Grammar checking tools can be great help, but the one I use has been driving me nuts lately. It keeps flagging an error in sentences that seem perfectly reasonable to me.
For example, if I write “her own” or “exactly the same,” it says I need to cut unnecessary words. Technically, the words “own” and “exactly” are redundant in those cases, but it doesn’t seem excessive.
What’s the problem?
I did some digging and found that the system is flagging a form of literary device called a “pleonasm.” Pleonasms are phrases that use more words than necessary, often to add emphasis or as a matter of style.
We use pleonasms all the time:
- Exact replica
- Personal friend
- Unexpected surprise
- Free gift
- Foreign imports
- Regular routine
- Past history
- Ice cold
- Burning hot fire
Grammarly’s blog says that using pleonasms isn’t inherently wrong. They only flag such phrases to help authors avoid using them too much.
What do you think?
Do redundant phrases like this bother you?
Do you even notice them?
