Is it redundant to say "monotonous tone?"?

Question

Is it?

If it is, what can I change?

Answer 1

No, because "tone" has no indicator of pitch or length when written. When you put the adjective monotonous it hints as to a droning sound.

Answer 2

Yes it is. A monotone is the word to use, without an adjective.

Monotone refers to a sound, for example speech or music, that has a single unvaried tone.

Answer 3

Yes, it is redundant.

Monotonous can refer to other things than tone (e.g., a monotonous existence) but a monotone can only be a tone.

"She spoke in a monotone." Not "She spoke in a monotonous tone." That's what you can change.

monotonous tone (redundant) = monotone (not redundant)

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"Count the Superfluous Redundant Pleonastic Tautologies"

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Answer 4

No, it's not. A "tone" can be rising, falling, steady... Putting "monotonous" in front describes what kind of tone it is.