Thursday Tip: Repeating a root

Last week’s Tip talked about one type of repetition—repeating a key term. A related technique is repeating the root of a word. Consider this example from The Economist:

Far from discrediting liberalism, corruption is discredited by it.

Repeating the root signals nuanced meaning and links two ideas more strongly than would occur otherwise. Here, juxtaposing the same root in active and passive constructions heightens the author’s proposed reversal of causality.

Or take these examples from the ClearWriter archives:

Values will not bring quality-of-life results unless we cherish principles.

Without repetition, the passage is bland. Try making a tighter link:

Values will not bring quality-of-life results unless we value principles.

Using value in both noun and verb forms brings a layer of meaning that was absent before. The result is a more interesting sentence.

But as always, use this technique with care: because the reader must slow down to register and consider the link, be sure that you’re not just being cute. And the repetition should add meaning. Take this example, abstracted from my editing work:

During the discussions, participants will discuss A, B, and C.

We don’t need to be told that people will discuss things at discussions. This isn’t rhetorical repetition. It’s just bad writing. Here, I might cut During the discussions or change discuss to something more communicative—say, develop policy recommendations for A, B, and C.