STOP WASTING WORDS! BY SAKEENAH' WRITES

Hey, guys! Welcome to another episode of "Speak Right with Sakeenah'Writes." Thank you all for being loyal and consistent audience members. 😊💙

The habit of wasting words and inappropriately using two different words that mean the same thing has become so rampant in our daily speaking and writing activities that even when we are corrected, we find it hard to believe that we are WRONG. I mean, it's already a habit, and almost everyone is, or has been a victim of this at some point in our English language journey, so what can we expect? However, whether it's a habit or a lifestyle, it has to stop!

Have you ever caught yourself saying things like "free gift" or "past experience"? If so, you might be guilty of using redundant language - expressions that contain unnecessary words that end up weighing down your message. Even the most eloquent communicators can be susceptible to this.

In today's nugget, I will be sharing with us 6 redundancies in the English language that many of us fall victim to. Let's go!

1. PAST HISTORY: Bola, stop using the word "PAST HISTORY," because whatever happened in the past is already HISTORY, and whatever is history, is already a thing of the past. No need to specify "past history." So you can either say, it's a thing of the past or it's history, NOT PAST HISTORY. PLEASE, STOP WASTING WORDS!

2. UNEXPECTED SURPRISE: Ade, what exactly do you mean when you say "It was an UNEXPECTED SURPRISE?" EEEHN, TELL ME! Ade, Bolu, and co., stop saying UNEXPECTED SURPRISE, because anything that is a surprise is automatically unexpected by definition. In summary, you can either say "It was unexpected," or "It came as a surprise," NOT "It was an unexpected surprise. STOP WASTING WORDS, PLEASE!

3. END RESULT: Ashake, yesterday, I heard you saying "If she doesn't change, then the END RESULT will be bad." Ha, ha! Stop it! Don't you know that whatever happens at the end of something is the result, and whatever is the result of something is the end of a process. So, instead of saying, "The END RESULT will be dire, say "The result or the end will be dire." SIMPLE! Ashake, I'm saying it again, STOP WASTING WORDS!

4. ADDED BONUS OR FREE GIFT: Nkechi, Zainab, all of you that will be saying "FREE GIFT FOR THE FIRST TWO PEOPLE, OR ADDED BONUS FOR THE FIRST CUSTOMER" when you are advertising your goods, don't you know that you are wasting words. There is nothing like an added bonus. BONUS is something that is ADDED, so bonus is still a bonus. And there is nothing like FREE GIFT because a gift is always free. So, stop wasting words!

5. REPEAT IT AGAIN: "Sekinah, please repeat it again." WHAT! What did you just say? There is nothing like "REPEAT IT AGAIN" in English. TO REPEAT IS TO SAY OR DO SOMETHING AGAIN, SO THERE'S NO USE ADDING AGAIN WHEN YOU ARE SAYING REPEAT. INSTEAD OF WASTING WORDS, SIMPLY SAY, "PLEASE RECAP OR REPEAT WHAT YOU SAID."

In summary, redundancies in English reduce your credibility as a speaker and may lead to misunderstandings or misinterpretations of your intended message. It can also create a negative impression on readers or potential employers who expect professionalism and proper communication skills. To improve your credibility as a writer and enhance the impact of your communication, it is important to avoid wasting words. Instead, strive for clarity, precision, and professionalism in your writing. So, every time you are about to use a word, take your time to understand it and how it is used.

© SAKEENAH' WRITES 

||Certified Content Writer||Writing Coach||Teen Coach||Motivational Speaker||Personal Growth Strategist||Skilled Communicator||

- Nigeria