Crossword Genius

Taught sound science by repetition (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tautology

'repetition' is the definition.
(I have seen 'Unnecessary repetition' mean 'tautology' so perhaps 'repetition' could also mean 'tautology')

'taught sound science by' is the wordplay.
'sound' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'science' becomes 'ology' (I've seen this before).
'by' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'taught' sounds like 'taut'.
'taut'+'ology'='TAUTOLOGY'

(Other definitions for tautology that I've seen before include "Repetition in different words for a gouty lot" , "identifying myself personally?" , "Use of words repeating something already implied" , "Unnecessary repetition of words" , "as new innovation, perhaps" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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