Examples of Tautology: Meaning and Common Forms

Tautology actually has two definitions. One definition explains the meaning of verbal tautology, while the other clarifies what logical tautology means.

Sometimes a tautology involves just a few words that mean the same thing. This is the definition of verbal tautology, which is illustrated in the following sentence.

I went to see him personally.

This is an example of verbal tautology, because the adverb "personally" repeats the idea already expressed in the single word "I". In everyday conversation, the addition of "personally" is used for emphasis to point out that the subject of the sentence is invested in the action or has overseen something. Technically, the word "personally" doesn't add any new information. It could be cut from the sentence without changing its meaning.

In the realm of logic, a tautology is something that is true in all circumstances. This can be done by using an either/or statement in such a way that the statement cannot be false. The following sentence illustrates the concept of logical tautology.

Either the dog is brown or the dog is not brown.

This sentence is always true because one or the other must be so. This is different from a statement that says, "Either the dog is brown or the dog is white," because that statement is not always true. Dogs can be black, gray or a mix of colors. Note that when you put both halves of a logical tautology together, it feels a bit redundant, just like a verbal tautology.

Tautology often involves just a few words or phrases in a sentence that have the same meaning. Sometimes one word is part of the definition of the other word. Though tautologies are common in everyday speech and don't diminish clarity, they should be avoided in formal writing so you don't repeat yourself unnecessarily.

The bold words or phrases in the following examples are tautological, which means they have similar meanings. There is no need to use both.

• Remember when 4G cell phones were a new innovation?
• The evening sunset was beautiful.
• I need a new hot water heater.
• Charlie proudly told his mom that he made the scarf himself.
• Be careful, there is a lot of frozen ice on the road!
• I know it's true because I heard it with my own ears.
• She always over exaggerates.
• In Rome, we saw dilapidated ruins.
• Let's order a hoagie sandwich.
• Alice started her presentation with a short summary.
• He is always making predictions about the future.
• The school was in close proximity to the explosion.
• The Gobi is a very dry desert.
• In my opinion, I think he is wrong.
• The storm hit at 2 p.m. in the afternoon.
• The students will take turns, one after the other.
• Having a drug test is a necessary requirement for the job.
• They hiked to the summit at the top of the mountain.
• I'm sorry to hear about your sad misfortune.
• She was a dark-haired brunette.
• The hotel room wasn't great, but it was adequate enough.
• I loved reading Sam's autobiography of his own life.

Even the best speakers and writers will sometimes let tautology slip into their work. Politicians are particularly prone to this verbal tactic because they often rely on political jargon and give slightly different versions of prepared remarks during many campaign stops.

• "It's no exaggeration to say the undecideds could go one way or another." - George H. W. Bush
• "Our nation must come together to unite." - George W. Bush
• "It's deja vu all over again." - Yogi Berra
• "They are simply going to have to score more points than the other team to win the game." - John Madden
• "With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right." - Abraham Lincoln
  

Tautologies are occasionally more than just needless repetition. They can add beauty or cause the reader to think about a subject more deeply. Examples of tautologies in literature can show them at their best. They may be used for dramatic or comedic effect.

• "To be or not to be, that is the question." - Hamlet, William Shakespeare
• "But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping, / And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door." - The Raven, Edgar Allan Poe
• "And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved." - Genesis 43:14
  
• "I'm willing to tell you. I'm wanting to tell you. I'm waiting to tell you." - Pygmalion, George Bernard Shaw
• "Discovered by Pooh, Pooh found it ." - Winnie the Pooh, A.A. Milne

Song lyrics are often a treasure trove of tautologies, as in this case repetition can be artistic. Additional words can help fill out the rhythm or make a rhyme in song, so this repetition is often in service of the artistic work as a whole rather than accidental.

• "I want to live while I am alive" - Bon Jovi
• "There's nothing you can do that can't be done./ There's nothing you can sing that can't be sung" - The Beatles
• "Qué será, será./ Whatever will be, will be." - Livingston & Evans
• "Only the lucky ones get lucky." - Loverboy
• "Shout it, shout it, shout it out loud!" - Kiss

Sometimes there is tautology with the use of abbreviations and acronyms. This occurs when part of the acronym that stands for a word is then repeated in conversation. For example, saying "the ATM machine" is a tautology, because the M already stands for machine.

• DVD disc
• GPS system
• HIV virus
• ISBN number
• PIN number
• RAS syndrome
  
• SARS syndrome
• UPC code
• VIN number

Repetition is often a key feature in advertising. Marketers want to make their messages stick in people's minds to encourage them to buy. For this reason, tautology is common on store signs and in advertising slogans.

• Enjoy your added bonus!
• Please prepay in advance.
  
• The store is giving away free tickets!
• The World's Greatest Spokesman in the World!

In a logical tautology, the statement is always true because one half of the "or" construction must be so:

• Either it will rain tomorrow or it won't rain.
• Bill will win the election or he will not win the election.
• She is brave or she is not brave.
• I will get in trouble or I will not get in trouble.
• Mary will pitch a no-hitter or she won't pitch a no-hitter.

As you can see now that you have reviewed some tautology examples, tautology can sometimes be helpful to emphasize a point or to add poetic flair to speech or writing. In most cases, though, a tautology doesn't add new information to a statement and should be edited out of your writing. This will show readers that you are in complete command of your vocabulary and don't need to use extra words to make your point. In writing, as in life, sometimes less is more. To avoid letting tautology sneak into your writing, follow these tips for writing concise sentences.