Pleonasm for Dummies

Pleonasm is a word that we use to describe a specific way of talking or writing where we say more words than are necessary to get our point across. It's like when we're telling a story and we include extra details that don't really add any new information. Now, why do we do this? Well, sometimes we might use pleonasm to add emphasis to what we're saying, or to make our sentences sound more interesting. It's kind of like adding sprinkles to our ice cream - it might not change the taste, but it makes things a little bit more fun.

Let's put this into context with a simple example. If I were to say, "I saw it with my own eyes," that would be an example of pleonasm. Why? Because the phrase "with my own eyes" is unnecessary since we already understand that seeing something implies using our eyes. In this case, it's like adding extra chocolate sauce on top of our ice cream - it might make it look fancier, but it doesn't change the fact that it's still just ice cream.

Now, pleonasm isn't always a bad thing. Sometimes, it's used intentionally for artistic or poetic effects. Think about it like writing a song or a poem - sometimes we use extra words or phrases to create a certain rhythm or to make our writing sound more beautiful. It's like adding a melody to our ice cream - it doesn't change the taste, but it adds a touch of music to the experience.

However, in other situations, pleonasm can be seen as a form of redundancy, which means it's unnecessary repetition. It's like pouring an entire bottle of chocolate sauce on our ice cream - it might make it taste too sweet and overwhelming. So, it's important to be mindful of using pleonasm appropriately, especially in more formal writing or when we're trying to communicate information concisely.

To summarize, pleonasm is a fancy word that describes using extra words or phrases that don't really add any new meaning to what we're saying. It can be used to add emphasis, make our language more interesting, or create specific artistic effects. However, we need to be careful not to overuse pleonasm, just like we wouldn't want to drown our ice cream in too much chocolate sauce. It's all about finding the right balance and using our words thoughtfully.