Pleonasm | Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pleonasm is the use of more words than necessary to make a point. Pleonasms often occur accidentally and are considered a stylistic fault. However, sometimes they are used deliberately to reinforce an idea.
The applicants were few in number.
I do think about you.
My grandfather was very proud of the exact replica of a samurai sword he bought.
Their visit was an unexpected surprise.
Pleonasm definition
Pleonasm is a rhetorical and literary device that refers to phrases where the meaning is expressed redundantly. It occurs when the writer or speaker uses superfluous words such that removing them would not significantly alter the meaning of the expression.
The term “pleonasm” is derived from the Greek word “pleonasmos,” meaning “excessive,” and is generally understood to mean a word or phrase that is useless or clichéd. In most writing contexts, pleonasm is regarded as a linguistic error and should be avoided as it simply adds bulk to a sentence without adding any extra content.
In some cases, pleonasm may also be used as a rhetorical strategy to add emphasis (e.g., “I heard it with my own ears”) or because the phrase is part of an idiom or established phrase (e.g., “tuna fish”). An expression that uses more words than necessary is called “pleonastic.”
Pleonasm types
There are two main types of pleonasm:
- Syntactic pleonasm, which involves grammatical redundancy. For example, the comparative adjective “more better” or the superlative adjective “bestest” are pleonastic constructions.
The reflexive pronoun “himself” is redundant because “he” already identifies the subject.
I never saw nothing like it.
This would logically mean “I saw something like it” due to the double negative.
In this case, the double negative “never” and “nothing” is used pleonastically to emphasize that the speaker has never seen anything like it, despite the literal logical contradiction.
She did warn you about it.
The auxiliary verb “did” is redundant because the sentence would still be grammatically correct without it. The use of “did” adds emphasis, which is a form of pleonasm.
- Semantic pleonasm, which involves redundant descriptions, such as “free gift” or “up north.” Acronyms can also form the basis for redundancies, as in “ATM machine” where “machine” is redundant because “ATM” stands for automated teller machine.
- Overlap occurs when two words with overlapping meanings are used together, making one of them redundant, as in end result, future plans, and exact same.
- Prolixity involves using more words than necessary to convey something, as in “The group wanted to climb up the mountain.” Here, “climb up” is redundant because “climb” already implies an upward motion.
The QuillBot Paraphraser can help you rewrite sentences to avoid pleonasms.
Pleonasm examples
We often use pleonasms in our everyday communication without realizing it.
| Pleonasm | Explanation |
|---|---|
| added bonus | A bonus is, by definition, an addition, making “added” unnecessary. |
| advance planning | Planning inherently involves preparing in advance, so “advance” does not add any new information. |
| regular routine | A routine is already regular, making the word “regular” redundant. |
| burning fire | Fire inherently burns, making the word “burning” unnecessary. |
| repeat again | To repeat means to do something again, so “again” does not add anything new. |
| close proximity | Proximity already implies closeness, so “close” is unnecessary. |
| minor detail | A detail is already a small or minor part of something, so “minor” is redundant. |
| true facts | Facts are by definition true, so “true” is redundant. |
Frequently asked questions about pleonasms
- What does “pleonastic” mean?
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The term “pleonastic” refers to expressions that contain a pleonasm or redundancy. For example, “vibrating with motion” is a pleonastic expression because “vibrating” already implies motion.
- What is the difference between pleonasm and tautology?
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Pleonasm and tautology are often used interchangeably, but some sources draw a distinction between the two:
- Pleonasm involves using unnecessary words to describe something that is already implied instead of using a single word that would have been enough. For example, “frozen ice” is a pleonasm because ice is always frozen.
- Tautology is the repetition of the same idea or meaning using synonyms. For instance, “In my opinion, I think this was a bad idea.”
In short, both pleonasm and tautology involve redundancy, and the terms are often used as synonyms. However, some sources define tautology as explicitly repeating the same meaning, while pleonasm is the broader concept of using more words than needed to convey an idea.
