If you have ever performed any of these actions, you have done business with the Department of Redundancy Department.
The Department of Redundancy Department is that fictional department that has to do with the unnecessary repetition of words or phrases, as in the examples cited above. We hear them every day, and, in fact, many of us are frequently so careless in our speech that we speak them on a regular basis. But the careful speaker of English will exercise caution in his speech, thereby avoiding these careless errors.
For the record, it is not a “PIN number,” it is a PIN. “PIN” is an acronym for “Personal Identification Number.” If it is called a “PIN number,” it becomes a Personal Identification Number number. In an act that confounds the matter even further, it is sometimes called a personal PIN number! How could there possibly be a non-personal Personal Identification Number?
ATM machine? Automatic Teller Machine machine? No, simply an “ATM” will do.
That identification number on your book? It’s an ISBN, an International Standard Book Number. So it should be referred to as the ISBN, not the ISBN number.
What kind of computer is a PC computer? A politically correct one, perhaps? It certainly isn’t a Personal Computer computer. Of course, the entire fiasco can be avoided by getting a Mac.
The virus that causes the human immune system to fail is the HIV, not the HIV virus. Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
The examples cited above belong to a division of the Department of Redundancy Department known as the RAS syndrome. RAS stands for Redundant Acronym Syndrome.
Here is an alleged redundancy that is somewhat controversial: ABS Braking System. If one accepts the conventional wisdom that the acronym stands for Anti-lock Braking System, then it certainly belongs in our department. However, there is a school of thought that says that ABS is German for antiblockiersystem. In that case, do we need to move it to another department?
Not all redundancies come from the RAS Syndrome division, however. Some of them are from the See-Saw Cliche’ section. The most prominent example of the see-saw cliche’ is the use of the phrase “each and every,” as in the sentence, “Each and every one of you will be receiving a copy of the instructions.” How can each one receive a copy if every one doesn’t? And, if every person doesn’t receive a copy, it should be obvious that each one has not received it.
Another common see-saw cliche’ is the phrase “sick and tired.” While the words sick and tired are not synonymous, they are frequently used as if they were. When one says he is “sick and tired” of something, he is simply saying that he is weary of it. Perhaps, in a few instances, a case might be made for one’s becoming physically ill. In those cases, a Latin phrase, ad nauseum, comes to mind.
Some redundancies are just in the category of average, every-day redundancies. Note some examples: Past history. All history is, by definition, past. It is very difficult to conceive of future history, although what is being done in the present, and what might be done in the future, will at some point become part of the past. It will at that time be history.
Future plans. This is a phrase often uttered by beauty pageant contestants during the interview portion of the contest. The contestant’s “future plans” usually involve some noble act of charity or kindness, or making some great contribution to the world. Just as all history is past, there can be no plans that are not future. One does not plan for the past – it’s past history.
Free gift. Is there any other kind? If it is not free, it is not a gift. One should exercise caution, however, when responding to offers of a “free gift” from the internet, a TV ad, radio commercial, or newspaper offer. These “free gifts” turn out to be neither, because they usually involve one’s paying an exorbitant amount of money for “shipping and handling.”
Added bonus. This phrase is the first cousin of the “free gift.” A bonus is, by definition, something that is added, so it becomes redundant to refer to it as an “added bonus.” Those who watch the shopping networks are exposed frequently to this phrase.
Pre-plan. How does one “pre-plan”? Isn’t planning before planning just plain planning?
End result. A result is a final consequence, so all results come at the end. Just “result” will do fine.
With au jus. Restaurants, especially the fast-food variety, will sometimes offer a French dip sandwich or roast beef “with au jus.” The phrase au jus is French for “with juice,” so the correct offer would be roast beef au jus.
New beginning. As opposed to an old one?
Tuna fish. It should go without saying, if one orders tuna, he gets fish. There is yet to be tuna steak, tuna pork, or tuna chicken.
Hot water heater. Don’t waste your money buying one of these. After all, hot water has no need of being heated. Perhaps a cold water heater would be more practical.
Here is a personal favorite this writer has often used to stump students. In asking students to identify the redundancies, he has found this redundancy to be overlooked almost universally.
Why is this a redundancy? If it were not blowing, it would not be a wind. By its very definition, wind is that which blows.
So what should one say instead? How about, “There is a wind”?
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