The first time I read the word “tautology”, I thought that because of the suffix “logy” it meant the study of something. However, in the realm of language, tautology is not considered the study of anything more than the analysis of an element of writing. Specifically, the unnecessary repetition of a word. Not that I can improve the definition of the three dictionaries that I use as a reference, but I think that tautology is easier to understand if it refers to the modification of a word with a word that implies the same thing.

The all-time classic is a phrase we hear every day

“It’s exactly the same” is the most obvious case of tautology to which we are routinely exposed. Can there be the slightest difference between “equal” and “exact” in any context? Is there something wrong with saying “It’s the same” when talking about something that is identical? However, those who write texts, for newscasters in particular, seem to enjoy telling us that something is exactly the same at every opportunity. Or is it the exact opposite, as if “exact” did something plus opposite.

Tautology comes in many forms

Many people have written in their drafts that they send me to edit that a character has looked up at the sky or at the ground. Unless someone is an astronaut, is it possible to look up at the sky? How about on the ground? Like looking up at the sky, it is possible to create a scenario where a person would look down at the ground, but it takes some work.

Tautology also infiltrates our rhetoric in subtle ways

An example that I noticed in a dictionary was “widowed woman.” But what about the following examples: hurtful wound, unhappy frown, malicious mockery, happy smile, joyous glee, and black darkness?

However, if a connotation that goes beyond the obvious accepted implication of hurt, scowl, mockery, smile, joy, and darkness is desired, it is of course acceptable, if not desirable, to modify each noun. Slight injury, frown, strong mockery, brief smile, mild glee, and eerie darkness are paired with greater meaning because of the modifier.

Tautology is not limited to nouns

I recently read a line enlarging a photograph. Could it be expanded in another way? The same thing that dropped smaller or fell off. Yes, theoretically someone can fall down the stairs, but this is certainly not common enough to be accepted as an idiom.

Ask yourself, am I saying the same thing?

Variety keeps a narrative fresh and begins by making sure we add to the meaning of the nouns and verbs we modify. When a writer pays attention to tautology, I have generally found this author just as introspective in analyzing core thoughts and making sure these themes are not overly justified by the text that follows.

What if I don’t say the same?

One final comment, and it involves making sure something is really tautological. Some time ago I was criticized for using the couplet “much more.” One scholarly fellow mentioned that an instructor of his in elementary school, no less, said that this phrase was redundant and therefore superfluous. I respected his comment and congratulated him on his good luck in having such an accurate teacher who is willing to share such good advice with such young children. But I ask anyone reading this article, would you rather have more on your paycheck next week, or would you rather have a lot more?