repetitive

USAGE SUMMARY

"repetitive" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe something as being the same or similar multiple times. For example, "The author's writing style is very repetitive, with the same words and phrases used in each paragraph."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"The way the debate is being conducted is so bland and repetitive with three men in grey suits throwing insults at each other, it is turning people off," said Conor McGurran, campaigns and citizenship officer at the student union.

The Guardian

In order to concentrate the listener's perception on the rhythm, melodic material – most of it pinched from a book of Lithuanian folk tunes – is extremely simple, sometimes reduced to tiny repetitive patterns of a mere two or three pitches.

The Guardian - Music

I can relate to people that go to church regularly, to a place of worship, where you can get away from your life and listen to extremely slow, repetitive music, to give yourself some solace and engage with ideas that aren't superficial or to do with day-to-day goals and ambitions.

The Guardian - Music

During the boom years in Ireland when you used to have to pay for the privilege to enter some Dublin pubs even before forking out more than ¤5 at the bar for a pint of beer, the nation's taxi drivers had a favourite, repetitive boast.

The Guardian

"Why are we imitating the worst mistakes of 60 or 70 years ago from around the world – only even bigger?" Another development of repetitive slabs, echoing Jabal Omar's toast-rack urbanism, is slated for the northern side of the Grand Mosque, at al-Shamiya, while a $10bn plan to provide an extra 400,000 sq metres of prayer halls there is almost complete.

The Guardian - Arts

Maybe it's just all the talk of sugar and of coloured dots and of repetitive patterns of behaviour, but this seems very reminiscent of Candy Crush Saga.

The Guardian - Tech

Speaking at the court's annual press conference, Dean Spielmann, the president of the court, said he was concerned at the volume of repetitive cases, which account for more than half of all pending cases.

The Guardian

For work widely devoid of meaning, for electronic entertainment consisting of endless repetitive chatter, for recreation which moves us restlessly round the world, and for the chance to shop in order to escape the pointlessness of shopping".

The Guardian

Back came another wodge of documentation – 20 pages, costing £1.87 in postage – explaining again, in fairly repetitive mystical gibberish to an ancient technophobe, with seven photos of her car and numberplate, why her payment was not acceptable.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

When Mr Sarkozy called Mr Hollande a "little slanderer", he fired back: "Coming from your mouth it just becomes repetitive".

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Most notable are their digitally-embroidered papers – a series of tactile, non-repetitive designs such as the award-winning Aves – pioneered with the help of a team of craftsmen in the north of England.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing patterns or processes, use "repetitive" to highlight the cyclical nature or recurring elements. For example, "The data analysis revealed a repetitive cycle of market fluctuations."

Common error

Avoid using "repetitive" multiple times in a single paragraph or sentence. Vary your language by using synonyms like "recurring", "iterative", or rephrasing the sentence to emphasize the pattern rather than the "repetition" itself.

Linguistic Context

The word "repetitive" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe something characterized by recurrence or repeated elements. Ludwig examples show its use in contexts ranging from describing "repetitive" patterns of behavior to "repetitive" tasks.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Formal & Business

28%

Science

28%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "repetitive" is a versatile term used to describe something characterized by recurrence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and usable word in written English. It is used across various contexts, including news, formal documents, and scientific literature, as Ludwig's examples demonstrate. When using "repetitive", be mindful of potential overuse and consider synonyms such as "recurring" or "iterative" to add variety. The word's neutral register makes it appropriate for many writing styles, though consider your audience when evaluating whether the term's connotation of monotony is suitable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

recurring

Emphasizes the return or reappearance of something at intervals.

iterative

Highlights a process involving repeated steps to achieve a desired outcome.

recurrent

Similar to recurring, but may imply a more cyclical or patterned return.

constant

Suggests something happens continuously without significant change.

habitual

Implies a behavior or action that is done out of habit.

monotonous

Highlights the lack of variety and potential boredom associated with repetition.

tedious

Emphasizes the tiresome and wearisome nature of something repetitive.

unvarying

Focuses on the lack of change or deviation in the repeated action.

copycat

Suggests imitation or duplication of something else.

echoing

Implies the repetition or resemblance to a previous sound, idea, or event.

FAQs

How can I use "repetitive" in a sentence?

You can use "repetitive" to describe actions, patterns, or content that occur multiple times. For example, "The task became repetitive after several hours."

What can I say instead of "repetitive"?

You can use alternatives like "recurring", "iterative", or "monotonous" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "repetitive task" or "repeating task"?

"Repetitive task" is generally preferred and more common. While "repeating task" is understandable, "repetitive" more directly conveys the nature of the task involving "repetition".

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

"Repetitive" means something occurs multiple times, while "redundant" means something is unnecessary or superfluous. A "repetitive" action might be necessary, whereas a redundant statement is not.