English Language Arts
Grade 8
15 min
Remove redundant words or phrases
Remove redundant words or phrases
What you'll learn
- Identify at least three common grammatical errors (e.g., incorrect pluralization, subject-verb agreement, missing apostrophes) in 8 out of 10 example sentences containing sign-related text.
- Correctly apply rules of capitalization and punctuation (periods, commas, question marks) to rewrite 5 out of 7 sentences containing errors commonly found on signs.
- Explain the importance of accurate grammar and spelling on signs in terms of clarity and effective communication in a paragraph of at least 5 sentences.
- Analyze 3 different examples of signs with errors and suggest specific revisions to improve their clarity and accuracy based on grammatical principles learned in class.
Tutorial Preview
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify common types of redundancy in written text.
Revise sentences to eliminate unnecessary words and phrases.
Distinguish between intentional repetition for emphasis and unintentional redundancy.
Apply strategies for replacing wordy expressions with more concise alternatives.
Explain the importance of conciseness for clarity and impact in writing.
Critically analyze their own writing for instances of redundancy and improve it.
Use a more precise vocabulary to avoid repetitive phrasing.
Ever read something that just seems to go on and on, repeating the same idea? 😴 Imagine how much clearer and more powerful your writing could be if every word truly counted!
In this lesson, you'll learn how to identify and eliminate redundant words and phrases...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
RedundancyThe use of words or phrases that unnecessarily repeat information or meaning that is already clear from other words in the sentence.The *final outcome* was successful. ('Outcome' already implies 'final', so 'final' is redundant.)
WordinessUsing more words than necessary to express an idea, often leading to redundancy, vagueness, or a lack of clarity.Due to the fact that she was tired, she went to bed. (Wordy; can be 'Because she was tired, she went to bed.')
PleonasmA specific type of redundancy where two or more words in a phrase have the same or very similar meaning, making one of them unnecessary.He made a *new innovation*. ('Innovation' is by definition new, so 'new' is pleonastic.)
TautologyA...
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Key Rules & Conventions
Eliminate Words That Repeat Meaning
Review sentences for words or phrases that convey the same information, and remove the less essential one.
Many common phrases contain built-in redundancy (e.g., 'past history,' 'true facts,' 'end result'). Identify the core meaning and remove the word that merely reiterates it.
Replace Wordy Phrases with Concise Alternatives
Substitute multi-word phrases or clauses with single words or shorter constructions that convey the same meaning.
Look for common wordy expressions like 'due to the fact that,' 'at this point in time,' or 'in a timely manner' and replace them with simpler, more direct equivalents like 'because,' 'now,' or 'promptly.'
Avoid Re...
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Challenging
Consider these two statements:
1. 'The final outcome was a disaster, a complete and total disaster.'
2. 'The project was a failure, and it did not succeed.'
Based on the tutorial's 'Common Pitfalls', what is the key difference between them?
A.Statement 1 is a pleonasm, while statement 2 is a tautology.
B.Statement 1 uses intentional repetition for emphasis, while statement 2 is simply redundant.
C.Statement 1 is wordy, while statement 2 is concise.
D.Statement 1 contains a redundant intensifier, while statement 2 does not.
Challenging
Read the following paragraph from a student's essay. Which sentence is the best candidate for revision to remove redundancy?
(1) The city council proposed a new plan for the park. (2) In my personal opinion, I feel that this new plan is a very good one. (3) It includes more benches and a new playground. (4) These additions will benefit the community.
A.Sentence 2
B.Sentence 1
C.Sentence 3
D.Sentence 4
Challenging
A student writes: 'The past history of the ancient civilization is fascinating.' The phrase 'past history' is redundant. Which key concept from the tutorial provides the most specific and accurate label for this error?
A.Tautology, because it repeats the idea of time.
B.Wordiness, because it uses too many words.
C.Pleonasm, because 'history' is by definition the study of the past.
D.Superfluous, because 'past' is an unnecessary adjective.
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What grade level is "Remove redundant words or phrases"?
Remove redundant words or phrases is a Grade 8 English Language Arts lesson on ExcelOS.
What will I learn in Remove redundant words or phrases?
You'll be able to: Identify at least three common grammatical errors (e.g., incorrect pluralization, subject-verb agreement, missing apostrophes) in 8 out of 10 example sentences containing sign-related text; Correctly apply rules of….
Is "Remove redundant words or phrases" free to practice?
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How many practice questions are included with Remove redundant words or phrases?
This lesson includes 25 practice questions across multiple difficulty levels, each with instant feedback and explanations.