Redundancy

Redundancy

English 9

Multiple Choice

Correct the redundancy errors. Which phrase should be removed? 

In her biography about her life, she writes about overcoming poverty and fear. 

• In her biography

• about her life

• she writes

• and fear

Redundancy

Redundancy questions involve removing unnecessary words. On the ACT, you’ll encounter two types of redundancy:

1. Words that essentially repeat or unnecessarily define previous words. 

2. Awkward and useless phrases that could be omitted or condensed into fewer words.

Example #1

Wrong: Our problem is that we’re too self-aware of ourselves.

Correct: Our problem is that we’re too self-aware.

Self-Aware already implies ourselves, so we don’t need of ourselves in the sentence.

Example #2

Wrong: I once believed and had faith in the power of love.

Correct: I once believed in the power of love.

The phrase had faith repeats the same meaning as believed.

Example #3

Wrong: The reason why red pandas have ringed tails is because they are relatives of both the giant panda and the raccoon.

Correct: Red pandas have ringed tails because they are relatives of both the giant panda and the raccoon.

Correct: The reason red pandas have ringed tails is that they are relatives of both the giant panda and the raccoon.

Example #3 Cont

This specific redundancy error is very common. It has three words that essentially mean the same thing - reason, why, and because, all of which point to the cause of something. You only need one of those words.

Example #4

Wrong: After hearing the spy’s information, the general knew that an attack was imminent in the future.

Correct: After hearing the spy’s information, the general knew that an attack was imminent.

Imminent by definition means in the future.

Example #5

Wrong: It’s only on the night before the test that I wish my notes had been more clearer

Correct: It’s only on the night before the test that I wish my notes had been more clear.

It’s unnecessary to use both more and the -er ending because they convey the same thing.

Example #6

Wrong: We should evacuate the building immediately in the hypothetical event that a fire occurs.

Correct: We should evacuate the building immediately if a fire occurs.

The phrase in the hypothetical event that a fire occurs is too wordy and awkward. How much a certain phrase can be shortened can be a matter of style. Luckily for you, the answer choices will be very clear-cut on the ACT. You’ll definitely know from the answer choices when they’re testing wordiness.

Multiple Choice

Correct the redundancy in the following sentence. What should be removed? 

During high school, I sung in a trio that consisted of three people. 

• During high school

• I sung

• in a trio

• that consisted of three people

Multiple Choice

Correct the redundancy in the following sentence. What should be removed? 

Scratching the rash made it worse than before.

• No Change

• Scatching

• made it worse

• than before

Multiple Choice

Correct the redundancy in the following sentence. What should be removed? 

The plagiarist who copied the works of others was banned indefinitely from the journalism industry. 

• No Change

• who copied the works of others

• indefinitely

• than before

Multiple Choice

Correct the redundancy in the following sentence. What should be removed? 

The sisters reunited at the house where they grew up as siblings upon their father's death.  

• No Change

• at the house

• where they grew up

• as siblings

Multiple Choice

King Henry VIII is famous for his large size and his many wives, for which he is popularly known.

• No Change

• for which he is most known.

• which he is known for.

• OMIT the underlined portion and end the sentence with a period.

Multiple Choice

His most enduring legacy, however, was his separation and division of the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church.

• No Change

• his separation

• the separateness

• his splitting division

Multiple Choice

Henry was never expected to be King. His older brother Arthur was the heir and next in line to the throne.

• No Change

• the successive heir

• the heir

• the successive next in line

Multiple Choice

When Henry was 11 years old Arthur perished fatally.

• No Change

• died.

• fatally died.

• perished and died.

Multiple Choice

Arthur had recently married Catherine of Aragon, the daughter of King Ferdinand of Spain, a short time ago.

• No Change

• Spain, shortly before

• Spain.

• Spain, not long ago.

Multiple Choice

Eager to protect diplomatic relations with Spain, Henry's father betrothed his son Henry to marry Catherine when he came of age.

• No Change

• his son, Henry,

• Henry, his son,

• Henry

Multiple Choice

Henry became king, ascending to the the throne in 1509 at the young age of 17 upon his father's death.

• No Change

• king

• king, on the throne

• king to the throne

Multiple Choice

Over the years, Catherine bore him six children throughout their time together, but only one survived infancy, a daughter.

• No Change

• as time passed

• one by one

• OMIT the underlined portion

Multiple Choice

As time passed, the absence of a son increasingly worried and troubled Henry more and more, to the point that he began to fear that God was punishing him for marrying his brother's wife.

• No Change

• worried Henry more and more,

• worried Henry,

• troubled Henry more and more,