Guide to concise writing: shorter, simpler words 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 ... |
| 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 |
go with, attend, belong to, escort |
| accomplish |
achieve, carry out, do, perform, succeed |
| additional |
added, another, extra, more (or be specific) |
| advise |
explain, mention, recommend, say, tell |
| annex (as a verb) |
attach |
| appear |
look, seem |
| append |
attach, add |
| appropriate |
apt, correct, fitting, proper, right, suitable (as an adjective); set apart, set aside, take; seize, steal (as a verb) |
| approximately |
about, almost, around, nearly, roughly |
| arrive |
come |
| ascertain |
be sure, check, discover, find out, learn |
| assist |
aid, back, help, relieve |
| attain |
reach, arrive at, gain, get, grasp, win |
| attempt (as a verb) |
take on, try |
| attired |
dressed, clothed, wore |
| augment |
increase, make larger |
| bimonthly, biweekly |
every other month, every two months; every other week, every two weeks |
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Concise Writing Home | Words | Phrases | Redundancies
Plain Language |
| cast (as a verb) |
throw |
| category |
group |
| cease |
stop, end, finish |
| cognizant |
aware, knowing |
| commence |
begin, start, open |
| complete |
finish |
| components |
ingredients, items, parts, units |
| conceal |
hide, cloak, cover, disguise, mask, shelter, veil |
| concept |
idea |
| concerning |
about, on |
| consequence |
effect, importance, note, outcome, result, weight |
| 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 |
| currently |
now |
| customary |
normal, ordinary, regular, routine, usual |
| deem |
consider, treat as, believe, judge, think, view |
| delete |
cut, drop |
| demise |
death |
| demonstrate |
display, explain, prove, show, teach; march |
| denote |
mark, mean, note, say, show, stand for |
| depart |
go, leave |
| designate |
appoint, choose, earmark, label, name, set, show |
| desire |
need, want, wish |
| desist |
stop, end, give up, suspend |
| detain |
hold |
| determine |
control, decide, discover, end, figure out, find out, fit, fix, learn, settle |
| diminutive |
little, small, tiny |
| discover |
find |
| disseminate |
deliver, scatter, send out, 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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Concise Writing Home | Words | Phrases | Redundancies
Plain Language |
| effectuate |
carry out, cause |
| e.g. (exempli gratia) |
for example |
| eliminate |
cancel, cut, cut out, drop, end, erase, expel, get rid of, remove |
| emoluments |
pay |
| employ (an instrument or tool) |
use |
| endeavor (as a verb) |
try, carry out |
| enumerate |
count, list, name, number |
| et al. (et alibi, et alii) |
and others, and elsewhere |
| etc. (et cetera) |
and others, and the like, and the rest |
| eventuality |
event, possible event |
| evince |
show |
| expedite |
hasten, hurry, speed up |
| expend |
spend |
| expiration, expiry |
end |
| extend |
give |
| fabricate |
build, create, invent, make, make up, produce |
| facilitate |
ease, 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 |
| formulate |
create, develop, devise, draft, draw up, express, form, frame, plan, work out |
| forthwith |
immediately, now, soon, promptly |
| forward (as a verb) |
send |
| fundamental |
basic |
| furnish |
equip, give, provide, send, supply |
| henceforth |
from now on, from now |
| hosted |
entertained, gave, was host to |
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Concise Writing Home | Words | Phrases | Redundancies
Plain Language |
| i.e. (id est) |
that is |
| imbibe |
drink |
| impact (as a verb) |
affect, influence |
| implement |
carry out, do, follow, fulfill, impose, put in place, put into use, set up (as a verb); instrument, tool (as a noun) |
| inaugurate |
begin |
| incombustible |
fireproof |
| indicate |
show, mark, point out, point to, read, say, signal, suggest, tell |
| individual, individuals |
person, people |
| initiate |
begin, admit, cause, 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) |
suggest |
| irregardless |
regardless |
| locality, location |
district, neighborhood; place, site |
| luncheon |
lunch |
| manner |
way |
| 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 |
also, besides, but, however |
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Concise Writing Home | Words | Phrases | Redundancies
Plain Language |
| necessitate |
require, call, call for, compel, force, make, need |
| nevertheless |
but, however |
| numerous |
many, several (or be more specific) |
| objective |
aim, goal |
| obligated |
bound |
| obligation |
bond, contract, debt, duty, favor, 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 |
allow, let |
| peruse |
read, examine, inspect, review, study |
| place (as a verb) |
put |
| portion |
part |
| possess |
own, have, control, hold, take, take over |
| possibility |
chance |
| preplanning |
planning |
| present (as a verb) |
give |
| presently |
in a little while, in a short time, shortly, soon--not now |
| preserve |
keep |
| preventative |
preventive |
| prior |
earlier |
| prioritize |
rank, set priorities |
| proceed |
go (ahead), advance, continue, go on, move, run, walk |
| procure |
buy, find, gain, get, win |
| purchase |
buy |
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Concise Writing Home | Words | Phrases | Redundancies
Plain Language |
| receive |
get |
| regarding |
about, on |
| 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 |
pick |
| shall |
must, will |
| state |
say |
| strategize |
plan |
| subsequently |
later, afterwards |
| subsequent, subsequent to |
after, following, later, next, resulting, then |
| substantiate |
back up, confirm, prove, support |
| sufficient |
enough |
| summon |
send for, call, call on, call up |
| supplement |
add to |
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Concise Writing Home | Words | Phrases | Redundancies
Plain Language |
| terminate |
end, close, finish, limit, stop, wind up |
| therefore |
so |
| transpire |
leak out; happen, occur, take place |
| ultimate |
crowning, eventual, final, last, perfect, supreme |
| upon |
on |
| utilize |
use |
| use up |
use |
| virtually |
almost |
| whether |
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