Fall Campaign to Cut the Clutter: Reducing Redundancies

Today we kick off our fall campaign to cut the clutter in our writing. Let's begin with eight common redundancies and tips on how to eliminate them.

1. The problem was defused before it became an acute crisis.
   
   Crisis means "a crucial or decisive point or situation" or "a traumatic change." So don't be cute: cut acute.



2. All throughout the holiday weekend, the women talked about the candidacy and the issues it raised.
   
   Throughout means "all through" or "during every part of." We don't need all at all.



3. When adults die suddenly and unexpectedly, their deaths are usually followed by an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
   
   Autopsy means "examination of a cadaver to determine the cause of death." So let the cause of death rest in peace.



4. Laser light focused on tiny plastic spheres caused them to move toward each other and bond together.
   
   The verb bond means "to join securely." Things can't bond apart, so sever together.



5. Why do brides traditionally carry a bouquet of flowers when they are getting married?
   
   Bouquet means "a small cluster or arrangement of flowers." Toss the flowers.



6. I used to commute back and forth between Vienna, where we lived, and Munich, where my husband lives.
   
   Back and forth means "moving from one place to another and back again." Enough with the back and forth.



7. Investment in arts and culture produces other desirable benefits.
   
   You can't have an undesirable benefit ("something that promotes or enhances well-being"), so delete desirable.



8. Bond got closer to finding the man responsible for the betrayal of Vesper--the woman he loved and lost by a fatal murder.
   
   Fatal means "causing death," and murder means "the unlawful killing of one human by another." So kill fatal.

Stop back every other Friday this autumn for more tips on how to cut the clutter. In the meantime, check out 200 more examples of common redundancies.