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Pedants' corner

Two-word tautologies

239 replies

MoleAtTheCounter · 12/04/2023 11:48

Past history
Free gift
Aromatic smell
Mass exodus (a BBC favourite)

Please post more examples.

OP posts:
PedantScorner · 12/04/2023 19:59

@CarolinaInTheMorning , planning in the moment is reacting. Planning is always done before the event.

@minipie Tautology means saying the same thing twice, so “two-word” is redundant.
Tautology does not imply two words, so "two-word" is not redundant in the thread title.

ErrolTheDragon · 12/04/2023 22:42

soddingspiderseason · 12/04/2023 19:39

Accelerate faster

Jerk.
That's physics, not an insult. You can indeed accelerate faster.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth,fifth,,andsixthhderivativesoff_position

KnickerlessParsons · 12/04/2023 23:06

Has anyone mentioned "reach a crescendo" yet?

EarringsandLipstick · 12/04/2023 23:12

So many of these posts are very annoying as they indicate how little knowledge people have before swooping in with cries of tautology and the like.

But can you be a gunman and not armed.

Of course you can. You could be someone who uses guns / is a professional gunman & not armed in that instance.

The logic of adding 'armed' is provided by the context - the description is usually, sadly, used in cases of gun attacks. The addition of 'armed' is to signify the nature and threat of the attacker.

Global pandemic

Other posters got there before me - given we heard this so frequently over the last 3 years, you would think you might check out the exact meaning of pandemic first!

Planning is always done before the event.

Indeed. 'Planning ahead' however refers to a particular form of planning with a defined time period eg 'we are holding a meeting to allow us plan ahead for the next academic year'. 'Planning' alone is less determinate eg 'we are planning for the next academic year' - it can be continuous, is not time bound.

work colleague.

Nope. 'Work colleague' refers to the people I work with. I have other colleagues eg someone in another institution that I'm engaged in a research project with, and colleagues on a professional committee.

These are all colleagues, but work colleagues only refers to the ones in my workplace.

*Pre-order
*
I can see this, a little. However, bring it back to context. To pre-order is to order it ahead of the available ordering period. To 'pre order' a book, you order it in advance of publication. If you 'order' it, it's done when it's available to purchase. Similarly with food, you 'pre order' it ahead of when you expect to receive and eat it; when you order it, it's at time time you are present at the venue to re receive and eat it

I could go on for most of the examples given here!

Some of these so-called tautologies are to refine concepts.

Exactly.

EarringsandLipstick · 12/04/2023 23:15

We are approaching our final destination

Really?!

There can be other destinations which aren't final! For example on a train journey, you may have several stops. Each one of those is a destination at that point (for the train and individuals travelling there)

EarringsandLipstick · 12/04/2023 23:20

Close proximity

This is also fine!

'Proximity' relates to nearness of space, time or relationship.

'Close' is a further qualifier to confirm how near.

It's used as one of the examples in a dictionary definition.

EarringsandLipstick · 12/04/2023 23:21

KnickerlessParsons · 12/04/2023 23:06

Has anyone mentioned "reach a crescendo" yet?

This is also correct if the following definition is used (there are several):

the highest point reached in a progressive increase of intensity.

In this context, 'reached' is correct.

ErrolTheDragon · 12/04/2023 23:47

I gave the wrong link for accelerate faster, should have been this one but the other one was fun.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerk_(physics)

Friths · 12/04/2023 23:55

True fact.
Round circle.
Not a tautology but 'the reason why' bothers me too.

Fraaahnces · 13/04/2023 02:13

I saw “Avocado Guacamole” mentioned on a menu the other day. They had also misspelled both words as “Avocadoe Guacamolle” so I was twitchy. (And it had “tomatoe” in it, too.)

deedeedelmonte · 13/04/2023 03:20

gkd1234 · 12/04/2023 12:12

Naan bread

And chai tea / chai tea latte

Backinntheroom · 13/04/2023 09:12

For free
And also

Backinntheroom · 13/04/2023 09:16

Amantissima · 12/04/2023 12:51

Yes, I think this is fine, too. You can pre-order books before their publication date on Amazon, for instance. 'Order' to me implies that the object already exists and is available, whereas 'pre-order' is a slightly separate category, and may take far longer to arrive.

Understanding everyone's explanation about pre-oerder, but it remains a nails on blackboard for me!
Plus it's a relatively new concept (to we very old people!)

Backinntheroom · 13/04/2023 09:18

RoyalDeathCult · 12/04/2023 17:22

I've just read a book which used the phrase 'spherical globe'.

It was not a great book, for many reasons. That was among the least of them!

Was it written by the Flat Earth Society?

KnickerlessParsons · 13/04/2023 09:18

You can pre-order books before their publication date on Amazon

Or you can just order them before their publication date 🤷🏼‍♀️

ErrolTheDragon · 13/04/2023 09:25

I suppose an accurate terrestrial globe would be an oblate spheroid not a true sphere so very pedantically I can see a legitimate use for 'spherical globe'.

ErrolTheDragon · 13/04/2023 09:28

If you're at a bar in a theatre there will be a difference if you've just ordered your drinks or pre-ordered them. Afaik this is something that's been around for ages.

Rainallnight · 13/04/2023 09:28

Thethingswedoforlove · 12/04/2023 11:56

Global pandemic

This. Makes me itch every time I hear it.

Great thread.

anythinginapinch · 13/04/2023 09:32

Unknown stranger

StandingOvulation · 13/04/2023 09:43

I, myself, (think...)

Polar opposite

StandingOvulation · 13/04/2023 09:44

Pre-prepare

doodlejump1980 · 13/04/2023 09:49

I myself personally

Drusillagobwitch · 13/04/2023 10:14

Cardiac heart
Gastric stomach

My mother had both these ailments and could not be persuaded otherwise.

PedantScorner · 13/04/2023 10:24

Indeed. 'Planning ahead' however refers to a particular form of planning with a defined time period eg 'we are holding a meeting to allow us plan aheadfor the next academic year'. 'Planning' alone is less determinate eg 'we are planning for the next academic year' - it can be continuous, is not time bound.

@EarringsandLipstick , your argument does not hold. The ahead is redundant.

KnickerlessParsons · 13/04/2023 10:34

ErrolTheDragon · 13/04/2023 09:28

If you're at a bar in a theatre there will be a difference if you've just ordered your drinks or pre-ordered them. Afaik this is something that's been around for ages.

I don't agree. I think you should only use "pre" when you could alternatively use "post". And you can't "post order" something.