Yet, ranked among the family of what the English pragmatists described as an overkill statement, and now established as the normal, ‘tuition fee’ or ‘tuition fees’ is wildly spoken about when parents are reminded or woke up to the reality that another term/session has dawn for them to honour the obligation of settling the child or ward tuition or fees, especially at the tertiary level of learning. Now, the phrase, and the noun, ‘tuition’ is mingled with the noun ‘fee(s)’ to give the wrong notion or impression of ‘tuition fees’; the statement, ‘tuition’ is freely used by the majority that no one seems to have given it a second thought to separate ‘tuition’ from ‘fees’ to avoid sounding tautologous. Coming to the crux of the matter, to say the list, the expression, ‘tuition’ should stand on its own and has no business tagging along with the phrase, ‘fees’, which also implies something different or by definition is closely related to ‘tuition.’ Could it be treated or be preferred as a substitute, or to put it plainly, a synonym? If you like, I see nothing wrong engaging the two options, ‘tuition’ or ‘fees’ separately, depending on the message one is transmitting to the audience or in a face-to-face discussion. Never fancy the idea of matching the expressions, ‘tuition’ and ‘fees’, perhaps as a standard because other person is speaking ‘tuition’, that makes it right. No, the phrase ‘tuition fees’ is tautology.
That is, the use of words which repeats the meaning found in other words already used, according to Chambers 21st Century dictionary. For example, the expression, ‘I myself personally I prefer that one to this’, is decorated with tautology, as you can see. As I often tell my readers, the smart advertising copywriter could mislead you, who, in trying to convince the buyer or customer, piles up adjectives upon adjectives to arouse interest to make one act. Their sins of overkill can be forgiven because they want to go the extra mile to sell the client’s product. They exercise that poetic or linguistic liberty, including the use of pidgin or smattering English to paint black, white. Ignore them and keep faith with the Standard English. To understand better, the use of the expressions, ‘tuition’ and ‘fee’, let’s dissect the two and show how they can be effectively engaged to avoid sounding repetitive. We have plenty of reference materials, including the dictionary at our disposal and as a companion, whenever we are in doubt to make use of. Though the reference books may not give one the exact answer or solution to the problem, they however, provide the inspiration or the right compass to tap from.
There are inexhaustible just as they are indispensable in the search for knowledge. The phrase ‘tuition’ has much to do with teaching or instruction, especially when paid for. Chambers 21st Century dictionary expanded it further to include, fees paid in a college or university; the fee levied or paid for teaching or instruction, it emphasized. For those of you who may be interested, the adjective of it, is tuitional or tuitionary. One can simply write, for example, “The University College has raised its tuition by over 25% beginning from the 2022 academic year.” You would be wrong to speak, for example, “The University College has raised its tuition fees by over 25% beginning from the 2022 academic year.” In summary, the statement, ‘tuition fees’ is an overkill. It is either one writes ‘tuition,’ leave out the unnecessary attachment, ‘fees’. Conversely, the expression, ‘fee’ or ‘fees’ is a charge made for professional services rendered.
For example, a doctor or lawyer charges fees for offering professional services to his or her clients. Membership fees are also charged by societies, and for sitting for an examination; payment for school or college education, or for a course of instruction. Another good example is payment made to a football club for the transfer of players. In all, we pay school fees, and charge fees for professional services rendered by the doctor or the lawyer. ‘Tuition’ is more about the fees paid in higher institutions. ‘Fees’ can be taken as a generic term, with ‘tuition’ embedded. In other words, ‘tuition’ is a fee paid at the University level or Higher Institution. For the primary and secondary levels of education, payment of “school fees” is more appropriate and befitting to speak or write.
