duplication of function

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "duplication of function" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are discussing redundancy or overlapping roles within a system, organization, or process. Example: "The duplication of function within the departments has led to inefficiencies and confusion among team members."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

For further discussion of why duplication of function leads to loss of function in one of the entities duplicating the function, see Reviewer 1 comment 11.

Biology Direct

As in other species, this gene cluster is conserved in the pig, although individual family members have undergone some sequence divergence and specialization of tissue expression, possibly due to duplication of function.

BMC Veterinary Research

[We thank Reviewer 2 (comment 3) for raising this issue].We thus propose an origin of eukaryotes that begins with the energetic advantages of close association and in which duplication of function among the symbionts incrementally leads to specialization, obligate symbiosis, and eventual internalization of two of the symbionts.

Biology Direct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

We expect substantial cost saving will be possible because there will be vast areas of overlap and unnecessary duplication of functions across the combined business".

The Guardian - Business

In an emailed statement, SeaWorld said the layoffs are part of a restructuring program "focused on reducing costs, increasing efficiencies, reducing duplication of functions and improving the company's operations through proven benchmarks.

Los Angeles Times

The duplication of back office functions is likely to incur extra costs, and communication between organisations can be poor.

The Guardian

The Bush administration has criticized an initiative by a number of European countries, led by France and Germany, to create a European defense and security arrangement, saying it would be an unnecessary duplication of NATO functions.

The New York Times

After each endosymbiosis began, the partners would have eliminated unproductive duplication of genetic functions by re-arranging their genomes, a process which sometimes involved transfer of genes between them.

Wikipedia

Adaptive advantages include the acquisition of novel gene combinations which can in some cases promote heterosis [ 13], the duplication of gene functions which can provide an element of buffering, and the potential to evolve novel functionality which were predicted by McClintock as "genomic shock" [ 1, 14].

BMC Genomics

Thirdly, the preference for delivery in district hospitals over CHS is marked, and arguably, government services would do well to move towards strengthened referral services and shared care with the CHS, rather than invest in duplication of these functions at both levels.

BMC Health Services Research

This would be hypothesized as essential genes should be conserved throughout a species unless duplication or gain-of-function mutation occur that can rescue the essential role of a give gene.

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing efficiency or cost savings, use "duplication of function" to highlight unnecessary overlap in responsibilities or processes.

Common error

Avoid using "duplication of function" when you actually mean simple redundancy. "Duplication" implies an exact copy, while redundancy can refer to similar but not identical functions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "duplication of function" primarily functions as a noun phrase. It typically acts as the subject or object of a sentence, describing a situation where tasks or responsibilities are replicated. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "duplication of function" is a noun phrase used to describe scenarios where the same task or function is performed by multiple entities. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct, although not very common. It appears most frequently in scientific and formal contexts, often carrying a critical tone when discussing inefficiencies or cost-saving measures. While "duplication of function" can be beneficial in biological systems for robustness, it's usually viewed negatively in business or organizational settings. Alternatives like "functional redundancy" or "overlapping functionality" might be more appropriate depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

functional redundancy

Replaces "duplication" with "redundancy", emphasizing the overlapping nature of the functions.

overlapping functionality

Focuses on the overlapping aspect of the functions rather than the duplication itself.

replication of function

Substitutes "duplication" with "replication", maintaining a similar meaning.

functional overlap

Shortens the phrase while still conveying the concept of functions that are not unique.

replicated functionality

Uses "replicated" instead of "duplication", emphasizing the presence of identical function.

redundancy in function

Rephrases to highlight the redundancy aspect, focusing on the unnecessary repetition.

functional duplication

Swaps the order of the words to create a slightly different emphasis.

iterated functionality

Implies a repeated or iterative nature of the function.

copying of function

Uses simpler term "copying" to denote the duplicate nature of function.

duplicative functionality

Uses the adjective form of duplication to describe functionality.

FAQs

How can I use "duplication of function" in a sentence?

You can use "duplication of function" to describe scenarios where the same task or responsibility is being handled by multiple entities, like: "The restructuring aimed to eliminate the "duplication of function" across different departments."

What's a good alternative for "duplication of function"?

Depending on the specific context, you could use alternatives such as "functional redundancy", "overlapping functionality", or "replication of function".

When is "duplication of function" considered a problem?

"Duplication of function" can be problematic when it leads to inefficiencies, increased costs, or confusion about roles and responsibilities within an organization or system. However, in biology, it can sometimes provide a safety net.

Is "duplication of function" always negative?

Not always. In some contexts, like biological systems, "duplication of function" can provide robustness and resilience. However, in business or organizational settings, it's often seen as wasteful and inefficient.