Unnecessary repeated use of different words that mean the same thing

Kumquat · Mar 24, 2014

I recently had a conversation with someone where he talked about a friend who neither "comprehended or understood" what he was trying to say. I then asked him, politely, what the actual difference was between the meaning of the words "comprehend" and "understand."He was neither able to help or assist. Can anyone advise?

The Antikythera Mechanism · Mar 24, 2014

I, personally, have no idea.

RexCathedra · Mar 24, 2014

This is a common rhetorical trope in English, and really only possible in English, at least to any great degree, because of English's history as the product of a linguistic shotgun marriage.

We have common pairs of synonyms or virtual synonyms, one member of the pair from Germanic sources ('understand') and one from Latin direct, or Latin via Norman French (comprehend).

Blame William the Conqueror. He's why it's such a big -- or large -- deal.

Fungus · Mar 24, 2014

The Antikythera Mechanism said:
I, personally, have no idea.

I, also, have no idea, too.

Creaky · Mar 24, 2014

You can have levels of understanding, "he understood a little about nuclear fusion" - comprehension is absolute and could be replaced by "fully understood".

Barrel of Fun · Mar 24, 2014

It annoys and infuriates me as well.

1234andcounting · Mar 24, 2014

I am both unconcerned and untroubled by it, myself.

Blackadder · Mar 24, 2014

Doesn't bother or trouble me. :shrug:

Creaky · Mar 24, 2014

It jars when, as in the OP, people use neither . . . . or rather than neither . . . . nor but there is little difference in meaning.

Norman Potting · Mar 24, 2014

"And also" is one that bugs me but I still manage to use it a lot, and in large quantities.

The Antikythera Mechanism · Mar 24, 2014

The problem is that are teachers don't know there arses from they're elbows. They should of and could of spent more time spending you're money making sure their are less chances that were loose out in overall educational standards.

DTES · Mar 24, 2014

I completely agree - all tautologies tend to annoy me.

The phrase "free gift" gets me (more than it reasonably should). If it wasn't free, it wouldn't be a gift; just call it a gift.

dougdeep · Mar 24, 2014

I'm appalled and disgusted.

Frutos · Mar 24, 2014

[yt]11lEtj-MuMk[/yt]

I love George Carlin.

shoreham seagull 1973 · Mar 24, 2014

At this present moment in time i have no idea either.

Prince Monolulu · Mar 24, 2014

I almost always say that.

dazzer6666 · Mar 24, 2014

People on here are over-exaggerating.

dougdeep · Mar 24, 2014

Led Zepp were Dazed and Confused.

Guinness Boy · Mar 24, 2014

I have enjoyed and savoured this thread but I do worry what your girlfriend and partner made of it. Whilst you are looking for unnecessary and needless synonyms I fear and worry she may be downstairs crying and sobbing.

Creaky · Mar 24, 2014

Some are being unnecessarily superfluous

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Unnecessary repeated use of different words that mean the same thing

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