What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
tautological
Example
The phrase 'free gift' is tautological since a gift is already free. [tautological: adjective]
Example
Saying 'I am who I am' is tautological because it does not provide any new information. [tautological: adjective]
circular
Example
The argument that 'God exists because the Bible says so, and the Bible is true because God wrote it' is circular. [circular: adjective]
Example
The email was stuck in a circular loop, repeatedly sending to the same group of people. [circular: adjective]
Example
The hiking trail was circular, leading back to the starting point after completing the loop. [circular: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Circular is more commonly used than tautological in everyday language. Circular is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while tautological is less common and refers to a specific type of redundancy in language.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between tautological and circular?
Both tautological and circular are formal words that are typically used in academic or technical writing to describe logical errors or language problems.
