PLEONASM

Definition of Pleonasm

Pleonasm is derived from a Greek word that means “excess”. It is a rhetorical device which can be
defined as the use of a second or more words (phrase) to express an idea. These words are
redundant such as in the following examples of pleonasm, “burning fire” and “black darkness.”
Sometimes, pleonasm is also called tautology, which is the repetition of words.

Difference between Oxymoron and Pleonasm

Oxymoron is a combination of two contradictory terms. It is the opposite of pleonasm. This can
appear in different types of texts due to an error or used advertently to give paradoxical meanings.
For example, “I like a smuggler. He is the only honest thief.”

However, pleonasm is a combination of two or more words which are more than those required for
clear expression. For example, “I saw it with my own eyes.”

Types of Pleonasm

There are two types of pleonasm as given below:

1. Syntactic Pleonasm

This occurs when the grammatical language makes specific functional words optional such as;

“I know you will come.”

“I know that you will come.”

In the given pleonasm examples, the conjunction, “that” is optional while joining a verb phrase with a
sentence. Although both sentences are correct grammatically, however, the conjunction “that” is
pleonastic.

2. Semantic Pleonasm

The semantic pleonasm is related more to the style of the language than the grammar such as given
below.

“I am eating tuna fish burger.”

Here tuna is itself a name of fish, and there is no need to add word “fish”. Therefore, the word fish is
pleonastic in the sentence.

Examples of Pleonasm from Literature

Example #1

“This was the most unkindest cut of all…..”

(Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare)

In this extract, Shakespeare has deliberately used the term “most unkindest” as pleonastic. He could
have used unkindest only; however, most is added in order to emphasize and give an even clearer
meaning.
Example #2

“Let me tell you this, when social workers offer you, free, gratis and for nothing, something to hinder
you from swooning, which with them is an obsession, it is useless to recoil …..”
(Molloy by Samuel Beckett)

In this example, the terms “free, gratis and for nothing” have very similar meanings. The words are
repeated to create linguistic and literary effects. In this way, the words free and nothing are
highlighted. This is a semantic pleonasm.

Example #3

“All this I saw with my own eyes, and it was the most fearsome sight I ever witnessed…..”
(Eaters of the Dead by Michael Chrichton)

The pleonastic term “my own” is pleonastic since the word “my” would have been enough to show
possession. However, “own” is added to add emphasis and clarify the meaning of the phrase.

Example #4

These terrible things I have seen with my own eyes, and I have heard with my own ears, and touched
with my own hands…..”
(City of the Beasts by Isabel Allende)

Here again, the sense of possession is expressed with the use of pleonastic such as “my own eyes, my
own ears and my own hands. The word “own” is redundant. This is a syntactic pleonasm.

Example #5
“From that day mortal, and this happie State
Shalt loose, expell’d from hence into a World
Of woe and sorrow….”
(Paradise Lost by John Milton)

Milton is famous for using pleonastic language. Here, the word “hence” is employed in a redundant
manner. In this context, the meaning of hence could be “because of the previous premise”. It also
means “henceforth.” This is an example of semantic pleonasm.

Example #6

“He was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again….”
(Hamlet by William Shakespeare)

The dictum of Hamlet for his father, here the word “man,” adds the semantic meanings to the male
personality. This is also a semantic pleonasm that is related to the style of language, enhancing the
meaning of the word “man”.

Function Pleonasm

Pleonastic words are employed to achieve linguistic, poetic and literary effects. Since they are used
as a rhetorical repetition, they are helpful for reinforcing a contention, an idea or a question
rendering an expression easier and clearer to understand. Also, they serve as a part of idiomatic
language, professional and scholarly writing.
 PLEONASMS OR TAUTOLOGICAL REDUNDANCIES
(avoid redundancies or excessive repetitiousness by not using unnecessary repetitions and
superfluous words or more word usages than is needed, desired, or required)

The use of pleonasms results in a superfluity of words, sometimes deliberately, for emphasis; or the
unnecessary repetitions resulting from a lack of the realization that such terms are redundant.

A tautological statement, sentence, etc. repeats its meaning in an unnecessary or excessive way by
using different words to say the same thing.

* The pleonasms followed by an asterisk (*) came from an essay, "The Affluent Rich"; by Nat Boynton
in his book, Media Rare. My special thanks to Mr. Jerry Gordon for contributing a copy of the essay so
I could go through it and pick out the "UR's" (Unnecessary Redundancies) or pleonasms.

add an additional co-equal partners *

add up cold frost
added bonus cold ice
advance forward collaborate together
advance planning combined together
advance preview commuting back and forth
advance reservation or reservations completely annihilated
advance scouting * completely blind
advance warning completely deaf
affirmative action completely destroyed
affirmative yes completely empty
affluent rich * completely expired
aid and abet completely filled
alternative choice completely full
an anachronism in his own time * completely throughly
and etc. completely unanimous
annual anniversary component parts
anonymous stranger (s) (noun), anonymous connect up together
strangers consecutive extra points in a row *
armed assault and holdup * constant nagging
ascend up continuing on
at this point in time couture fashion
attach together current incumbent
bad evil dark night
basic fundamentals dead corpse
beautiful vista to look out upon * definite decision
blood hemorrhage descend down
boat marina * descent down
boiling hot diametrically opposed
botanical plants different variation *
breaking and entering doctorate degree
buried and suffocated to death * downward descent
cease and desist each and every
circulated around each per capita *
classic tradition elevate upward
classify into groups eliminate altogether
climb up empty hole
close proximity empty space
close scrutiny (s) (noun), close scrutinies (pl) end result
enter into intentional planning
entirely eliminating invited guests
essential necessity irregardless *
exact replica It was never our intent to intentionally exclude .
exact same ...
exactly the same join together
existing condition joint collaboration
experiment someone was just trying out * joint cooperation
extra added features killed dead
extreme hazard knowledgeable experts
fall down large majority
favorable approval * large supermarket
federal deficit last will and testament
fellow colleague lesbian women or lesbian woman
final end literate readers
final showdown * literate-English teachers
first conceived * little animalcules
following below little baby
forced compulsion live witness
foreign imports living legend in his own time *
former graduate (of an educational long litany
institution)* long-chronic illness
former veteran * lots of ample parking
forward planning major breakthrough
founder and sink malignant cancer (s) (noun), malignant
frank candor * cancers (pl)
free gift manually by hand
free gratis many frequent
freezing cold marital spouse
frozen ice May I ask you a question?
frozen tundra may possibly or might possibly
full satisfaction meandering back and forth and all around *
gather together mental thought
give and bequeath merge together
good benefit mesa table
good luck microdot
good success * missing gaps *
grand total modern colleges of today
grateful thanks more than unique—it's practically one of a
growing greater kind*
half a dozen of one and six of another mutual confidence *
handwritten manuscript (s) (noun), handwritten mutual cooperation
manuscripts (pl) near proximity
hard rock necessary essentials
have and hold negative misfortune
hear with one's own ears negative no
hot fire new discovery *
hot water heater new innovations *
ice cold new neophyte
imminent at any moment * new recruit
individual person nocturnal-night vampires
indulgent patience nomenclature terms (or names)
inquisitive busybody nonreading illiterates
normal, everyday repeat again
nostalgia for the past * repeated redundancies
not sufficient enough * repetitious redundancies
null and void rest and relaxation
obsolete thing of the past * resulting effects
old adage retreating back
old customs return back
old senior citizens revert back
only unique (person, place, or thing) rice paddy
oral conversation * rise up
original founder root cause
original source round circle
outside in the yard round wheels
over again ruling junta *
overdone this a little too much * safe haven
overused cliche safe sanctuary *
pair of twins * see with one's own eyes
past experience seedling plant (s) (noun), seeding plants (pl)
past history serious danger
past tradition * shape and form
perfectly clear sharp point
perfectly legitimate shrimp scampi
persistent obsession sin taxes
personal friend sink down
personal friendship situation is calm and quiet
personal individual small speck
pizza pie soup du jour of the day
plane flying aloft in the air above * specific examples
play actor staged scenario
P.M. in the evening stellar astronomers
poisonous venoms string together
polar opposites successful achievement
positive yes sudden impulse
postponed until later suffered poorly *
potentially capable * sum total
pre planning surrounded on all sides *
precise precision sworn affidavit
present incumbent technical jargon
previously listed above temper tantrum
prior planning temporary reprieve
pruned out tiny speck
quite unique top priority, top-priority (s) (noun); top priorities,
rags and tatters top-priorities (pl)
real actual total chaos
receded back * total destruction
recently new totally blind
re-continuation * totally deaf
redundancies, tautologies, and pleonasms totally demolished
redundant redundancies totally empty
redundant repetitions totally full
refer back totally unnecessary
regular routine true facts
religious holiday tuna fish
twelve o'clock midnight, or twelve midnight
twelve o'clock noon; or twelve noon
two-person tandem *
ultimate goal
unexpected emergency
unexpected surprise
unhealthy sickness
university college students
unmarried bachelor
unmarried old maid
unnecessary redundancies *
unsolved mystery
useless and unnecessary
usual custom
vacillating back and forth *
visible with your own eyes *
wall mural
watching and observing
water hydrant
wet water
widow of the late (whoever is "late" [dead]) *
widow woman
widower man
will and testament
with au jus
wordy verbosity
working mother
world-wide pandemic disease
youthful teenagers
 EUPHEMISM
Definition of Euphemism

A euphemism is a polite or mild word or expression used to refer to something embarrassing, taboo,
or unpleasant. Euphemisms are especially common in reference to bodily functions and illegal
behavior, and to substitute for curse words. For example, we use many words and phrases to refer to
urination: “I have to use the little boys’ room,” “I have to go to the bathroom,” and “I have to see a
man about a horse” are all evasive ways of referring to the same thing.

Euphemisms may be used to amuse, downplay the severity of a situation, or conceal the speaker’s
embarrassment about something. Euphemisms can develop over time to avoid having to say a
particular word, though sometimes euphemisms themselves become taboo once they are closely
associated enough with the offensive concept. For example, “toilet” sounds a bit more crass in
American English than our current “bathroom” or “restroom,” yet it replaced earlier words that had
become offensive such as “house-of-office” and “privy-house.”

Types of Euphemisms

Within the definition of euphemism, there are many different sub-categories. Here are some of the
different types of euphemisms:

 Phonetic modification: We modify strong swear words or words that are not meant to be
spoken lightly (i.e., God or Jesus) so that the new phonetic euphemism sounds very similar to
the original, but just different enough so that it’s inoffensive. Modifications may take the case
of shortening the word or expression (Jeez, What the); intentional mispronunciations (shoot,
shut the front door, dang, fudge); or using an acronym or one letter to represent the curse
word (WTF, B-word, A-hole).

 Figures of speech: Many euphemisms come in the form of different figures of speech. These
may be ambiguous statements (let’s do it, she’s a piece of work); metaphors (make the beast
with two backs, a visit from the stork, kick the bucket); or other understatements or
comparisons.

 Slang: Plenty of slang terms come to stand for taboo words or expressions. Since slang can
vary greatly from one region or country to the next, at times some expressions have very
different euphemistic meanings. For example, in the USA, “pissed” means angry, whereas in
the UK it means drunk.

Common Examples of Euphemism

There are many hundreds or even thousands of examples of euphemisms that we use in everyday
speech. Here is a short list of euphemistic expressions and the thing they refer to:

 In a better place; pass away; meet your maker—to die

 In a family way; with child; bun in the oven—to be pregnant
 Riding the crimson wave; visit from Aunt Flo; period—menstruation
 Gosh darn it; what the F; holy shiiii; beyotch—curse word modifications
 Three sheets to the wind; wasted; go on a bender—drunk

Note that after time some words cease to seem like euphemisms and instead seem like they refer
directly to the thing itself (for example, period).
There are also many euphemism examples from popular TV shows:

TYRION LANNISTER: When I was twelve I milked my eel into a pot of

turtle stew. I flogged the one-eyed snake, I skinned my sausage. I
made the bald man cry into the turtle stew, which I do believe my
sister ate.
(Game of Thrones)

CUSTOMER: He’s not pinin’! He’s passed on! This parrot is no more! He has ceased to be! He’s expired
and gone to meet his maker!

He’s a stiff! Bereft of life, he rests in peace! If you hadn’t nailed him
to the perch he’d be pushing up the daisies!

His metabolic processes are now history! He’s off the twig!

He’s kicked the bucket, he’s shuffled off his mortal coil, run down
the curtain and joined the bleeding choir invisible!!

(“Dead Parrot Sketch” from Monty Python)

Significance of Euphemism in Literature

Authors generally use euphemisms to portray the natural way in which people speak. Writers do not
usually feel the need to tiptoe around difficult, delicate, or embarrassing topics; indeed, part of the
importance of poetry and prose is dealing with those issues head-on. However, euphemisms can be
a good reflection of the setting, whether in time period, culture, or attitudes of the characters in the
story. We will see this in different ways in the examples of euphemisms below.

Examples of Euphemism in Literature

Example #1: (Macbeth by William Shakespeare)

LADY MACBETH: To beguile the time,

Look like the time. Bear welcome in your eye,
Your hand, your tongue. Look like th’ innocent flower,
But be the serpent under ’t. He that’s coming
Must be provided for; and you shall put
This night’s great business into my dispatch,
Which shall to all our nights and days to come
Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom.

Among all of the new words that William Shakespeare coined, he also used and created many
euphemism examples. In this excerpt from his tragedy Macbeth, Lady Macbeth is counseling her
husband, Macbeth, to kill Duncan that very evening. This is clearly a delicate subject, as they are
conspiring to murder the king. Therefore, Lady Macbeth does not say outright that Macbeth must kill
Duncan, but instead that Duncan “must be provided for.” Macbeth understands her euphemism,
and knows that she wants Duncan dead by the morning.

Example #2: (To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee)

You know the truth, and the truth is this: some

Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some
Negro men are not to be trusted around
women—black or white. But this is a truth that
applies to the human race and to no particular
race of men. There is not a person in this
courtroom who has never told a lie, who has
never done an immoral thing, and there is no
man living who has never looked upon a woman
without desire.

Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is an interesting case study in how euphemisms change over time.
When Lee wrote this book, the term “Negro” was an appropriate euphemism to refer to a race of
people. In contemporary times, this word, while not completely derogatory, is not considered an
inoffensive term with which to refer to a person or group of people. This quote is spoken by Atticus
Finch, a man who is particularly ahead of his times in his belief in the equality of all people. Thus, it is
historically accurate that he would use such a euphemism. However, a modern-day Atticus Finch
would use the more currently accepted euphemism of “African-American.”

Example #3: (1984 by George Orwell)

The Ministry of Truth, which concerned itself with news, entertainment,

education, and the fine arts. The Ministry of Peace, which concerned itself
with war. The Ministry of Love, which maintained law and order. And the
Ministry of Plenty, which was responsible for economic affairs. Their names,
in Newspeak: Minitrue, Minipax, Miniluv, and Miniplenty.

George Orwell made much use out of the significance of euphemisms, and their potential danger, in
his masterpiece dystopian novel 1984. The “Party”—the ruling government organization to which it
seems no individual really belongs—has created four main ministries, as described in the excerpt
above. Each one has a name that is directly opposed to the true nature of the ministry. This is just one
way in which the Party uses language to confuse and distort reality. In fact, Orwell’s creation of the
term “doublethink” has become a well-known euphemism for the types of distortions that many
politicians and media personalities use to explain their positions, which may be hypocritical.

Types of Euphemisms

To Soften an Expression - Some euphemisms are used to make a blunt or obnoxious truth seem less
hard.

Examples:
 Passed away instead of died
 Differently-abled instead of handicapped or disabled
 Relocation center instead of prison camp
 Letting someone go instead of firing someone
 On the streets instead of homeless

Euphemisms to be Polite - Some euphemisms are used to take the place of words or phrases one
might not want to say in polite circle.

Examples:
 Adult beverages instead of beer or liquor
 Big-boned instead of heavy or overweight
 Vertically-challenged instead of short
 Economical with the truth instead of liar
  Between jobs instead of unemployed

Euphemisms to be Impolite - euphemisms are intentionally a callous or insensitive way of saying

something. These euphemisms are usually used when being sarcastic or trying to make light of a
serious subject or make it seem less serious.

Example:
 Bit the dust instead of died
 Blow chunks instead of vomited
 Bit the farm instead of died

Examples of Euphemisms

Euphemism is frequently used in everyday life. Let us look at some common euphemism examples:

 Retarded - mentally challenged

 Blind - Visually challenged
 Crippled - Differently abled
 Bald - follicularly challenged
 Poor - economically marginalized
 Fat - gravitationally challenged, Overweight
 Lazy - motivationally deficient
 beggar - panhandler, homeless person
 coffin - casket
 old age - golden age, golden years
 criminal (adj) - illegal
 confinement - detention
 lawyer - attorney
 sick - indisposed, ill, under the weather
 toilet - john, WC, men's room, restroom, bathroom, washroom, lavatory

Euphemism in sentences:

 He is always tired and emotional (drunk). He is a special child (disabled or retarded).

 You are becoming a little thin on top (bald).
 Our teacher is in the family way (pregnant).
 We do not hire mentally challenged (stupid) people.
 The individual was accused of appropriating funds.
 Joey isn’t broke, he is having temporary negative cash flow.
 Sam isn't buying a used car, he is purchasing a pre-enjoyed or pre-loved vehicle.
 Dian's supervisor laid him off because he was unmotivated.
 Politicians don't commit crimes, they 'make mistakes.'
 I don't care if you keep smoking, you'll be the one pushing up the daisies at the age of 40, not
me!
 Putting stray dogs to sleep is the most humane thing to do.
Short Glossary of Words and Their Euphemisms

Word Euphemism
accident, crisis, disaster incident
addict; addiction substance abuser; substance abuse, chemical dependency
adulterous extramarital
arrest (v) apprehend
beggar panhandler, homeless person
bombing air support
break-in security breach
brothel massage parlor
cheap frugal, thrifty, economical
coffin casket
complaint form response form
confinement detention
criminal (adj) illegal
criminal (young) juvenile delinquent
crippled disabled, physically challenged
custodian building maintenance staff
dead departed, deceased, late, lost, gone, passed
death insurance life insurance
death penalty capital punishment
death demise, end, destination, better world, afterlife
deaths body count
die pass away, pass on, expire, go to heaven
drug addict substance abuser
drugs illegal substances
drunk (adj) intoxicated, inebriated, tipsy
exploit (land) develop
fail fizzle out, fall short, go out of business
false (adj) prosthesis
false teeth dentures
fat overweight, chubby, portly, stout, plump
fire (v) lay off, release, downsize, let go, streamline, rightsize
garbage collector sanitation person
garbage dump landfill
genocide ethnic cleansing
hyperactive Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
illegal worker undocumented worker
imprisoned incarcerated
informer confidential source
jail secure facility
jungle rain forest
juvenile delinquent problem child, at-risk child
kill put down/away/out/to sleep
kill on a mass basis liquidate
killing of innocents collateral damage
lawyer attorney
lazy unmotivated
lie (n) fib, fabrication, cover story, story, untruth, inaccuracy
make love sleep with
money funds
mortuary funeral home/parlor
multi-racial diverse
murder hit, kill, do someone in, finish off someone
noisy boisterous
office equipment productivity products
mature, distinguished, senior, traditional, seasoned, new (e.g., "The house is
old
two years new")
old age golden age, golden years
old person senior citizen, pensioner
old persons' home convalescent hospital, retirement home, rest home, nursing home
one-room apartment studio apartment, efficiency
pay (n) remuneration, salary
person representative, individual
perspire, perspiration sweat
police officer peace officer
poor children at-risk children
poor nation emerging nation, developing nation, third-world nation
poor student underachiever, underperformer
poor low-income, working class, modest, underprivileged
power failure service interruption
prison correctional facility
prisoner inmate, convict, detainee
problem issue, challenge, complication
rain, snow, hail precipitation
remedial education special education
removed from duty put on administrative leave
repression (social,
law and order
political)
retarded special, slow, mentally challenged
rough physical
rude self-centered
sales marketing
salesman, -woman sales associate
say indicate, disclose, mention
school institute
secretary administrative assistant
selfish self-centered
sexual intercourse sleep with, make love
sexual relations (illicit) liaison
sexual relationship involvement, intimate relationship, affair
sick indisposed, ill, under the weather
small quaint, cozy, petite
software product solution
solve resolve
spy (n) source of information, agent
spying surveillance
steal appropriate, salvage, lift, borrow
stupid slow
suicide (to commit) to end it all, take the easy way out, do oneself in
surprise attack preemptive strike
sweat (v) perspire
talk (v, n) converse (v), conversation (n)
teacher educator
theft inventory shrinkage
tip (n) gratuity
toilet john, WC, men's room, restroom, bathroom, washroom, lavatory
totalitarian authoritarian
tramp homeless person
ugly unattractive, modest, plain
underwear (women's) lingerie
unemployed between jobs, taking time off
unreserved seating general admission, festival seating
used previously owned, pre-owned, refurbished, second-hand
vagrant homeless person
venereal disease social disease
victim casualty
wrong improper, questionable, impropriety (n)
 REDUNDANCIES
In English usage, redundancy is usually defined as the use of two or more words that say the same
thing, but we also use the term to refer to any expression in which a modifier’s meaning is contained
in the word it modifies (e.g., early beginnings, merge together—many more are listed below). Think of
redundancies as word overflows.

This list is far from complete, and we’re developing it organically (i.e., adding redundancies as they
come up in our work) rather than compiling the list by stealing from other online sources, which would
be too easy. If you feel strongly that any redundancy should be added here, please comment.

A  (burning) embers
 (absolutely) essential
 (absolutely) necessary C
 (actual) facts  cacophony (of sound)
 advance (forward)  cameo (appearance)
 (advance) planning  cancel (out)
 (advance) preview  (careful) scrutiny
 (advance) reservations  cash (money)
 (advance) warning  cease (and desist)
 add (an additional)  circle (around)
 add (up)  circulate (around)
 (added) bonus  classify (into groups)
 (affirmative) yes  (close) proximity
 (aid and) abet  (closed) fist
 (all-time) record  collaborate (together)
 alternative (choice)  combine (together)
 A.M. (in the morning)  commute (back and forth)
 (and) etc.  compete (with each other)
 (anonymous) stranger  (completely) annihilate
 (annual) anniversary  (completely) destroyed
 (armed) gunman  (completely) eliminate
 (artificial) prosthesis  (completely) engulfed
 ascend (up)  (completely) filled
 ask (the question)  (completely) surround
 assemble (together)  (component) parts
 attach (together)  confer (together)
 ATM (machine)  connect (together)
 autobiography (of his or her own life)  connect (up)
 confused (state)
B  consensus (of opinion)
 bald(-headed)  (constantly) maintained
 balsa (wood)  cooperate (together)
 (basic) fundamentals  could (possibly)
 (basic) necessities  crisis (situation)
 best (ever)  curative (process)
 biography (of his--or her--life)  (current) incumbent
 blend (together)  (current) trend
 (boat) marina
 bouquet (of flowers) D
 brief (in duration)  depreciate (in value)
 (brief) moment  descend (down)
 (brief) summary  (desirable) benefits
  (different) kinds
 disappear (from sight)
 drop (down) G
 during (the course of)
 dwindle (down)
E 
 each (and every)
 earlier (in time)
 eliminate (altogether)
 emergency (situation) H
 (empty) hole
 empty (out)
 (empty) space
 enclosed (herein)
 (end) result
 enter (in)
 (entirely) eliminate
 equal (to one another)
 eradicate (completely)
 estimated at (about) I
 evolve (over time)
 (exact) same
 (exposed) opening
 extradite (back)
F 
 (face) mask
 fall (down)
 (favorable) approval
 (fellow) classmates
 (fellow) colleague
 few (in number)
 filled (to capacity) J
 (final) conclusion
 (final) end
 (final) outcome
 (final) ultimatum K
 (first and) foremost
 (first) conceived
 first (of all)
 fly (through the air) L
 follow (after)
 (foreign) imports
 (former) graduate
 (former) veteran
 (free) gift
 (from) whence
 (frozen) ice
 (frozen) tundra
 full (to capacity)
 (full) satisfaction
 fuse (together)
 (future) plans
 (future) recurrence
 gather (together)
 (general) public
 GOP (party)
GRE (exam)
 green [or blue or whatever] (in color)
 grow (in size)
 had done (previously)
 (harmful) injuries
 (head) honcho
 heat (up)
 HIV (virus)
 hoist (up)
 (hollow) tube
 hurry (up)
 (illustrated) drawing
 incredible (to believe)
 indicted (on a charge)
 input (into)
 integrate (together)
integrate (with each other)
 interdependent (on each other)
 introduced (a new)
 introduced (for the first time)
 (ir)regardless
 ISBN (number)
 join (together)
 (joint) collaboration
 kneel (down)
 (knowledgeable) experts
 lag (behind)
 later (time)
 LCD (display)
 lift (up)
 (little) baby
 (live) studio audience
 (live) witness
 (local) residents
 look (ahead) to the future
 look back (in retrospect)
M  (passing) fad
 made (out) of  (past) experience
 (major) breakthrough  (past) history
 (major) feat  (past) memories
 manually (by hand)  (past) records
 may (possibly)  penetrate (into)
 meet (together)  period (of time)
 meet (with each other)  (personal) friend
 (mental) telepathy  (personal) opinion
 merge (together)  pick (and choose)
 might (possibly)  PIN (number)
 minestrone (soup)  pizza (pie)
 mix (together)  plan (ahead)
 modern ______ (of today)  plan (in advance)
 (mutual) cooperation  (Please) RSVP
 (mutually) interdependent  plunge (down)
 mutual respect (for each other)  (polar) opposites
 (number-one) leader in ________  (positive) identification
 postpone (until later)
N  pouring (down) rain
 nape (of her neck)  (pre)board (as an airplane)
 (native) habitat  (pre)heat
 (natural) instinct  (pre)record
 never (before)  (private) industry
 (new) beginning  (present) incumbent
 (new) construction  present (time)
 (new) innovation  previously listed (above)
 (new) invention  proceed (ahead)
 (new) recruit  (proposed) plan
 none (at all)  protest (against)
 nostalgia (for the past)  pursue (after)
 (now) pending
R
O  raise (up)
 off (of)  RAM (memory)
 (old) adage  reason is (because)
 (old) cliche  reason (why)
 (old) custom  recur (again)
 (old) proverb  re-elect (for another term)
 (open) trench  refer (back)
 open (up)  reflect (back)
 (oral) conversation  (regular) routine
 (originally) created  repeat (again)
 output (out of)  reply (back)
 (outside) in the yard  retreat (back)
 outside (of)  revert (back)
 (over) exaggerate  rise (up)
 over (with)  round (in shape)
 (overused) cliche
S
P  (safe) haven
 (pair of) twins  (safe) sanctuary
 palm (of the hand)  same (exact)
  (sand) dune V
 scrutinize (in detail)  vacillate (back and forth)
 self-______ (yourself)  (veiled) ambush
 separated (apart from each other)  (very) pregnant
 (serious) danger  (very) unique
 share (together)  visible (to the eye)
 (sharp) point
 shiny (in appearance) W
 shut (down)  (wall) mural
 (single) unit  warn (in advance)
 skipped (over)  weather (conditions)
 slow (speed)  weather (situation)
 small (size)  whether (or not)
 (small) speck  (white) snow
 soft (in texture) [or (to the touch)]  write (down)
 sole (of the foot)
 spell out (in detail)
 spliced (together)
 start (off) or (out)
 (still) persists
 (still) remains
 (sudden) impulse
 (sum) total
 surrounded (on all sides)

T
 tall (in height)
 tall (in stature)
 (temper) tantrum
 ten (in number)
 three a.m. (in the morning)
 (three-way) love triangle
 time (period)
 (tiny) bit
 (total) destruction
 (true) facts
 (truly) sincere
 tuna (fish)
 (twelve) noon or midnight
 (two equal) halves

U
 (ultimate) goal
 undergraduate (student)
 (underground) subway
 (unexpected) emergency
 (unexpected) surprise
 (unintentional) mistake
 (universal) panacea
 (unnamed) anonymous
 UPC (code)
 (usual) custom
 JARGONS
Jargon is a term used to describe words that are specific to a particular subject; which are
incomprehensible to persons unacquainted with the topic or subject. Jargon is generally related to a
specific profession, which is why it sounds like gobbledygook to people outside that occupation. In
many cases, jargon comprises word abbreviations. Most times, it's often confused with the use of
slang, or colloquialisms in everyday language. The following are some examples of jargon and the
different ways it's used.

Jargon and Slang

Slang and jargon are often used loosely in the same sense, though there is a thin line of difference.
The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines "slang", as "an informal nonstandard vocabulary composed
typically of coinages, arbitrarily changed words, and extravagant, forced, or facetious figures of
speech." Essentially, slang is synonymous with phrases that are used in such a way that their
significance is different from what they literally mean. Slang may also be peculiar to a region or a
community, and therefore unintelligible outside it. For example, the slang 'Down Under', as the
country of Australia is commonly known, is practically unintelligible to people from other parts of the
world.

Jargon, however, can be categorized broadly as per profession or subject, since in its technical
avatar, it would fall into a specific classification. The following are some examples to differentiate
between jargon and slang:

Did you hook up with him? (Slang)

Get me his vitals. (Medical jargon)

She's an ace guitarist. (Slang)

I really HTH. (Computer jargon)

Examples of Jargon

Medical Jargon

The following are some examples of commonly used medical abbreviations and terminology.

STAT Immediately
ABG Arterial Blood Gas
Vitals Vital signs
C-Section Cesarean Section
Claudication Limping caused by a reduction in blood supply to the legs
CAT/CT Scan Computerized Axial Tomography
MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging
BP Blood Pressure
FX Bone Fracture

Computer Jargon

Most of these examples are abbreviations, which can be likened to a shorthand code for the
computer literate and the Internet savvy. Take a look at some common instances of Internet jargon.
FAQs Frequently Asked Questions
CYA See you around
RAM Random Access Memory
GB Gigabyte
ROM Read-only Memory
Backup Duplicate a file
BFF Best Friends Forever
HTH Hope This Helps

Military Jargon

The following are some military jargon examples, that you may have heard.

AWOL Away without official leave

BOHICA Bend over, here it comes again
SOP Standard Operating Procedure
AAA Anti-aircraft Artillery
UAV Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
11 Bravo Infantry
WHOA War Heroes of America
Fatigues Camouflage uniforms
TD Temporary Duty
SAM Surface-to-Air missile

Law Enforcement Jargon

Most of us are aware of police jargon examples, because of their widespread use in TV shows and
movies. The following are some examples.

APB All Points Bulletin

B&E Breaking and Entering
DUI Driving Under the Influence
CSI Crime Scene Investigation
Clean Skin A person without a police record
Miranda Warning given during an arrest, advising about constitutional rights to remain silent
and the right to legal aid.
Perp Perpetrator
Slammer Jail
Social Social Security Number

Business Jargon

The corporate world isn't far behind when it comes to developing words and phrases that mean little
to others. Business jargon includes a lot of words and abbreviations, which change even from
department to department. Here are a few.

Ear to Ear Let's discuss in detail over the phone

In Loop Keep me updated continuously
Helicopter view Overview
Boil the ocean Try for the impossible
Other Common Examples of Jargon

These are some jargon words which have been around for long enough to be widely recognized and
uniformly understood.

UFO Unidentified Flying Object

Poker face A blank expression
Back burner Something low in priority, putting something off till a later date
On Cloud nine Very happy
Sweet tooth A great love of all things sweet
Ballpark figure A numerical estimated value
Gumshoe/Private Eye Detective
Shrink Psychiatrist

Jargon examples in literature are spotted especially in the works of authors (Shakespeare, Dickens)
that echo speech, characteristic of that period. Speech patterns in past times are markedly different
from patterns that are prevalent, as will be the case in a few decades from now. Language evolves,
just like everything else. Business jargon examples similarly, also demonstrate the evolution of
language. This is the category that gave rise to words like 'actionable' (anything on which action can
be taken) and 'deintegrate' (to disassemble) which until a few years ago, didn't even exist.

Using slang and jargon has become such an everyday part of life that we rarely pay attention to how
much of our speech is peppered with phrases that wouldn't have made sense a few decades back.
The very funny English language will never cease to amaze one with how much it evolves, and how
phrases that were limited to a particular profession or even a demographic can become examples
of jargon over time. Change is the only constant as the saying goes!
Plain English Alternatives for Jargon Words

Jargon Plain English

A
A large number/part Many/most
A number of Some
A variety of Many, Different
Absolutely essential Essential

Accede to Agree to, Allow

Accentuate Stress
Accorded Given
Acquiesce Agree
Additional Added, More, Other
Address Discuss
Adequate enough Enough
Adjacent to Next to
Advantageous Helpful, Useful

Adversly impact on Hurt, Set back

Afford an opportunity Allow, Let
Aggregate Total, Sum
Alleviate Ease, Reduce
Apprise Tell, Inform
As a consequence of Because
As a means of To
Ascertain Find out, Learn

At present Now
At the present time Now
At this point in time Now
B
Basic fundamentals Basics
Bestow Give, Award
Buy-in Commitment, Agreement
By means of By
C
Capability, Capable of Ability, Can
Cease Stop, End, Finish
Centre around Centre in, at or on
Circumvent Avoid, Get Around

Close proximity Close, Near

Comes into conflict Conflicts
Constitutes Is, Forms, Makes up
Forefront, Frontier, Leading, Pioneering,
Cutting edge
Progressive
D
Despite the fact that Although
Disburse Pay, Pay Out
Discontinue Stop
Disseminate Spread
Domiciled Living
Due to the fact that Due to, Since, Because

E
Effect modifications Make changes
Elucidate Explain, Make clear
Empower Allow, Let
Endeavour Try

Enumerate Count
Envisage Expect, Imagine
Equitable Fair, Equal, Balanced
Erroneous Wrong, Incorrect

Evidenced Showed, Shown

Evince Show, Prove
Exhibit Show
Exhibits a tendency to Tends to
Expeditiously Quickly, Immediately
F
Fabricate Make, Make up
Facilitate Ease, Help, Make Possible
Feedback Opinion, Reaction
For the duration of During
For the purpose of To
For the reason that Because

Foreign imports Imports

Forthwith Now, Immediately, Straight away
Future prospects Prospects
G

Gainful employment Paid work, Paid employment

Give consideration to Consider
Granularity Detail
H
Has a requirement for Needs
Have responsibility Must
Head up Head, Lead
Henceforth From now on, From today
Hitherto Until now
Hold in abeyance Wait, Postpone
Holds a belief Believes
I
If at all possible If possible
Impacted Affected, Changed, Hit

In a timely manner Quickly

In accordance with In line with, Because of
In addition Also, Besides, Too
In agreeance/In agreement Agree

In an effort to To
In close proximity Close to, Near
In conjunction with With
In excess of More than
In lieu of Instead of
In order to To
In regard to About
In relation to About
In respect of About
In the course of During

In the event of If
In the majority of Usually, Most
In the near future Soon
In the neighbourhood of About, Around

Inception Start, Beginning

In view of the fact that As, Because, Since
Initiate Start, Begin
Innovative Creative, Pioneering, Inventive
Input Comments, Advice, Response
Irregardless Regardless
Irrespective of Despite
J
Joint cooperation Cooperation
L
Liaise with Meet with, Work with, Discuss with
M
Makes an attempt Attempts, Tries
Marginal Small, Slight

Methodology Method
N
New innovations Innovations
Not later than By

Notwithstanding Even though, In spite of

O
Occasioned by Caused by, Because of
On numerous occasions Often
On the grounds that Because
Owing to the fact that Because
P
Model, Pattern, Structure, Formula, Accepted
Paradigm
point of view
Parameters Limits, Boundaries
Past experience Experience
Personnel People, Staff
Pertaining to About

Peruse Read, Look

Pertaining to About
Possibly might Might
Postpone until later Postpone
Predominant Main
Prior to Before
Provides guidance for Guides
Pursuant to Because of, In line with
Q

Qualified expert Expert

R
Practical issue,
Real-world problem
Business (or social) issue or problem
Refer back Refer
Regarding About
Retain Keep
Rethink Review, Reconsider

S
Solicit Ask for
State-of-the-art Latest
Subsequent to After
Synergy Work together, Co-operation
T
That being the case If so
The following particulars These details, This
The majority of Most
Thereafter Then, Afterwards
U
Until such time as Until, When
Utilise, Utilisation Use

V
Vast majority Majority, Most
Viable Practical, Workable
Visualise See, Predict

W
Warrant Call for, Permit
Whereas Since
Wide range Many, Range
Wide variety Many, Variety
With a view to To, So that
With reference to, with regard to,
About
with respect to

With the exception of Except for

With the minimum of delay Quickly
Without further delay Now, Immediately