avoid repetition

USAGE SUMMARY

"avoid repetition" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to remind yourself or others to be mindful of repeating words, ideas, or phrases in writing. For example, "Be sure to avoid repetition when writing your essay; try to use a variety of words and ideas to keep your readers engaged."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It must get harder to avoid repetition.

The Guardian - Books

Cards could be laminated to avoid repetition of this time-consuming step.

University of California, Berkeley

They were extensively used in Roman times by lawyers to avoid repetition of technical terms and formulas.

Britannica

When he comes to his German academic, Professor Siegfried von Turpitz, Lodge does not so easily avoid repetition.

The Guardian - Books

And, whereas on the exam you're supposed to avoid repetition and eliminate details, it's precisely those details that literature investigates.

The New Yorker

To make matters worse, many states eliminated their eighth-grade American history course in order to avoid repetition.

The New York Times - Magazine

Almost without exception, states have granted injured parties compensation and undertaken legislative, administrative and judicial measures to avoid repetition of violations identified by the court.

Columbia University

Paragraph (a) is added only to avoid repetition of the phrase "invention or discovery" and its derivatives throughout the revised title.

Cornell University

The bill grew from a bipartisan desire to avoid repetition of the confusion and irregularities that bedeviled the presidential election of 2000.

The New York Times

Her determination to maintain forward motion, to avoid repetition without losing her thread, has an aura of extreme, almost monastic dedication similar to that of Jasper Johns.

The New York Times - Arts

II.A newsroom-wide corrections tracking system should be set up to detect patterns of errors and take action to avoid repetition.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, use synonyms and varied sentence structures to "avoid repetition" and maintain reader engagement.

Common error

While using a thesaurus can help "avoid repetition", don't blindly substitute words. Ensure the synonym accurately reflects your intended meaning to maintain clarity and avoid awkward phrasing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "avoid repetition" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing purpose. It is used to indicate the reason or goal behind an action, as demonstrated by Ludwig in its examples, such as '...many states eliminated their eighth-grade American history course in order to "avoid repetition"...'

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "avoid repetition" is a common and grammatically sound piece of advice, urging writers and speakers to maintain clarity and engagement by varying their language and ideas. As Ludwig AI points out, it serves as a directive to prevent redundancy in various contexts, from academic writing to daily communication. To effectively "avoid repetition", consider using synonyms, rephrasing ideas, and diversifying your content. While a thesaurus can be a helpful tool, it’s crucial to ensure that any substitutions accurately reflect your intended meaning. By implementing these strategies, you can ensure your message is both clear and engaging.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

use different wording

Suggests changing the words used to express something in order not to be repetitive.

rephrase statements

Implies rewording something that has already been said to avoid direct repetition.

eliminate redundancy

Targets the removal of unnecessary duplication, closely related to avoiding repetition in writing or speech.

vary phrasing

Emphasizes the use of different phrasing techniques to prevent sounding repetitive.

prevent recurrence

Focuses on stopping something from happening again, similar to avoiding repetition of errors or issues.

circumvent duplication

Implies finding a way around or avoiding a situation where something is copied or repeated.

ensure originality

Shifts the focus to creating something new and unique, which inherently avoids repeating existing ideas.

maintain variety

Highlights the importance of keeping things diverse and different, naturally avoiding repetition.

diversify content

Specifically related to varying the content to prevent it from being repetitive.

introduce variations

Focuses on adding different elements or aspects to avoid monotony and repetition.

FAQs

How can I "avoid repetition" in my writing?

Use a variety of synonyms, rephrase ideas in different ways, and ensure each point adds new information. Also, consider breaking longer sentences into shorter ones or combining short sentences to add variety.

What are some strategies to "avoid repetition" of errors in a process?

Implement checklists, conduct thorough reviews, and document lessons learned from past mistakes. Share this knowledge across teams to "prevent recurrence".

What's a good way to "avoid repetition" when giving instructions?

Organize instructions logically, use clear and concise language, and provide examples where necessary. Consider visual aids to support written or spoken instructions.

Is it always necessary to "avoid repetition" in academic writing?

While it's important to "avoid repetition" for clarity and engagement, some repetition is acceptable for emphasis or to ensure the reader understands a key point. However, aim to "eliminate redundancy" and unnecessary duplication.