Words = 173
Redundancy: needlessly repetitive
In an effort to clarify meaning writers often add extra words. However, the effort to explain often results in redundancy. Remember, the fewer words used to convey information the greater the impact.
Here are some sneaky repeat offenders to watch for in your writing:
He presented true facts at the trial.
They were completely surrounded on all sides.
He shrugged his shoulders.
He nodded his head up and down.
She shook her head from side to side.
The skunk was in close proximity to my immediate vicinity.
It was an unexpected surprise.
Allow me to reiterate what I have said before.
He found a quick short cut to the park.
Please proceed ahead.
He designed a new innovation.
He was killed dead.
They offered a free gift.
He told the honest truth.
One can learn from past experience and past history.
After you have read this, I ask those guilty of using redundancies to please stand up.
Valerie Allen
Write, Publish, Sell!
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Valerie Allen, psychologist, author, and speaker, was bornNew Yorkand grew up inFt.Lauderdale,FL.She graduated fromFloridaAtlanticUniversitywith advanced degrees in education and mental health. She has taught students from elementary through graduate level at public and private schools, colleges, and universities. She has also been in private practice offering mental health services for over 20 years.
She is an active member of the Cape Canaveral League of American PEN Women and the Space Coast Writers Guild. She is a founding member of Authors for Authors, which creates marketing venues for authors.
She has published two novels, Suffer the Little Children and Sins of the Father and two children’s books for grades 3 to 5: Summer School for Smarties and Bad Hair, Good Hat, New Friends. She has also published a book for writers, Write, Publish, Sell! which she uses during marketing workshops for authors.
She presents writing workshops for children and adults on the art and craft of writing well. She has written many short stories. Her articles on parenting and child development have been published nationwide in educational and parenting magazines.
She can be reached at VAllenWriter@cs.com. For more information, visitwww.ValerieAllenWriter.com
Read Valerie’s previous guest post, “Sentences: It’s All in the Details”
Filed under: Guest Post, Writing Tips Tagged: author, authors, books, drama, ebooks, Fiction, how to write, novel, Online Writing, publishing, redundancies, repetition, Smarties, the art of writing, tips for authors, United States, writer, writing, writing books, writing fiction, writing non-fiction, writing tips
