Word Choice & Redundancy
📋 What it is
Editing trims words that repeat an idea already there: “free gift”, “PIN number”, “very unique”.
🗣️ Coach says
A good editor cuts the extra. “Free gift” — a gift is already free. “PIN number” — the N is already “number”. BOLT loves to double up — catch the redundant word.
🧠 Memory hook
If a word repeats an idea already there, cut it. Tight writing = strong writing.
😂 Giggle
Why did the capital letter feel important?
It always started something big!
😲 Whoa!
Writers call needless repetition "RAS syndrome" — Redundant Acronym Syndrome syndrome (yes, on purpose).
🖍️ Grade BOLT-3000's word choice for redundancy.
You're the teacher — mark BOLT-3000's work, then reveal how you did. (Grading a robot: all the skill, none of the sting.)
BOLT wrote: “At 6am in the morning we left.”
✗ Needs a fix — “6am” already means morning: “At 6am we left.” (cut “in the morning”).
"am" already means morning — the extra phrase is redundant; trim it.
🧪 Try it! (2 minutes)
Cross out the redundant word: “advance planning”, “end result”, “past history”.