Some words and phrases are in themselves unnecessarily superfluous and redundantly otiose:
actually
anywhere (the biggest population of Koreans
anywhere in Europe”
both
by contrast
each
ever
first created, first began
for example
for the first time
ever
in total
in turn
just
key
may
well
only
real (there’s a
real risk of humanitarian disaster)
right up to the present day
very (the
very thing that…, the very man who…)
whatsoever (bear no relation
whatsoever)
yet (it isn’t ready
yet)
Ivana Lowell ruins Oscar Wilde's definition of fox-hunting: “The unspeakable in
full pursuit of the unspeakable.” And you cut to the chase (in an old silent movie), you don't cut
straight to the chase. The graffiti read MY KARMA HAS RUN OVER MY DOGMA, not Help! My karma has just run over my dogma!
People can usually work out for themselves whether numbers are big or small:
a good 22 years ago
a
massive 60%
a total of three
as many as 1 million
as much as 99mm
for two
full months
fully half
in all, eight carriages were set on fire
just 2.5,
just ten minutes from the city centre
no fewer than 100
Ditch repetitive phrases like
transformational change/new innovation/worldwide global firm, says @goodcopybadcopy
And don't add an adjective or adverb that adds nothing:
sworn enemy,
implacable foe (Amanda Foreman's
A World on Fire: An Epic History of Two Nations Divided
)
awarded the
prestigious prize
he
arrogantly refused to relinquish power (It would have been so much nicer if he'd done it humbly.)
Despite
persistent denials to the contrary
(This is why grammar catastrophisers say “Don’t use adverbs or adjectives!”)
13
different sizes (if two of them were the same as each other, you’d only have 12 sizes etc etc)
a
deadly battle
in which 1,000 were killed
added bonus
Argentina calls UK “a
crude colonial power” for hanging on to the Falklands. (We like to think we’re a refined colonial power.)
at a
decisive crossroads
back in the 80s (we can work out that the 80s aren’t in the future)
bitter/brutal/bloody conflicts – give the detail
continue
on
continued
all along
could
eventually end up
devastating floods that left 1,000 acres of farmland unusable (If you’re going to detail the devastation, no need to say “devastating”. Always better to give detail.)
down to the sea
below
equally as
excise
out
fictitious story
forward planning
from this moment
on
fully insulated
hailed as a
significant milestone
hang
down
hollow charade
horrible tragedy Tony Blair on the Middle East “the horrible tragedy is that innocents die”
it was an act of
gratuitous violence
that was totally unnecessary (Vicar on Crimewatch Roadshow June 30, 2011) We’re seeing more objects taken from
religious churches. (Art squad spokesman, ditto)
parachuting
down
phenomenal tragedy (of sex abuse in the Catholic church, Catholic commentator on the weekend of the Pope’s visit)
pithy bon mot
return
back
reverse
back
revert
back
sink down
synchronise
together
terrible havoc
dysfunctional disaster: the country “seemed like a
dysfunctional disaster about to collapse”
the
lamentable weakness of the (criminal justice system)
the reason
why
their first collaboration
together
throughout the whole day
tricky dilemma
two
separate groups
upward ascent
appalling poisoned chalice We mustn’t leave behind for our children “an appalling poisoned chalice”. Prince Charles Times Sep 12 10
while
also
More
here.
More panic about picking up Americanisms. The shame! More painful than root canal! (I don't think.)
