Which of the following describes "tautology"?

The term "tautology" refers to a situation where the same idea is expressed redundantly, often in a way that provides no additional meaning or information. This phenomenon occurs when a statement is unnecessarily repeated, essentially stating the same thing in different words without any new insight. For example, saying "free gift" is tautological because a gift, by definition, is something that is free.

In this context, the chosen answer accurately captures the essence of a tautology as a form of useless repetition of words. Recognizing tautologies is important in both writing and logical reasoning, as they can lead to confusion or a lack of clarity. Understanding this concept can help improve communication by avoiding redundancy that does not enhance the intended message.

The other options, while potentially related to the broader concept of language or argumentation, do not accurately define a tautology. A clarification involves making something clearer, an effective repetition suggests a purposeful reiteration, and a logical progression refers to a reasoned advancement of ideas, all of which deviate from the definition of tautology.