Pleonasms, repetition and jargon in academic writing
The text can be grammatically correct and at the same time difficult to read because of the excess words, repetitive constructions and seemingly scientific jargon.
Key information
- ✓Remove repetitive phrases from another word.
- ✓Don't substitute a necessary term for a random synonym.
- ✓Shorten the nominal expanded structures.
- ✓Check the repetition at the level of sentence, paragraph and chapter.
Pleonasms and tautologies
Conjunctions such as "cooperate" or "continue" contain a meaningful repetition element. Not all fixed phrases are equally clear, so evaluate them in context. The important thing is to shorten the sentence without losing meaning.
Repetition of information
Authors often repeat the same purpose, definition, or outcome in adjacent paragraphs. Mark sentences that serve the same function and leave the most accurate version. The summary should be synthesized, not copied.
Jargon and nominations
The term 'specialist' is needed when it is of established relevance in the discipline.The jargon arises when complex words mask simple content.
Method of editing
Read the text in paragraphs, emphasizing the key idea and the verbs, then remove the entries that do not contain anything, combine the short repetitions, and divide the sentences that are too long.
Summary
Precision does not mean that language is poor, but that each word has a function, that the terms are used consistently, and that the reader does not have to be overwhelmed by the seeming complication of simple thoughts.
Frequently asked questions
Is every repetition a mistake?
No. Repeating a keyword may be better than an inaccurate synonym.
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