# Apart from "that that", are there other words that ever make sense repeated? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 30, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apart-from-that-that-are-there-other-words-that-ever-make-sense-repeated/611212 "2012-01-30T18:06:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apart-from-that-that-are-there-other-words-that-ever-make-sense-repeated/611212/121 "2012-02-03T22:13:00Z")
> [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > The wikipedia article says: > > so my example will be: > Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo. (100 buffaloes) > > I will let someone else explain what the sentence means. And some of those buffaloes need to be capitalized to mean the city of Buffalo, NY. I believe the actual meaning of it is: It’s crackers to slip a rozzer the dropsky in snide. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apart-from-that-that-are-there-other-words-that-ever-make-sense-repeated/611212/122 "2012-02-03T22:26:06Z")
In autumn, the oak tree leaves leaves on the ground. ---
**Author:** ![TATG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/50afbb/32.png) [@TATG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TATG)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apart-from-that-that-are-there-other-words-that-ever-make-sense-repeated/611212/123 "2012-02-04T00:35:23Z")
> [@Ximenean](#): > > Probably the only cases where it really is the same word twice are when a word is repeated for emphasis, but then there’s usually a comma between them. Not not not necessarily necessarily possibly possibly true. I think all of my examples (in the post above) are not (or need not be) emphasis cases, and they can be the same word. At the least, “not” counts as a clear counter example, does it not? ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apart-from-that-that-are-there-other-words-that-ever-make-sense-repeated/611212/124 "2012-02-04T01:11:09Z")
And then, of course, there’s this: That that is, is; that that is not, is not; is not that it? It is. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apart-from-that-that-are-there-other-words-that-ever-make-sense-repeated/611212/125 "2012-02-04T01:23:33Z")
My name, when repeated 3 times forms a completely grammatically correct sentence. “Drew drew Drew” or in other words “A man named Drew has drawn a picture of another man named Drew” “Rob, rob Rob!” is an imperative for, “Rob, go and steal from that man named Rob!” ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apart-from-that-that-are-there-other-words-that-ever-make-sense-repeated/611212/126 "2012-02-04T02:30:47Z")
CC writes: \> I believe the actual meaning of it is: It’s crackers to slip a rozzer the dropsky in \> snide. Wow, I actually remember that. A reference to _Mad_ that’s at least fifty years old, and it’s taken from an even older novel. > **[Recurring features in Mad](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recurring_features_in_Mad_(magazine))** > > Mad is known for many regular and semi-regular recurring features in its pages. > Every issue but two of Mad from 1964 to the present has featured a Fold-in, designed by artist Al Jaffee. They usually appear on the inside back cover, though one issue featured a Fold-in front cover and the year-end "Mad 20" issues move the feature to an interior page. In each Fold-in a question is asked, often of a topical nature. The subject is illustrated by a picture taking up the bulk of the page, with a blo... > **[Magersfontein Lugg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magersfontein_Lugg)** > > Magersfontein Lugg is a fictional character in the Albert Campion detective novels, written by Margery Allingham. Servant and factotum to Mr Campion, Lugg is a former burglar, with a gruff manner, who hinders Campion socially as much as he helps detection-wise. > Lugg first appears in Mystery Mile, where his contacts in the underworld prove useful; he goes on to be featured in most of the Campion books. > Lugg also features in novels by John Lawton, most notably Black Out (see review on Amazon.co... ---
**Author:** ![Daylate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9dc877/32.png) [@Daylate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daylate)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apart-from-that-that-are-there-other-words-that-ever-make-sense-repeated/611212/127 "2012-02-04T02:31:19Z")
Bet you can’t do the waltz. Of course I can waltz! Well, betcha can’t do the Can Can. Of course I can Can Can! ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apart-from-that-that-are-there-other-words-that-ever-make-sense-repeated/611212/128 "2012-02-04T05:14:12Z")
Will peanut butter butter bread as easily as real butter? Toasting will also brown brown bread. Will Will will his estate to his nephew? Yes he will will it to him. It was a tasty spread spread out on the table in front of him. Basically it seems any word that can be several types - noun, verb, adverb, etc. -then you can probably torture English to stick them together. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apart-from-that-that-are-there-other-words-that-ever-make-sense-repeated/611212/129 "2012-02-04T06:00:37Z")
“yields falsehood when preceded by its quotation” yields falsehood when preceded by its quotation. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apart-from-that-that-are-there-other-words-that-ever-make-sense-repeated/611212/130 "2012-02-04T13:26:59Z")
Pat is a vicious dog, while Pat Junior is gentle. To pat Pat, pat Pat Junior first and he’ll be more cooperative. The buzzards in the gorgeous gorge gorge on carrion in the hot sun. Then there’s the tongue-twister about cooking: “Betty Botta bought a bit of butter to bake a batch of batter but the butter Betty Botta bought was bitter, so Betty Botta bought a better bit of butter to bake a better batch of batter.” The repetitiveness is more phonetic. ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apart-from-that-that-are-there-other-words-that-ever-make-sense-repeated/611212/131 "2012-02-07T03:15:01Z")
How awesome awesome Bulls are this season, I can see how NBA is not that enjoyable to many fans. ---
**Author:** ![Postariti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Postariti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Postariti)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apart-from-that-that-are-there-other-words-that-ever-make-sense-repeated/611212/132 "2012-02-07T07:51:28Z")
Here’s another “in in.” I was emailing someone about a deadline. I said, “I don’t think we can get it in in time.” I changed the second “in” to “on.” That was easy, but I usually find it hard to reword “had had.” ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apart-from-that-that-are-there-other-words-that-ever-make-sense-repeated/611212/133 "2012-02-07T15:17:14Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > Pat is a vicious dog, while Pat Junior is gentle. To pat Pat, pat Pat Junior first and he’ll be more cooperative. With a bit of grammatical torture, I think we can expand on this (and for variety, let’s make Patrick a friendly male dog and Patricia a wary bitch: I stand pat: to pat Pat pat, pat Pat pat. Too pat? (i.e. I’ve mastered the routine perfectly: to stroke Patricia opportunely, stroke Patrick perfectly. Is that unconvincingly facile?) ---
**Author:** ![Engineer\_Dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9fc29f/32.png) [@Engineer\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Engineer_Dude)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apart-from-that-that-are-there-other-words-that-ever-make-sense-repeated/611212/134 "2012-02-07T19:35:08Z")
“If you were to second guess your decision to book some time to visit an Indian community, that would be a reservation reservation reservation.” - Brian Regan ---
**Author:** ![rogerbox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@rogerbox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rogerbox)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apart-from-that-that-are-there-other-words-that-ever-make-sense-repeated/611212/135 "2012-02-07T21:53:49Z")
I just posted this message to a friend on facebook and I think it’s gramatically correct: “Whatever music you want to put **in in** post production is fine”. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apart-from-that-that-are-there-other-words-that-ever-make-sense-repeated/611212/136 "2012-02-07T22:11:09Z")
Internal Affairs division now investigating other members of the Internal Affairs division. “Police Police police Police Police.” ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apart-from-that-that-are-there-other-words-that-ever-make-sense-repeated/611212/137 "2012-02-07T22:44:33Z")
Who Polices Police Police? ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apart-from-that-that-are-there-other-words-that-ever-make-sense-repeated/611212/138 "2012-02-08T03:36:47Z")
> [@Postariti](#): > > Here’s another “in in.” > > I was emailing someone about a deadline. I said, “I don’t think we can get it in in time.” I changed the second “in” to “on.” That was easy, but I usually find it hard to reword “had had.” Why do you want to reword? Those doubled words are perfectly good, clear, grammatical and idiomatic English. To my ear, at least, “get it in on time” sounds slightly more awkward than “get it in in time”. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apart-from-that-that-are-there-other-words-that-ever-make-sense-repeated/611212/139 "2012-02-08T03:49:59Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Who Polices Police Police? The Police Police police Police Police, as described in the previous quote. Now if there was a separate internal-internal affairs unit to police the Police Police who police Police Police then we would have… Police Police Police police Police Police police Police Police. ---
**Author:** ![Kataskopo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aca169/32.png) [@Kataskopo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kataskopo)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apart-from-that-that-are-there-other-words-that-ever-make-sense-repeated/611212/140 "2012-02-08T08:21:57Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > You’re a few buffalo short of the max: > > [Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_buffalo_Buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_buffalo_Buffalo_buffalo) > > Edit: The word “buffalo” has now lost all meaning to me after looking at so many instances of the word itself. Oh. My. God. English is my second language, and that literally (har har) doesn’t make any sense whatsoever to me. And I consider myself to be pretty understandable of the english language. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apart-from-that-that-are-there-other-words-that-ever-make-sense-repeated/611212.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apart-from-that-that-are-there-other-words-that-ever-make-sense-repeated/611212.md?page=8)