This archive report was first published on 10 January 2020.
Kenyan newspapers often fall prey to a tautology that can be easily avoided. The phrase 'included' is frequently used in place of 'among others', but the two have distinct meanings.
Take, for instance, a recent article that mentioned President Kibaki's entourage. The article stated that Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and Minister Kiraitu Murungi were among those who accompanied the President. However, the phrase 'among others' was not used, instead opting for 'included', which is a tautology in this context.
According to linguists, a tautology is a word or phrase that repeats a meaning already conveyed. In this case, 'included' and 'among others' convey the same meaning, making the phrase a tautology.
But why do journalists and writers fall into this trap? One reason is that they may not be familiar with the nuances of language. Another reason is that they may be trying to avoid using the phrase 'among others', which can make the writing seem less formal.
However, using 'included' in place of 'among others' can lead to confusion and make the writing seem less clear. It's essential for journalists and writers to be aware of the differences between these two phrases and use them correctly to avoid tautologies.
As a veteran journalist, Philip Ochieng, once noted, 'The reporter must be discriminate. He will include all the ministers, all the permanent secretaries, the head of the relevant department, the heads of the related parastatals and, perhaps, the representative of the funding agency.'
Here, Ochieng is highlighting the importance of being selective when including information in a story. He's not saying that 'included' means the same thing as 'compose' or 'be made up of', but rather that it's essential to be mindful of what information is included in a story.
