C1 English Grammar – Avoiding Repetition – Ex 76

Why Avoid Repetition?

Repeating the same word too often breaks flow and reduces impact. C1 writers and speakers replace repeated nouns or ideas using:

• Pronouns (he, she, it, they, this, those)
• Substitutes like one, ones, do/does/did
• Synonyms or rephrasing
• Ellipsis (omitting repeated words)
• Demonstratives (this policy, those results)

But be careful: unclear reference confuses readers. Always ensure your replacement word clearly points back to its original.

C1-Level Techniques to Avoid Repetition

1. Pronouns (Personal, Possessive, Reflexive)

Replace a noun with a pronoun after its first mention—but only if the reference is clear.

• ✅ “Dr. Lee published her findings. She presented them at the conference.”
• ❌ “Dr. Lee and Dr. Khan published their findings. She presented them.” → ambiguous

2. Demonstratives (This, That, These, Those)

Use with a noun to refer back to a previously mentioned idea.

• ✅ “The company lost $2 million. This loss shocked investors.”
• ⚠️ Avoid: “The company lost $2 million. This shocked investors.” → weaker; add a noun like “result” or “loss” for clarity.

3. Substitutes: One / Ones

Replace countable nouns to avoid repeating the exact word.

• ✅ “I prefer the red dress to the blue one.”
• ✅ “These shoes are too tight. Do you have larger ones?”

4. Do/Does/Did as Verbal Substitutes

Replace repeated verb phrases in short answers or additions.

• ✅ “She speaks three languages, and I do too.” (= I speak three languages too)
• ✅ “He didn’t finish the report, but I did.”

5. Synonyms and Rephrasing

In formal writing, use precise synonyms—but avoid forcing unnatural words.

• ✅ “The team proposed a new strategy. The plan was approved unanimously.”
• ⚠️ Don’t: “The team proposed a new strategy. The idea was approved unanimously.” → “plan” is more precise than “idea.”

6. Ellipsis (Omitting Redundant Words)

Leave out words that are understood from context.

• ✅ “She likes jazz; he [likes] rock.”
• ✅ “If you need help, just ask. I’m happy to.” (= I’m happy to help)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Ambiguous pronouns: “When Sarah told Elena she failed...” → Who failed?
• Overusing “this” without a noun: “The data shows rising temperatures. This is concerning.” → Better: “This trend is concerning.”
• Mismatched number: “The committee submitted their report.” → In American English, “committee” is singular: “its report.”
• Forcing unnatural synonyms: “He ate breakfast. Then he consumed lunch.” → “Consumed” sounds robotic; “ate” is fine.

Tools to Avoid Repetition:

correct “The team won the championship. Its victory was celebrated nationwide.”
incorrect “The team won the championship. It was celebrated nationwide.” — unclear what “it” refers to

How This Quiz Works

• 20 questions randomly selected from a pool of 50
• Tests your ability to choose the clearest, most natural way to avoid repetition
• Hints guide you without giving the answer
• Immediate feedback with specific explanations
• Click “Check Answers” to see the full answer key
• “Change Questions” gives you a new quiz