"Final destination"

whiterose · Nov 7, 2008

Is "final destination" redundant?

I read somewhere that it is so. But I've just read a book in which this phrase was used several times. What do you think?

dpaterso · Nov 7, 2008

?? I don't quite understand why it should be redundant. If someone is making a long journey that passes through several locations, then each location would in turn become their destination... and the last location on their route would be their final destination.

-Derek

whiterose · Nov 7, 2008

Grammar tips: avoiding redundant tautologies

This writer gave "final destination" as an example of redundancy.

dpaterso · Nov 7, 2008

If you agree with that writer's opinion, and the opinion of his professor, then don't use it.

-Derek

qwerty · Nov 7, 2008

Even the words "redundant tautologies" is a tautology.

A destination is, by definition, the final point of a journey. So, yes, using both final and destination would be superfluous.

Unless someone is travelling towards a collection of destinations and then reaches the final one.

I think it depends on the context in which the words are used.

inkkognito · Nov 7, 2008

Yes, depends on the context. For example, when flying to Barcelona, we first flew to NY, then Dublin, then Barcelona. Therefore it's accurate to say that in the course of that one journey both NY and Dublin were destinations, but Barcelona was our final destination.

Bufty · Nov 8, 2008

Whether any word is redundant or not depends entirely on context.

benbradley · Nov 8, 2008

As a great linguistic psychologist once said, sometimes a tautology is just a tautology.

Perks · Nov 8, 2008

Eeep! I love those movies!

...

...

sorry.

"Final destination"

whiterose

dpaterso

Also in our Discord and IRC chat channels

whiterose

dpaterso

Also in our Discord and IRC chat channels

qwerty

exiled Brit

inkkognito

Onlyifyouwanttowillyoufin daway-Enya

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?

benbradley

It's a doggy dog world

Perks

delicate #!&@*#! flower