The word "pleonastically" is spelled with a combination of letters that may seem daunting at first glance. However, understanding the phonetic transcription can help make sense of it: /pliːəˈnæstᵻkli/. The "pleon" portion is pronounced as "plee-on," while "asti" is pronounced as "astee." Lastly, the "cally" at the end is pronounced as "kah-lee." "Pleonastically" may be a bit of a mouthful to say, but with enough practice, it can be spelled and pronounced with ease.
Pleonastically is an adverb that describes the act or manner of engaging in pleonasm. Pleonasm refers to the use of excessive or unnecessary words or repetition that adds no additional meaning or value to a sentence or phrase. The term originates from the Greek word "pleonazein," meaning "to be redundant."
When used in writing or speaking, individuals may employ pleonastically for various reasons. It can be a result of linguistic habits or regional dialects, where redundant or unnecessary words are commonly used. Some may use pleonastically to emphasize a point or to create a specific poetic or rhetorical effect. However, in most cases, pleonasm is considered a stylistic flaw or error, as it can lead to wordiness and burden the listener or reader with excessive information.
For example, a pleonastic phrase would be: "He walked slowly, taking slow and leisurely steps." In this case, the use of both "slowly" and "slow" in the same sentence is unnecessary, as they convey the same meaning.
Being aware of pleonasm and avoiding pleonastically can help writers and speakers to communicate more effectively, ensuring their message is clear and concise. By eliminating unnecessary words and repetition, individuals can enhance the clarity and impact of their communication.
The word "pleonastically" is derived from the adjective "pleonastic", which originated from the Greek word "pleonasmos", meaning "excess" or "superfluity". In Greek grammar, "pleonasm" refers to the use of unnecessary or redundant words or expressions in a sentence. The term was later adapted into English and the "-ic" suffix was added to form the adjective "pleonastic". Finally, the adverbial form "pleonastically" was created by adding the "-ally" suffix to the adjective. Consequently, "pleonastically" pertains to the manner of speaking or writing that involves the usage of redundant or excessive words.