Wordiness and Redundancy

Wordiness and Redundancy

English I

What does Wordiness mean

• Using more words than necessary within a sentence, especially short, vague words that do not add much meaning.

• Words that if removed (or replaced with shorter alternative) convey the same meaning.

Example:

• All of the students who are new to this school are required to attend a meeting that has been scheduled for Friday the 22nd of September.

• New students are required to attend a meeting on Friday, September 22.

What does Redundancy mean

•  being repetitive without adding meaning

  
  

Examples:

• True facts

• Free gift

• ATM machine

• Repeat again

• Past history

Multiple Choice

Which word or phrase should be deleted?
The little people in her diorama are made out of clay

• little

• are made

• out

• of

Multiple Choice

What word or phrase should be deleted?
Becky was late getting home because of a terrible tragedy at work.

• tragedy

• terrible

• at work

• getting

Multiple Choice

Which word or phrase should be deleted?
Everyone who attends the grand opening celebration will receive a free gift

• attends

• free

• gift

• grand

Multiple Choice

Which word or phrase should be deleted?
 In my personal opinion, the lines at the Post Office have grown too long.

• personal

• opinion

• my

• too long

Multiple Choice

Which word or phrase should be deleted?
The rally attendance was estimated at about one thousand.

• attendance

• was

• estimated

• about

Multiple Choice

Which word or phrase should be deleted?

Mother has to descend down the basement stairs to do the family laundry.

• descend

• down

• to do

• has too

Multiple Choice

Which word or phrase should be deleted?

Because of their past memories of Fido, the children cried when he was hurt.

• cried

• euthanized

• memories

• past

Multiple Choice

Which word or phrase should be deleted?
Timmy said the UFO he spotted was oblong in shape.

• spotted

• oblong

• in shape

• he

Multiple Choice

He also began to calculate annual tables of yearly sets of astronomical data, which became the basis for almanacs published under his name from 1792 through 1797.

• A. NO CHANGE

• B. covering a year's worth

• C. about twelve months

• D. OMIT the underlined portion

Multiple Choice

I think maybe I might possibly have met them all.

• A. NO CHANGE

• B. I've

• C. I've possibly

• D. perhaps I've

Multiple Choice

Over many weeks, as time goes by, her collection slowly grows: clay bowls, cups, vases, and sculptures fill the studio.

• A. NO CHANGE

• B. with the passing of time,

• C. gradually,

• D. OMIT the underlined portion

Multiple Choice

She worked for thirty years as a teacher and librarian in the field of education in Baltimore public schools.

Which of the following words or phrases from the preceding sentence is LEAST necessary and could therefore be deleted?

• A. in the field of education

• B. and librarian

• C. thirty

• D. Baltimore public

Multiple Choice

He then wrote an enthusiastic article for Strand Magazine, being the place in which most of his Sherlock Holmes stories had first appeared, and later wrote a book on the subject titled The Coming of the Fairies.

• A. NO CHANGE

• B. in which

• C. in which the magazine where

• D. being where

Multiple Choice

Today, Smith's repertoire is so vast that she could speak consecutively for twelve hours straight without running out of material.

• A. NO CHANGE

• B. continuously nonstop

• C. perpetually

• D. OMIT the underlined portion

Multiple Choice

In the next two weeks of time in the future, Tarica will be receiving a check for the legal work she performed for her client.

• A. NO CHANGE

• B. In the next two weeks of time in the future;

• C. In the next two weeks,

• D. OMIT the underlined portion

Multiple Choice

The teacher became increasingly frustrated with the rowdy student who acted in a wild, disorderly manner.

• A. NO CHANGE

• B. who acted wildly.

• C. whom acted wildly.

• D. OMIT the underlined portion

Multiple Choice

Lauren was spending so many hours at her job at the zoo that her leisure time was minimal and not abundant at all.

• A. NO CHANGE

• B. minimal.

• C. at a minimum.

• D. minimal and not abundant.

Multiple Choice

George, after thirty years of work in the automotive industry, was thoroughly overjoyed to retire and no longer have to go to his job.

• A. NO CHANGE

• B. and no longer have to work.

• C. but no longer have to go to his job.

• D. OMIT the underlined portion