I recently wrapped up a 250-page editing contract for one of my clients. I noticed the following phrases popping up often:
which include but are not limited to
Here’s generic example:
When I was at the store, I bought groceries, which included but are not limited to apples, milk, eggs, and bread.
This isn’t incorrect strictly speaking, but it is redundant. If you say a group of something includes specific items, you’re implying that the the group isn’t restricted to just those specific items. You imply that the specific items are just a select subset
If I include Mary and Susan in my basketball team, it doesn’t mean I have only two players. If I include pens and highlighters in my pencil bag, it doesn’t mean there’s nothing else in my pencil bag.
So, to cut down on wordiness, I’d suggest trimming my example to something like:
When I was at the store, I bought groceries, including apples, milk, eggs, and bread.
It takes less effort for you to write or speak it, and it takes less time for the receiver of your message to understand it.
