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Shorter, simpler words
Guide to concise writing
Try using these shorter, simpler alternatives to overstated, bureaucratic and pompous words. Also see Using appropriate words in the County's Plain-language writing guide.
Avoid these ... |
Try these instead ... |
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| access (as a verb) | buy, earn, gain, get, pick up, reach, win |
| accommodate | adapt, adjust, allow, fit, handle, help, hold, house, grant |
| accommodation(s) | room(s) |
| accompany | attend, belong to, escort, go with |
| accomplish | achieve, carry out, do, finish, get done, perform, succeed |
| accordingly | so, therefore |
| accountability | responsibility |
| acquaint | tell, inform |
| acquire | get, buy, win |
| additional | added, another, extra, more (or be specific) |
| advise | explain, give advice, mention, recommend, say, tell |
| aforementioned | these |
| annex (as a verb) | attach |
| antihetical | against, opposite, opposed |
| apparent | clear, plain, obvious |
| appear | look, seem |
| append | add, attach |
| applicable | apply to |
| appropriate | apt, correct, fitting, proper, relevent, right, suitable (as an adjective); seize, set apart, set aside, steal, take (as a verb) |
| approximately | about, almost, nearly, roughly (Avoid around) |
| arrive | come |
| ascertain | be sure, check, discover, find out, learn |
| assist, assistance | aid, back, help, relieve |
| attain | arrive at, gain, get, grasp, reach, win |
| attempt (as a verb) | take on, try |
| attired | clothed, dressed, wore |
| attributable | due |
| augment | increase, make larger |
| bimonthly, biweekly | every other month, every two months; every other week, every two weeks |
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Style Home Concise Writing Home | Words | Phrases | Redundancies |
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| capitalize | draw upon, profit by |
| cast (as a verb) | throw |
| category | class, group |
| cease | end, finish, stop |
| cognizant | aware, knowing |
| commence | begin, get under way, open, start |
| complete | fill up, finish |
| components | ingredients, items, parts, sections, units |
| conceal | cloak, cover, disguise, hide, mask, shelter, veil |
| concept | idea |
| concerning | about, on |
| consequence | effect, importance, note, outcome, result, weight |
| consequently | so |
| considerable | much |
| consolidate | combine, join |
| constitute | form, frame, make up, set up |
| construct | build, compose, erect, form, frame, make, model, set up |
| container | bottle, jar, package |
| continue | keep on |
| cooperate | help, work together |
| correspondence | letter, e-mail |
| currently | now |
| customary | normal, ordinary, regular, routine, usual |
| deem | consider, believe, judge, think, treat as, view |
| delete | cross out, cross through, cut, drop, remove |
| deleterious | harmful |
| demise | death |
| demonstrate | display, explain, prove, show, teach; march |
| denote | mark, mean, note, represent, say, show, stand for |
| depart | go, leave |
| designate | appoint, choose, earmark, label, name, set, show |
| desire | need, want, wish |
| desist | end, give up, stop, suspend |
| detain | hold |
| determine | control, decide, discover, end, figure out, find out, fit, fix, learn, set, settle, work out |
| diminutive | little, small, tiny |
| discover | find |
| disseminate | communicate, deliver, distribute, give, scatter, send, send out, sent, spread |
| donate | give, grant, present |
| duplicate | copy, double, multiply, repeat (as a verb); copy, double, match (as a noun); double, matching (as an adjective) |
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Style Home Concise Writing Home | Words | Phrases | Redundancies |
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| effectuate | carry out, cause |
| e.g. (exempli gratia) | for example, such as |
| eliminate | cancel, cut, cut out, drop, end, erase, expel, get rid of, remove |
| elucidate | explain |
| emoluments | pay |
| employ (an instrument or tool) | use |
| endeavor (as a verb) | carry out, take on, try |
| enumerate | count, list, name, number |
| establish | find out, show |
| et al. (et alibi, et alii) | and others, and elsewhere |
| etc. (et cetera) | and others, and so on, and the like, and the rest |
| eventuality | event, possible event |
| evince | make evident, show, show signs of |
| expedite | hasten, help along, hurry, rush, send, speed up |
| expend | spend |
| expiration, expiry | end, ending |
| extend | give |
| fabricate | build, create, forge, invent, make, make up, produce |
| facilitate | ease, enable, help, make easier, make easy, promote, simplify |
| facility | base, building, factory, laboratory, office, warehouse |
| factor | cause, circumstances, condition, fact, feature, part, reason (or delete or be specific) |
| feasible | achievable; likely, possible, probable |
| feedback | comments, opinions, responses |
| finalize | complete, end, finish, settle, wrap up |
| following | after |
| foregoing | this, these |
| formulate | create, develop, devise, draft, draw up, express, form, frame, plan, work out |
| forthwith | at once, immediately, now, soon, promptly |
| forward (as a verb) | pass on, send, send on |
| fundamental | basic |
| furnish | equip, give, provide, send, supply |
| furthermore | also |
| henceforth | from now on, from now |
| hosted | entertained, gave, was host to |
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Style Home Concise Writing Home | Words | Phrases | Redundancies |
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| i.e. (id est) | that is |
| imbibe | drink |
| immediately | at once |
| impact (as a verb) | affect, change, have an impact, increase, influence, stimulate, |
| implement | begin, carry out, do, complete, finish, follow, fulfill, impose, put in place, put into effect, put into use, set up, start (as a verb); instrument, tool (as a noun) |
| inaugurate | begin |
| incombustible | fireproof |
| indebtedness | debt |
| indicate | mark, point out, point to, read, say, show, signal, suggest, tell |
| individual, individuals | person, people |
| initiate | admit, begin, cause, create, do first, found, introduce, launch, open, set up, start |
| input, output, throughput | information; input: advice, comments, opinions, thoughts, views; output: byproduct, product, result, work; throughput: material |
| inquire | ask |
| institute (as a verb) | begin, start, create, found, set up |
| instruct | coach, command, direct, order, show, teach, tell, train |
| interface | collaborate, contact, interact, link, meet, work together |
| interrogate | question |
| intimate (as a verb) | hint, say, suggest |
| irregardless | regardless |
| locality, location | district, neighborhood; place, site |
| luncheon | lunch |
| manner | way, way of doing |
| materialize | appear, come about, develop, happen, occur, turn up |
| methodology | methods, procedures |
| minuscule | tiny |
| mitigate | ease, lessen, moderate, reduce, relieve, soften |
| modify, modifications | adapt, adjust, change, vary; adjustments, changes, variations |
| monies, moneys | cash, funds, money |
| moreover | and, also, as well, besides, but, however, what's more |
| Style Home Concise Writing Home | Words | Phrases | Redundancies |
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| necessitate | require, call, call for, compel, force, make, need |
| nevertheless | but, even so, however |
| notify | tell |
| numerous | many, several (or be more specific) |
| objective | aim, goal |
| obligated | bound, required |
| obligation | bond, contract, debt, duty, favor, responsibility, tie |
| observe | follow, keep, note, obey, remark, see, view, watch |
| obtain | get, buy, earn, exist, gain, hold, stand |
| obviate | avoid |
| occasion (as a verb) | cause |
| ongoing | active, advancing, continuing, constant, current, under way, endless, growing, lasting |
| operate | act, cause, go, handle, keep, manage, perform, run, use, work |
| operational | active, live, running, working |
| optimum | best, greatest, ideal, most, peak |
| orientate | orient |
| overall | complete, general, total |
| paradigm | example, model, pattern |
| parameter | boundary, extent, limit, perimeter--or characteristic, condition, feature, property |
| permit | agree to, allow, let |
| persons | people, anyone |
| peruse | examine, inspect, read carefully (or thoroughly), review, study |
| place (as a verb) | put |
| portion | part |
| possess | own, have, control, hold, take, take over |
| possibility | chance |
| preceding | last, before |
| preplanning | planning |
| present (as a verb) | give |
| presently | in a little while, in a short time, shortly, soon (not now) |
| preserve | keep, keep safe, maintain, protect |
| preventative | preventive |
| prior | earlier |
| prioritize | order, rank, set priorities |
| proceed | go (ahead), advance, continue, go on, move, run, walk |
| procure | acquire, arrange, buy, find, gain, get, win |
| purchase | buy |
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Style Home Concise Writing Home | Words | Phrases | Redundancies |
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| receive | get |
| regarding | about, on |
| reimburse | repay |
| relate | tell |
| remain | stay |
| remainder | rest, balance, excess, surplus |
| remove | take away, haul off, haul away |
| remunerate | pay |
| reoccur | recur |
| reproduce | copy |
| request (as a verb) | ask, question, seek |
| reside | live, remain, stay |
| residences | addresses, homes, houses |
| retain | keep, hold, save |
| secure | get |
| select | choose, pick |
| shall | must, will |
| sibling | brother, sister |
| state | say, tell, write down |
| strategize | plan |
| subsequently | afterwards, following, later, |
| subsequent, subsequent to | after, following, later, next, resulting, then |
| substantiate | back up, confirm, prove, support |
| suffice | be enough, do |
| sufficient | enough |
| summon | send for, call, call on, call up |
| supplement | add to |
| supplementary | extra, more |
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Style Home Concise Writing Home | Words | Phrases | Redundancies |
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| terminate | end, close, finish, limit, stop, wind up |
| therefore | so |
| transmit | send |
| transpire | leak out; happen, occur, take place |
| ultimate | crowning, eventual, final, last, perfect, supreme |
| upon | on |
| utilize | use |
| use up | use |
| virtually | almost |
| visualize | see |
| whether | if |