Redundancy Exercise (542)
In each sentence below, delete a superfluous word (making necessary changes to surrounding words).
Answers and Explanations
1.
Original: I assure you that it was an unintended mistake.
Correct : I assure you that it was a mistake.
A mistake can be intentional, but it’s redundant for someone stating that an action was a mistake to specify that it was unintended.
2.
Original: It is possible to augment virtual and real-world environments and to merge them together.
Correct : It is possible to augment virtual and real-world environments and to merge them.
"Together" is redundant to "merge."
3.
Original: The reason I objected is because I think she should have been consulted before any decision was made.
Correct : The reason I objected is that I think she should have been consulted before any decision was made.
"Reason" and "because" are redundant, so replace "because" with "that." Better yet, just begin the sentence "I objected because I think . . . ."
4.
Original: In addition to being an audience-wide nuisance, selfie sticks are also viewed as encouraging the unauthorized recording of the festival’s performances.
Correct : In addition to being an audience-wide nuisance, selfie sticks are viewed as encouraging the unauthorized recording of the festival’s performances.
"Also" is redundant to "in addition."
5.
Original: The crowd that had shown up for the protest was estimated at about 5,000.
Correct : The crowd that had shown up for the protest was estimated at 5,000.
An estimate is by definition an approximation, so "about" is extraneous.
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