Chapter 14

Redundancy

We are all creatures of habit. Our sayings, as well as our doings, are largely a series of habits. In some instances we are unconscious of our peculiarities and find it almost impossible to shake them off.

The following are verbatim expressions as they dropped from the lips of a young clergyman in the pulpit. They show a deeply-seated habit of repetition of thought. As he was a graduate of one of the first colleges in the land, we are the more surprised that the habit was not checked before he passed through his college and seminary courses. The expressions are here given as a caution to others to be on their guard: “Supremest and highest,” “separate and sever us,” “derision, sarcasm, and contempt,” “disobedient and disloyal and sinful,” “hold aloof from iniquity, from sin,” “necessity of being reclaimed and brought back,” “their beautiful and their elegant city,” “so abandoned and given up to evil and iniquity,” “soaked and stained with human gore and blood,” “beautiful and resplendent,” “hardened and solidified into stone and adamant,” “this arctic splendor and brilliancy,” “were being slaughtered and cut down,” “in the rapidity and the swiftness of the train,” “with all the mightiness and the splendor of his genius,” “the force and the pressure it brings to bear,” “has and possesses the power,” “lights flashed and gleamed.”

The above were all taken from a single discourse. Another peculiarity of the same speaker was his use of the preposition _between._ Instead of saying, “Between him and his father there was a perfect understanding of the matter,” he would say, “Between him and _between_ his father there was a perfect understanding of the matter.”

Young writers will find it a valuable exercise to go through a letter, essay, or other composition which they have written, with the view of ascertaining how many words they can eliminate without diminishing the force of what has been written. An article or two from the daily paper, and an occasional page from some recent work of fiction will afford further opportunity for profitable practice in pruning.

Widow woman

“And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon’s servant, whose mother’s name was Zeruah, a _widow woman,_ even he lifted up his hand against the king.”—I Kings xi, 26.

The expression is now regarded as an archaism, and not to be used in modern speech or writing. Omit _woman._

Why

Many persons have a foolish habit of beginning their answer to a question with the word _why_. In some cases it doubtless has its origin in the desire to gain time while the mind is preparing the answer, but in most instances it is merely a habit.

Some persons prefix the word _why_ to the statement of a fact or to the asking of a question. This is even worse than to employ it to introduce the answer. Restrict it to its legitimate use.

Look at here

This is one of the numerous expressions designed to call the attention of the person addressed to the speaker. It is both ungrammatical and vulgar. The omission of _at_ will render it grammatical. “_See here”_ is still better.

Look and see

_“Look and see_ if the teacher is coming.” The words _“look and” _are superfluous. “See whether the teacher is coming” is a better expression.

Recollect of

The word _of_ is superfluous in such expressions; as, “I _recollect of _crossing Lake Champlain on the ice,” “Do you _recollect of_ his paying you a compliment?”

Settle up, down

“He has _settled up_ his father’s affairs.” “He has _settled down _upon the old farm.” _Up_ and _down_ may be omitted.

“He has _settled down_ to business” is a colloquial expression which may be improved by recasting the sentence.

In so far

“He is not to blame _in so far_ as I understand the circumstances.” _“In so_ _far_ as I know he is a thoroughly honest man.” _“In so far_ as I have influence it shall be exerted in your favor.” Omit _in._

Pocket-handkerchief

The word _handkerchief_ conveys the full meaning. _Pocket _is therefore superfluous and should be omitted. If a cloth or tie for the neck is meant, call it a _neck tie_ or a _neckerchief,_ but not a _neck-handkerchief._

Have got

“I _have got_ a fine farm.” “He _has got_ four sons and three daughters.” “James _has_ _got_ a rare collection of butterflies.” In such expressions _got_ is superfluous. But, if the idea of gaining or acquiring is to be conveyed, the word _got_ may be retained; as, “I _have got_ my license,” “I _have got_ my degree,” “I _have got_ my reward.”

Off of

“Can I borrow a pencil _off_ _of_ you?” “I bought a knife _off_ _of_ him yesterday.” Such faulty expressions are very common among school children, and should be promptly checked by the teacher. The _off_ is superfluous.

“He jumped _off_ _of_ the boat.” Say, “He jumped _off_ the boat.”

The young lady appointed to sell articles at a church fair entreated her friends to “buy something _off of_ me.” She should say, “Please buy something from me,” or “Make your purchases at my table.”

For to see

“But what went ye out _for_ to see? A man clothed in soft raiment?” Matt. xi, 8. “I will try _for_ to do what you wish.” This form of expression, once very common, is now obsolete. Omit _for._

Appreciate highly

To _appreciate_ is to set a full value upon a thing. We may _value highly,_ or _prize highly,_ or _esteem_ _highly,_ but the word _highly_ when used with _appreciate_ is superfluous.

Ascend up

“With great difficulty they _ascended up_ the hill.” As they could not _ascend down_ the hill it is evident that the word _up_ is superfluous.

Been to

“Where has he _been to?”_ The sentence is not only more concise, but more elegant without the terminal _to._

Both

The sentence, “The two children _both_ resembled each other,” will be greatly improved by omitting the word _both._ So also in “These baskets are _both_ alike,” “William and I _both_ went to Cuba.”

But that

“I do not doubt _but that_ my uncle will come.” The sentence is shorter and more clear without the word _but. “_I have no idea _but that_ the crew was drowned.” Here _but_ is necessary. Without it the opposite meaning would be conveyed.

Equally as well

“James did it well, but Henry did it _equally as_ _well.” As well_ or _equally well_ should be used instead of _equally as well. _“This method will be equally _as_ efficacious.” Omit _as_.

Everywheres

“I have looked _everywheres_ for the book, and I cannot find it.” This is a vulgarism that should be avoided. Say _everywhere._

Feel like

“I feel _like_ as if I should be sick.” The word _like _is unnecessary.

Few

“There are a few persons who read well.” This sentence will be improved by saying, “Few persons read well.”

Help but be

This is an awkward expression which is improved by being reduced to the two words _help being;_ as, “I could not help being moved by his appeal.”

Kind of a

“He jumped into a _kind of a_ chaise, and hurried off to the station.” _A_ _kind of chaise_ would be better.

New beginner

“Mary plays on the piano very well for a _new beginner.”_ If she is a _beginner_ she must of necessity be _new_ to it.

Opens up

“This story _opens up_ beautifully.” The _up_ is superfluous.

Seeming paradox

The word _paradox_ alone implies all that the word _seeming _is intended to convey, hence _seeming_ is superfluous. “This was once a paradox but time now gives it proof.”

Different

“There were ten _different_ men ready to accept the offer.” As no reference to the appearance or characteristics of the men is intended, the word _different_ is unnecessary.

Rise up

“They _rose up_ early and started on their journey.” _Up_ is superfluous and should be omitted.

Sink down

“The multitude _sank down_ upon the ground.” As they could not _sink up _or in any other direction than _down,_ the latter word should be omitted.

Smell of

“Did you _smell of_ the roses?” “No; but I _smelled_ them and found them very fragrant.” “The gardener _smelt of_ them for he has been culling them all morning and his clothing is perfumed with them.” The _of_ is superfluous in such expressions as _taste of, feel of,_ and usually in _smell of._

Think for

“He is taller than you _think for.” For_ is unnecessary. “He is taller than you think” is the contracted form of “He is taller than you think he is.”

Differ among themselves

“The authorities _differed among_ themselves.” The words _among themselves_ may be omitted.

End up

“That _ends up_ the business.” Say “that _ends_ (or _closes_) the business.”

Had have

“Had I _have_ known that he was a lawyer I should have consulted him.” Omit _have._

Had ought to

“I had ought to have gone to school to-day; I hadn’t ought to have gone fishing.” Incorrect. Say, “I ought to have gone (or _I should have gone) _to school to-day; I ought not to have gone fishing.” If the second clause is not an after-thought the sentence can be still further improved by condensing it; as, “I should have gone to school to-day, and not to have gone fishing.”