What Is a Pleonasm?
A pleonasm is the use of more words than necessary to express an idea, specifically when one word in a phrase already contains the meaning of the other. "Free gift" is a pleonasm because all gifts are free, if you pay for it, it is a purchase, not a gift. "Past history" is a pleonasm because all history is in the past.
These phrases are everywhere. They slip into writing because they feel natural in speech, and most readers will not consciously notice them. But removing them tightens your prose, and tighter prose is almost always better prose.
Common Redundant Phrases and Their Fixes
"Advance planning", All planning is done in advance. Just say "planning."
"Added bonus", A bonus is already something extra. Just say "bonus."
"Close proximity", Proximity already means closeness. Just say "proximity" or "nearby."
"Collaborate together", Collaboration inherently involves togetherness. Just say "collaborate."
"End result", A result is already an endpoint. Just say "result."
"Exact same", "Same" already implies exactness. Just say "the same."
"Future plans", Plans are inherently about the future. Just say "plans."
"General consensus", Consensus means general agreement. Just say "consensus."
"Past experience", All experience is in the past. Just say "experience."
"Revert back", Revert already means to go back. Just say "revert."
"Unexpected surprise", All surprises are unexpected. Just say "surprise."
When Redundancy Is Acceptable
Language is not always about maximum efficiency. In speech, redundancy serves emphasis. Saying "I saw it with my own eyes" is technically redundant, whose eyes would you see it with?, but the phrase adds rhetorical force that "I saw it" lacks.
In persuasive or emotional writing, a well-placed pleonasm can strengthen a point. "Each and every one of you" is redundant, but it hits harder than "each of you" or "every one of you" alone. The redundancy adds weight.
The goal is not to eliminate every pleonasm at all costs. The goal is to notice them, so you can make a conscious choice about whether they serve your writing or weigh it down.
A Practical Exercise
Take a paragraph of your recent writing and highlight every adjective and adverb. Ask: does this word add meaning that is not already present in the noun or verb it modifies? If "completely destroyed" appears, consider whether "destroyed" alone carries the full weight. If "very unique" appears, cut "very", uniqueness has no degrees.
This exercise, done regularly, trains your eye to spot redundancy before it reaches the page.