Subscriber OnlyLetters

The less said the better when it comes to long-winded phrases

Fewer superfluous, unnecessary and meaningless words would improve some expressions

Letters to the Editor. Illustration: Paul Scott
The Irish Times – Letters to the Editor
Sat May 02 2026 - 05:00 • 1 MIN READ

A chara, – I find the widespread use of the phrase “in and of itself” irritating. Whatever the “of itself” means, if anything, does the “in itself” not render it redundant? If so, isn’t the “of itself” superfluous, unnecessary and meaningless?

Are any of your readers with me on this? – Le dea-ghui,

BILLY LOUGHNANE,

Feakle,

READ MORE

‘Up the Bohs’: New York mayor Zohran Mamdani backs League of Ireland club in video message

Living with multiple sclerosis: ‘What I think matters has completely changed’

Violence in GAA: ‘The doctors said if my son had continued playing he’d probably have had a heart attack’

‘Australia left me cold’: Irish Times writers on their favourite - and most overrated - holiday destinations

Co Clare.