Sunday, November 7, 2010

Grammar Rant--rampant redundancy!

Actually, this is not another grammar rant, but is more correctly a redundancy alert. I don't know why it has become so popular these days, but people keep referring to time periods.

Does  that not strike you as redundant? What else could a period be (used in this fashion) but a period of time?

So, don't use the awful phrase, time period. Use one or the other, either:

She knew the French Revolution occurred during this time

OR

She knew the French Revolution occurred during this period.

But, please, don't use both. And those of you who are intending to become teachers (I applaud you all), please don't let your high school or middle school students write about time periods.

No comments: