Cut the phrases thatsay it twice
"Basic fundamentals", "past history", "free gift": one word already says it all. Gorby underlines redundant phrases, explains why, and trims them in one click.
Included in every paid plan Web and Windows app One-click fixes
Offsite recap - GorbyOffsite recap: what we decided
The end result of the offsite was a plan we can all get behind. We looked at the past history of our pricing, then spent the afternoon on future plans for the mobile app. Design and engineering will collaborate together on the first release, and every customer who joins the beta gets a free gift: three months of Pro. Thanks again to everyone who made the trip. Notes and photos are in the shared folder.
Redundant Words
Finds unnecessary word repetition
"end result"
A result always comes at the end
Consider using "result" instead
Each result says why the phrase is redundant and what to use instead
Try it: press Fix to swap in the shorter version, or Select to find the phrase in the text first.
Say it once
One word is already doing the job
In a redundant phrase, one word repeats the meaning of another. A surprise is always unexpected, and history is always in the past. The extra word costs your reader time and gives nothing back.
Try the quick test and see how fast you can spot the word that isn't pulling its weight.
Cut the extra word. One per sentence.
The end result was better than we hoped.
A result always comes at the end.
Our office is in close proximity to the station.
Proximity already means close.
Could you repeat that again for the people at the back?
To repeat is to do it again.
The party was an unexpected surprise.
A surprise is always unexpected.
We had to revert back to the old design.
Revert already means go back.
They called it a new innovation in payments.
Every innovation is new.
Why redundant phrases creep in
- Adding emphasis An extra word feels like it makes the point stronger, as in "completely finished".
- Speaking habits Phrases like "revert back" and "repeat again" are common in conversation and slip into writing.
- Marketing speak "Free gift" and "added bonus" sound generous, so they spread through ads and emails.
- Padding a word count When an essay needs to be longer, extra words go wherever they fit.
How it works
Three steps to tighter writing
- 1
Run the check
Open the Advanced Analysis tab in the Highlight & Check Controls panel and press play next to Redundant Words.
- 2
Spot the redundancies
Every redundant phrase is underlined in your text, and the panel shows how many instances it found.
- 3
Select or fix
Click Show Results to see why each phrase is redundant. Press Select to find it in your text, or Fix to swap in the shorter version.
What you get
Shorter sentences, same meaning
Spell checkers see correctly spelled words. Gorby sees when two of them mean the same thing.
Finds phrases that say it twice
Gorby looks for common redundant phrases, like "basic fundamentals", "past history", and "free gift".
Explains every result
Each result says why the phrase is redundant, like "A gift is inherently free", so you learn the pattern.
Suggests the shorter version
Every result tells you what to use instead, like "fundamentals" for "basic fundamentals".
Fix in one click
Fix swaps in the shorter version for you, and the phrase drops off the list.
Select to jump there
Select highlights the phrase in your text, so you can rework the whole sentence if you prefer.
Underlined in your text
Redundant phrases are underlined where they appear, so you can spot them while you read your draft.
Make it yours
Make redundancies easy to spot
Pick an underline color that stands out next to your other highlights, so you can see redundant phrases at a glance.
- Underline color for redundant phrases
- Underline thickness, shared by all text checks
Settings
Changes are saved automatically.
Redundant Words
Finds unnecessary word repetition
Highlight Color
The end result was a free gift for every customer.
Click the color to see how a different underline looks.
Common redundancies cheat sheet
The crossed-out word can go. The meaning stays.
cut addedbonuscut advancewarningcut basicfundamentalscut completelyfinishedcut each andeverycut finaloutcomecut freegift- join
cut together cut pasthistory- plan
cut ahead - revert
cut back cut truefacts
Keep polishing
Pairs well with
Repeated Words Detection
Catches the same word typed twice in a row, like "the the", before a reader does.
Learn moreOverused Words Analysis
Finds the words you lean on too often, measured by how much of your text they take up.
Learn moreCliché Detection
Flags tired expressions that readers have seen too many times.
Learn moreParagraph Readability
Scores each paragraph so you can see exactly which ones are hard to read.
Learn moreFAQ
Common questions
Want a quick check without opening the editor? Try our free redundancy checker. Still have a question? Email us at contact@gorby.app.
- What is a redundant phrase?
- A phrase where one word already carries the meaning of another, like "past history" or "free gift". History is always in the past, and a gift is always free, so the extra word adds length without adding meaning. These are also called pleonasms.
- Why should I remove redundant words?
- Every extra word asks for a little of your reader's attention. Redundant phrases make writing feel padded and less confident, and cutting them makes your sentences shorter and clearer without changing what they say.
- What does Fix do?
- Fix replaces the redundant phrase with the shorter version shown in the result, so "basic fundamentals" becomes "fundamentals". If you would rather reword the sentence yourself, press Select to highlight the phrase instead.
- Is a redundant phrase ever okay?
- Sometimes. A little repetition can add emphasis in speech or dialogue, and some fixed expressions are simply what readers expect. Gorby points them out so you can decide. Keep the ones that do real work.
- How is this different from Repeated Words Detection?
- Repeated Words catches the same word typed twice in a row, like "the the". Redundant Words catches different words that mean the same thing, like "past history" or "collaborate together".
- Is Redundant Words included in the free plan?
- Redundant Words is one of the Advanced Analysis checks, which come with every paid plan. The free plan includes real-time checks like hard-to-read sentences and passive voice.
- Does it work in the desktop app?
- Yes. Redundant Words works the same way in the web app and the Gorby desktop app for Windows. With a plan, Pro checks stay unlocked for up to 5 days offline.
Say it once, and say it well
Run Redundant Words on your next draft and trim the phrases that repeat themselves.