How to Avoid Tautology
In order to avoid using tautologies, pay careful attention to the logic of what you are writing. Often beginning writers cannot see what they have written as objectively as other people and may not notice tautologies, so you have to practice reading your writing as if you were someone else. At first, you may only notice tautologies later after you have written them, but with practice you will notice them while you are writing.
- Re-read and spot tautologies
- Delete them, or
- Change them to phrases that actually add some information to the first.
Example 1
Phrase with Tautology:
Let’s begin by getting started.
“Getting started” is just defining “begin.”
Phrases without Tautology:
- Let’s begin.
- Let’s begin by getting out some paper.
Example 2
Phrase with Tautology:
In order to write well, write with all the qualities of fine writing.
Phrases without Tautology:
- In order to write well, write economically, clearly, with an ear for the music of language and use correct grammar.
- Some qualities of fine writing are the use of correct grammar and clear phrases.
Repairing a sentence with a tautology is as simple as deleting it. However, often, there was some reason that you wrote the second phrase; you meant to explain something in more detail, but instead you just repeated yourself. So, often you should replace the tautology with new detail.
When to Use Tautology
Tautologies are rarely considered necessary. Although creative repetition in songs, poetry, or comedy can emphasize a certain idea or subject, tautologies are generally uncreative and unwanted mistakes. It is important to thoughtfully remove tautologies in order to create orderly, simple, and understandable prose free of needless repetition.