영어 작문에서 redundancy는 쓸데 없는 표현 또는 중복 표현을 뜻합니다. 말하자면 우리말에서 ‘역전앞’ 이라고 하면 이상한 표현이 되는 것과 비슷합니다. ‘전’ 과 ‘앞’ 이 같은 말이므로 ‘역전’ 또는 ‘역앞’이라고 해야 하는 것이지요.

아래 문장들은 조금씩 어색한 문장들입니다. 의미상 중복되는 단어가 들어가 있기 때문입니다. 아래에 중복되는 단어들은 괄호로 묶어 두었습니다. 괄호안에 있는 단어들은 Redundancy 들로서 생략되어야 합니다.

1. Fill the glass (full).

2. They appeared to be talking (together) on private affairs.

3. I saw the boy and his sister (both) in the garden.

4. He went into the country last week and returned (back) yesterday.

5. The subject (matter) of his discourse was excellent.

6. You need not wonder that the (subject) matter of his discourse was excellent; it was taken from the Bible.

7. They followed (after) him, but could not overtake him.

8. The same sentiments may be found throughout (the whole of) the book.

9. I was very ill every day (of my life) last week.

10.That was the (sum and) substance of his discourse.