From the department of the redundancy department: repetitious phrases to stop using
Austin Powers famously stumbled over his introduction: “Allow myself to introduce… myself.” Hilarious to be sure, but the rest of us non-comedic secret agents need to stop using a plethora of redundant phrases. Why these phrases became so commonplace is probably due to a desire for additional emphasis. That, or perhaps they’re just mistakes that stuck around?
An example: a “result” became an “end result,” which in the speaker’s mind carried more weight. It’s actually more proper to leave “result” as the outcome of a process and use “interim result” for milestone outcomes. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Here are a bunch more, but don’t think that this is an exhaustive list; add your own in the comments.
| Redundant phrase | Notes | Suggested alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Law and order | With the TV show(s) bearing this name, it's unlikely that this phrase will disappear. | Simply "law" or "order" would suffice. |
| Assault and battery | There may be a distinction between the words in the legal profession, but they mean the same thing. | "Assault" is sufficient. |
| Null and void | Computer scientists differentiate these terms, but in most cases they're the same. | Usually heard in "rendered null and void," in which case "void" is just fine. |
| Safe and sound | Commonly used and also likely to stick around. | "Safe" is just fine. |
| First and foremost | Particularly obvious in its redundancy. | "First" is sufficient, though "foremost" is a nice alternative. |
| Trials and tribulations | A galling cliché as well as being redundant. | Be aware that "tribulations" usually has Biblical connotations, so pick the one word that works best. |
| Kith and kin | An old-fashioned phrase not heard much these days. | "Kin" refers to one's friends and family; so does "kith," though it's much less common. |
| Peace and quiet | Okay, this one is so commonplace that to rail against it is useless. | Use one or the other (or just use this redundant phrase). |
| Cease and desist | Another phrase that likely has a distinct legal meaning. | "Cease" is more commonly used alone. |
| For all intents and purposes | A very common redundant phrase. | "For all intents" or "serves the same purpose" |
| Various different | As with the "end result" example, this one probably sprang from a desire for additional emphasis. | Stick with "various" or "different," not both; e.g., "various opportunities are available..." and "they offer different varieties..." |
| True fact | Facts are, by definition, true. | Just the "fact"s, ma'am. |
Remember: theres no reason to be redundant (or repetitious!) so, as Austin Powers would say: “Oh, behave!”
Related: If you liked this, check out:
- Stop and go I had an opportunity to waste some time on YouTube...
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Oh, Scott! You forgot “whether or not,” “regardless of whether or not” or the classic “irregardless of whether or not.” (No, irregardless is not a word.) In all cases, “whether” suffices.
“Fatally Murdered”
I haven’t heard this one much, thankfully. I can see it being used for comic effect, though, similar to “murder by death,” or “killed to death.”
Over and above…
Cease & desist is taken legally to mean “stop and don’t start again”. Although desist can mean “stop” if the person is doing something, it can also mean “refrain from” if the person isn’t presently doing whatever it is they shouldn’t be doing (!). Cease is obviously far less flexible. As such it is legit usage, but still cliché.
Ah, a good explanation of this term, Richard. Thank you. As with many legal terms, this one has a more specific meaning in a legal context than in everyday use.