Have you ever heard someone say, “It’s a free gift” or “Let’s all join together”? If you think about it, a gift is always free, and when people join, they do it together. These are examples of tautology – a fancy word for saying the same thing twice in different ways!Tautology happens when extra words repeat an idea that has already been said. Sometimes, we use it without realising. Imagine your teacher saying, “Please rewrite this again.” The word "rewrite" already means to do it again, so the word "again" isn’t really needed!Tautologies can be accidental, but sometimes, they are used on purpose. In poems, stories, and speeches, writers may use repetition for emphasis. Think about the phrase, “I saw it with my own eyes.” The words “with my own eyes” are unnecessary, but they add strength to the statement. It makes it sound more dramatic, as if the person really wants to prove they saw something!Some tautologies come from everyday expressions that people have been using for years. Phrases like “end result,” “unexpected surprise,” or “past history” all contain unnecessary words, but we still hear them often. Have you ever said, “I woke up at 6 AM in the morning”? The “AM” already tells us it’s morning, so the phrase could just be “6 AM” or “6 in the morning.”So, should we avoid tautology? Not always! While it’s good to be clear and avoid extra words in writing, tautologies can sometimes make speech more expressive. But if you want to sound precise, you can cut out the unnecessary parts and make your sentences stronger.Next time you hear someone say, “Let’s plan ahead for the future,” you’ll know they’re using tautology. And if you catch yourself saying one, don’t worry—it’s a mistake we all make again and again… and again!10 examples of tautology in sentencesThe ATM machine is out of order. (ATM already stands for Automated Teller Machine, so "machine" is redundant.)Let’s meet at 12 noon. (Noon always means 12 PM, so “12” isn’t needed.)He made a false lie. (A lie is always false, so "false" is extra.)I heard it with my own ears. (You can only hear with your ears, so “own ears” is unnecessary.)This is an absolutely essential rule. (If something is essential, it’s already important, so "absolutely" adds nothing new.)She entered into the room. ("Entered" already means going inside, so "into" is repetitive.)The reason why he left is unclear. (The word “reason” already explains why, so “why” is extra.)This is a new innovation. (All innovations are new, so "new" is not needed.)The final outcome of the match was surprising. (An outcome is always final, so “final” is repetitive.)He repeated the same mistake again. ("Repeated" already means doing it again, so "again" is unnecessary.)
