundant Acronym
Syndrome syndrome. The phrase intentionally repeats “syndrome” to underline the
phenomenon it describes. It is the tendency to pronounce the last letter of an
acronym along with the acronym itself, thus unintentionally saying it twice. I
wrote about this in a June 9, 2013 titled “Between
Useless and Useful Tautologies in English.”
I mentioned a
few examples in the write-up. Other examples are GOP (party) (i.e., Grand Old
Party party), PDP (party) (i.e., People’s Democratic Party party), GRE (exams),
(i.e., Graduate Records Exams exams), HIV (virus), ATM (machine) (i.e.,
Automated Teller Machine machine), PIN (number), ISBN (number), LCD (display), UPC
(code), etc. While the RAS syndrome is indefensible in writing, it is perfectly
permissible in speech because it helps the cause of clarity. For instance, in
speech, “PIN” (Personal Identification Number) can come across as “pin,” which
can mean a whole host of things, but “PIN number” leaves the interlocutor in no
doubt what is being referred to.
59.
Had done (previously). “Had done” indicates an action has
been completed in the past.
“Previously” adds nothing to that sense, so “had
done so previously” is a pointless repetition.
60.
(Harmful) injuries. Since “harmless injuries” are not even
in the realm of possibility (it isn’t an injury if it’s harmless), “harmful
injuries” is pointless verbiage. Injuries can’t be anything but harmful.
61.
(Hollow) tube. Like “empty hole” in number 37, “hollow
tube” is a useless repetition. A tube is invariably hollow.
62.
Hurry (up). Although this is a standard phrase, it
can do without “up” and convey the same meaning.
63.
(Illustrated) drawing. A drawing is an illustration by
hand. Therefore, “illustrated drawing” is superfluous verbiage.
64.
Introduced (a new). To “introduce” necessarily implies
bringing something new, so to “introduce a new” anything is redundant. A
similar tautology is “introduced (for the first time).” Introduction is always
new—and for the first time.
65.
(Knowledgeable) experts.
They are experts only because they are knowledgeable. Can you imagine an “ignorant
expert”?
66.
Lag (behind). To lag is to fall behind in movement,
progress, etc. So “lag behind” is
useless repetition since nobody ever lags forward.
67.
(Live) studio audience. “Live” means “actually
being performed at the time of hearing or viewing.” That is exactly what a
“studio audience” also means. So “live studio audience” is a useless
repetition.
68.
(Living) witness. Witnesses are always living because,
well, dead men tell no tales. But if you find a dead witness, please let me
know!
69.
Look (ahead) to the future. Where else do you look to but
ahead, especially when you talk of the future? It would be interesting if one
could “look behind” to the future.
70.
Look back (in retrospect). Both “look back” and “in
retrospect” mean the same thing: thinking of things past, remembering.
71.
(Major) breakthrough. Breakthroughs are by nature major.
If they are minor, they are not breakthroughs. A similar useless repetition is
“(major) feat.” Feats can’t be anything but major; if they are not major, they
are not feats.
72.
Manually (by hand). When something is done manually, it is
done by hand. That makes “manually by hand” a redundant phrase. It’s as
redundant as saying “electronically by computer.”
73. (Native) habitat.
A habitat is an organism’s native environment, its home ground. So “nativeness”
is an indispensable quality of the notion of a habitat. That makes the phrase
“native habitat” superfluous.
74.
(Natural) instinct. Instincts are the inborn, thus natural,
patterns of behavior or feelings we evince in response to stimuli. Since it’s
impossible to conceive of an artificial instinct, “natural instinct” is a
useless repetition.
75.
(New) beginning. Although there are occasions when “new
beginning” can be justified, as I pointed out in my June 9, 2013 article, the
phrase is often a needless linguistic excess. Most beginnings are new, so it’s
unnecessary to describe them as “new” again. Related tautologies are “(new)
construction,” “(new) innovation,” “(new) invention,” and “(new) recruit.”
76.
Nostalgia (for the past). What else can one have nostalgia
for other than the past? Nostalgia is sentimental longing for the past, so
“nostalgia for the past” is redundant.
78.
(Old) adage. Adages and proverbs are old sayings, so
it’s useless verbiage to modify them with the adjective “old.” The same is true
of “(old) custom,” “(old) tradition,” and “(old) convention.”
79.
(Oral) conversation. Conversations are always oral, although
it is legitimate to talk of written or online conversations.
80.
(Originally) created. Creation is by nature original, that
is, not copied from something else. If it is not original, it is not created,
so “originally created” is pleonastic.
81.
(Overused) cliché. A cliché is an expression that has lost
its freshness and vitality because of overuse. It is useless repetition to talk
of an “overused cliché.” Clichés are always overused.
82.
(Pair of) twins. Twins are by definition a pair.
83.
(Passing) fad. Fads are trends that last a short time.
That is also the definition of “passing” when it is used as an adjective. That
makes “passing fad” redundant.
84.
(Past) experience. Experiences are always already about
the past. So “past experience” is redundant—just like “(past) history,” “(past)
memories,” and “(past) records” are.
85.
Period (of time). Just “period” will do since a period also refers to time.
86.
(Personal) friend. It is sufficient to simply say a person
is your friend. Friendship is inherently personal, so “personal friend” is
needlessly repetitive.
87.
(Personal) opinion. Can you think of an impersonal opinion?
An opinion is essentially a personal belief or judgment. It is inevitably
personal. Therefore, “personal opinion” is a pointless waste of words.
88.
Plan (in advance). Planning is necessarily about events or
things that haven’t happened yet, so “plan in advance” is a waste of words.
89.
(Please) RSVP. RSVP is a French acronym. It stands for
“répondez s'il vous plait,” which
means “please respond.” That means “please RSVP” is a tautologic expression.
90.
Plunge (down). This is another directional tautology.
The only direction you can plunge to is down, not up.
91.
(Polar) opposites. Polar means “completely opposed,” so
“polar opposites” means “completely opposed opposites.” That’s evidently a
pointless repetition.
92.
Postpone (until later). Postpone means to put off until
later. “Until later” is unnecessary where “postpone” is mentioned.
To
be concluded next week
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