Guide to concise writing: redundant phrase replacements Try using these simpler, concise alternatives to redundant phrases. Also see Using appropriate words in the county's Plain-language writing guide.
Avoid these ... |
Try these instead ... |
| absolutely complete |
complete |
| absolutely essential |
essential |
| absolute necessity |
necessity |
| actual experience, past experience |
experience |
| added bonus |
bonus |
| advance notice, advance planning, advance warning |
notice, planning, warning |
| advance reservations |
reservations |
| already exist |
drop already |
| and also |
use either and or also but not both |
| are in receipt of |
have, have received, received |
| arrived at the conclusion |
assumed, closed, decided, ended, finished, inferred, settled |
| ask the question |
ask |
| assembled together |
assembled |
| at about |
about or at |
| ATM machine |
ATM |
| at the earliest possible date |
as soon as, as soon as possible, soon (or be specific) |
| basic fundamental |
basic, fundamental |
| before in the past |
before or in the past |
| brief in duration |
brief |
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Concise Writing Home | Words | Phrases | Redundancies
Plain Language |
| capital city, Capitol building |
capital, Capitol |
| CD-ROM disk |
CD-ROM |
| city of (Bellevue, Renton, etc.) |
Drop city of |
| clearly evident |
obvious |
| close proximity |
close, near |
| collaborate together |
collaborate |
| (blue, green, red ... in) color |
blue, green, red ... |
| completely demolished, completely destroyed |
demolished, destroyed |
| completely opposite |
opposite |
| completely surrounded |
surrounded |
| complete monopoly |
monopoly |
| connect together |
connect |
| consensus of opinion, general consensus |
agreement, consensus |
| continue on |
continue |
| contributing factor |
cause, factor, reason |
| controversial issue |
issue |
| cooperate together |
cooperate (or replace with simpler help) |
| costs a total of, costs the sum of |
costs |
| current status |
status |
| doctorate degree |
doctorate |
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Concise Writing Home | Words | Phrases | Redundancies
Plain Language |
| each and every |
each or every (not both) |
| enclosed herewith please find, enclosed herein |
enclosed is, here is, here are, I enclose, with this |
| end result |
result |
| estimated at about |
about or estimated at |
| exactly identical |
identical |
| fair and equitable |
fair or equitable |
| few in number |
few |
| filled to capacity |
filled |
| final outcome |
outcome |
| first and foremost |
first, chief, main |
| first began, first created |
began, created |
| foreign imports |
imports |
| free gift |
free or gift |
| future plans |
plans |
| general consensus (of opinion) |
consensus |
| general public |
public, citizens |
| group together |
group |
| HIV virus |
HIV |
| honest truth |
truth |
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Concise Writing Home | Words | Phrases | Redundancies
Plain Language |
| if and when |
either if or when |
| I wish to take this opportunity to thank you |
thank you |
| join together, link together |
join, link |
| made a statement saying |
said, stated |
| merge together, mingle together, mix together |
merge, mingle, mix |
| month of January, month of June ... |
January, June ... |
| more and more |
often |
| mutual advantage of both |
mutual advantage |
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Concise Writing Home | Words | Phrases | Redundancies
Plain Language |
| new breakthrough |
breakthrough |
| new development |
development |
| none at all |
none |
| over and over |
again, repeatedly |
| overexaggerate |
exaggerate |
| past experience, past history |
experience, history, past |
| period of time |
either period or time |
| pair of twins |
twins |
| pause for a moment |
pause |
| point in time |
either now or today |
| postpone until later |
postpone |
| pre-existing, prerecorded |
existing, recorded |
| protrude out |
protrude |
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Concise Writing Home | Words | Phrases | Redundancies
Plain Language |
| refer (repay, return, revert) back |
Drop back |
| repeat again |
repeat |
| (the) reason is because, the reason why |
reasons, (the) reason is, because |
| re-elected for another term |
re-elected |
| regress back |
regress |
| rise up |
rise |
| same identical |
same |
| small in size |
small |
| square in shape |
square |
| still continues to |
continues to |
| still remains |
remains |
| storm event |
storm |
| sum total |
total |
| surrounded on all sides |
surrounded |
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Concise Writing Home | Words | Phrases | Redundancies
Plain Language |
| temporary loan |
loan |
| throughout the entire |
throughout |
| time period |
time, period |
| totally demolished, totally destroyed |
demolished, destroyed |
| total number |
total or number |
| true fact |
fact |
| 12 midnight, 12 noon |
midnight, noon |
| unite together |
unite |
| unless or until |
either unless or until |
| usual habit |
habit |
| visible to the eye |
visible | Back to top
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