Removing Redundant Words
Question
The lecture began at exactly 9 a.m. in the morning on the first day of class.
Answer choices
- 9 a.m.
- 9 a.m. that morning
- 9 in the morning a.m.
- NO CHANGE
A Correct answer: A) 9 a.m.
Saying both "a.m." and "in the morning" repeats the same information. "9 a.m." alone is the cleanest, most concise option.
The other options either introduce a grammatical error or change the intended meaning. The ACT consistently rewards the most concise, grammatically correct option.
Read the sentence with each option substituted in. The version that preserves meaning while obeying the underlying rule is the correct answer; on the ACT, that is almost always the shortest option that still works.
The underlying rule
"a.m." already means "in the morning." Including both is a redundancy. The ACT routinely tests redundant pairs: "free gift," "advance warning," "added bonus," "future plans," "past history."
Why each wrong answer is wrong
- B) 9 a.m. that morning: This option preserves the redundancy ("a.m." plus "morning") or makes it worse.
- C) 9 in the morning a.m.: This option preserves the redundancy ("a.m." plus "morning") or makes it worse.
- D) NO CHANGE: This option preserves the redundancy ("a.m." plus "morning") or makes it worse.
Study tip
Watch for redundancy: same exact, completely full, totally unique, end result, joined together, repeat again. The ACT loves these and the answer is always to delete the redundant word.
More Medium Style & Word Choice
- Eliminating WordinessThe committee made the decision to come to a conclusion to approve the proposal.
- Removing Redundant WordsThe lecture began at exactly 9 a.m. in the morning on the first day of class.
- Idiomatic Word ChoiceThe new policy will have a significant affect on staffing decisions next quarter.
- Choosing the Most Precise WordThe hiking trail goes through dense forest before opening into a wide alpine meadow
- Maintaining Academic RegisterIn her recent paper, the geneticist got down to the question of how mutations accum