Pleonasms or Tautological Redundancies

(avoid redundancies or excessive repetitiousness by not using unnecessary repetitions and superfluous words or more word usages than is needed, desired, or required)

The use of pleonasms results in a superfluity of words, sometimes deliberately, for emphasis; or the unnecessary repetitions resulting from a lack of the realization that such terms are redundant.

A tautological statement, sentence, etc. repeats its meaning in an unnecessary or excessive way by using different words to say the same thing.

* The pleonasms followed by an asterisk (*) came from an essay, "The Affluent Rich"; by Nat Boynton in his book, Media Rare. My special thanks to Mr. Jerry Gordon for contributing a copy of the essay so I could go through it and pick out the "UR's" (Unnecessary Redundancies) or pleonasms.

Please contribute any pleonasms you may come across from any of the media and let's make this list even more significant as it expands. You may send your suggestion, or suggestions, to e-mail contact or use this e-mail address: [email protected]

hot fire
hot water heater
ice cold
imminent at any moment *
individual person
indulgent patience
A pleonasm or a repetition of two words both of which mean yielding to the wishes, humor, or appetites of those under one's care; compliant; not opposing or restraining; tolerant; mild; favorable; not severe; as, an indulgent parent.
inquisitive busybody
intentional planning
invited guests
irregardless *
The term "regardless" is preferred.
ISBN number (s) (noun), ISBN numbers (pl)
Intenational Standard Book Number number: The use of ISBN followed by the word number is an excessive use of the word.
ISDN network
Integrated Services Digital Network network.

A digital telephone network that can transmit both voice and data messages.

It was never our intent to intentionally exclude . . . .
Heard on the radio.
join together
joint collaboration

Also see the unit of pleio-, plio- words meaning, "more, most; excessive; multiple".