“I need to stop at the ATM machine to withdraw some cash.”
Redundancies Entry 54 / 1011 60-second read
ATM Machine
ATM already stands for 'Automated Teller Machine', so adding 'machine' is redundant.
The comparisoni
“I need to stop at the ATM to withdraw some cash.”
More examplesii
01
Please deposit your check at the ATM machine in the lobby.
Please deposit your check at the ATM in the lobby.
02
Where's the nearest ATM machine around here?
Where's the nearest ATM around here?
03
The ATM machine accepts deposits 24/7.
The ATM accepts deposits 24/7.
The ruleiii
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ACRONYM EXPANSION RULE: When using an acronym, don't repeat the last word.
Many people learned the acronym but may not consciously recall what 'M' stands for. Adding 'machine' feels natural for clarity, even though it creates a redundancy. The pattern of ATM is so familiar that people don't think about its full form.
Memory aidiv
Remember it like this
Say the full form: 'Automated Teller Machine Machine'—does that sound right? No! That's your signal that 'ATM machine' is redundant.