Avoiding Repetition & Redundancy in Summaries

What is Repetition and Redundancy?

Repetition is when the same word or idea is unnecessarily repeated in writing. Redundancy occurs when extra words are used that do not add value to the sentence.

For example:

• Repetition: "The car was fast, and the fast car won the race."
• Redundancy: "The car was fast in speed." ("in speed" is redundant)

Why Avoid Repetition and Redundancy?

• Clarity: Makes your writing clearer and more concise.
• Engagement: Keeps the reader interested by avoiding unnecessary words.
• Professionalism: Demonstrates good writing skills.

Tips to Avoid Repetition and Redundancy

1. Use Synonyms: Replace repeated words with synonyms to add variety.
2. Be Concise: Remove unnecessary words that do not add meaning.
3. Use Pronouns: Use pronouns to avoid repeating the same nouns.
4. Read Aloud: Reading your work aloud can help you spot repetition and redundancy.

Examples

Example 1: Repetitive Sentence

Original: "The teacher explained the lesson, and then the teacher gave us homework."

Improved: "The teacher explained the lesson and then gave us homework."

Example 2: Redundant Sentence

Original: "He returned back to the starting point."

Improved: "He returned to the starting point."