Kenneth G. Wilson (1923–). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993.
TAUTOLOGY
A tautology is the unnecessary repetition of a meaning through the use of two words that mean the same thing. It has been argued that consensus of opinion is a tautology, because consensus itself means “a preponderance of opinion.” But see CONSENSUS. Helpful assistance is unquestionably tautological, as are free gift and new innovation. See PLEONASMS; REDUNDANT; WIDOW.
