redundant

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "redundant" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is unnecessary because it is more than what is needed or is repetitive. Example: "The report was filled with redundant information that could have been summarized in a few sentences."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Lyndal Curtis, who announced she was leaving the ABC after 21 years as a widely admired political reporter, wasn't put in a dreaded redundancy "pool" and she certainly wasn't made forcibly redundant.

The Guardian

The initiative will enable their publisher, the CN Group, to piggyback on national morning paper distribution, so most of the company's 29 van drivers are likely to be made redundant.

The Guardian

In what has been described as a "spill and fill" internally, 50 regional content manager jobs have been declared redundant and another 52 chief of staff positions created.

The Guardian

No one would be made redundant before Christmas unless they chose to go.

The Guardian

But times have changed: stage lighting is so technically advanced as to render extensive stage make-up redundant, and actors are now limited to parts for which they look right.

The Guardian

Obviously to ask what Hopkins was thinking would be utterly redundant, because her mind is constantly and exclusively full of nothing but fire and screaming and the sound of crying children.

The Guardian

Fare's grants have been cut – so much for the "big society" – and three staff were to be made redundant.

The Guardian - Opinion

From a reader: "Please can you rein in the many writers who insist on dropping the word famously into their copy... as in famously overused, famously redundant or famously not really famous at all".

The Guardian

Baldwin, in common with many of Miliband's staff, is being made redundant and says responsibility for the defeat lies with him and all who took the decisions in the campaign.

The Guardian

But on Monday, when the biggest news story in recent history – the siege in the Lindt cafe – broke in the heart of Sydney Evans wasn't there because her position had been made redundant.

The Guardian

That doesn't necessarily mean making people redundant".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In technical systems design, ensure there are "redundant" components to provide backup and prevent failure. This enhances system reliability.

Common error

Avoid using "redundant" when simpler terms like 'unnecessary' or 'extra' would suffice. Save "redundant" for contexts where you want to emphasize a more formal or technical level of superfluity.

Linguistic Context

The word "redundant" primarily functions as an adjective. It is used to describe something that is superfluous, unnecessary, or exceeds what is required. Ludwig's examples show its use in describing job positions, arguments, and even writing styles.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "redundant" functions primarily as an adjective, signifying something superfluous or unnecessary. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage. It appears frequently in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science contexts. When aiming for conciseness, writers should identify and eliminate "redundant" elements. The phrase has a neutral register and a rich set of synonyms like "superfluous", "unnecessary", and "excessive", each offering a slightly different nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Superfluous

Indicates something is beyond what is required or sufficient, similar to redundant but often implies a higher degree of excess.

Unnecessary

Directly expresses that something is not needed, differing from redundant by focusing on the lack of necessity rather than excess.

Surplus to requirements

A formal phrase indicating that something exceeds the necessary amount, often used in business or official contexts.

Unneeded

A simpler synonym for unnecessary, emphasizing that something is not required.

Excessive

Implies an amount that is too great or extreme, often carrying a negative connotation.

Supernumerary

Describes something extra or exceeding the standard number, often used in formal settings.

Spare

Indicates something kept in reserve, available for use if needed, implying readiness and preparation.

Duplicative

Describes something that repeats or performs the same function as something else, leading to redundancy.

Pleonastic

Refers to the use of more words than are necessary to express an idea; often used in a linguistic context.

Tautological

Characterized by saying the same thing twice in different words, creating redundancy in expression.

FAQs

How to use "redundant" in a sentence?

You can use "redundant" to describe something that is unnecessary because it duplicates something else or is excessive. For example, "The additional paragraph was "redundant" because it repeated information already presented."

What can I say instead of "redundant"?

You can use alternatives like "superfluous", "unnecessary", or "excessive" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "redundant" or "unnecessary"?

"Redundant" implies duplication or excess, while "unnecessary" simply means not needed. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey. For example, "The extra explanation was "redundant"", suggests it repeated existing information, while "The extra explanation was unnecessary" simply means it wasn't required.

What's the difference between "redundant" and "duplicative"?

"Redundant" broadly means exceeding what's necessary, while "duplicative" specifically means repeating something already present. "Duplicative" is a more precise term to indicate the presence of a literal copy, while "redundant" is more generic.