Tautology is a rhetorical or logical redundancy where a statement unnecessarily repeats an idea, offering no new information. It occurs in language when different words or phrases convey the same meaning, resulting in a lack of clarity or conciseness. tautology is often criticized in writing and speech as it can waste time and dilute the effectiveness of communication.
Tautology meaning with examples
- In a persuasive essay, saying 'the end result is that we will succeed' is a tautology since 'end result' and 'succeed' inherently convey completion. This redundancy might confuse readers rather than persuade them toward the argument's main point.
- During a team meeting, a member stated, 'We've made significant progress and advancements on this project.' This expression represented a tautology, as 'progress' and 'advancements' essentially refer to the same concept, leading to unnecessary wordiness.
- When describing his morning routine, John remarked, 'I woke up in the morning.' This phrasing is a tautology since waking up inherently implies morning, and it could simply be stated as 'I woke up' for clearer communication.
- The phrase 'free gift' is an example of tautology because a gift, by definition, is something given without expecting anything in return. Using 'free' is redundant and does not enhance the meaning of the term.
- In a televised debate, one candidate stated, 'It is what it is.' This expression is a tautology as it lacks substantive content, merely reiterating the same idea without offering any further insight into the topic being discussed.