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Consider using these simpler, concise alternatives to verbose, sometimes amusing redundant phrases.
Garbl's Fat-Free-Writing
Links--This annotated directory lists Web sites with tips to
help you cut the fat from your writing--so your readers can easily chew,
digest and be nourished by your top-choice words.
Instead of ... |
Change to or try ... |
| absolutely complete | complete |
| absolutely essential, absolutely indispensable | essential, indispensable |
| actual experience, past experience | experience |
| added bonus | bonus |
| advance planning, advance notice, advance warning | planning, notice, 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 |
| arrived at the conclusion | concluded |
| ask the question | ask |
| assembled together | assembled |
| at about | about or at |
| ATM machine | ATM |
| at the earliest possible date | , soon, as soon as possible (or be specific) |
| (refer, repay, return, revert) back | drop back |
| basic fundamental | basic, fundamental |
| big in size | big |
| brief in duration | brief |
| cancel out | cancel |
| capital city, Capitol building | capital, Capitol |
| CD-ROM disk | CD-ROM |
| clearly evident | evident, obvious |
| close proximity | near, close |
| (blue, green, red ...) in color | blue, green, red ... |
| completely demolished, completely destroyed | demolished, destroyed |
| completely opposite | opposite |
| completely surrounded | surrounded |
| complete monopoly | monopoly |
| consensus of opinion, general consensus | consensus |
| continue on | continue |
| contributing factor | factor, reason, cause |
| 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 |
| each and every | each or every (not both) |
| enclosed herewith please find, enclosed herein | enclosed is, I enclose, here is, here are |
| end product, end result | product, result |
| estimated at about | estimated at or about |
| exactly identical | identical |
| excess verbiage | verbiage |
| few in number | few |
| filled to capacity | filled |
| final completion, final conclusion, final outcome, final result | completion, conclusion, outcome, result |
| first and foremost | first |
| first began (created, introduced, invented) | began (created, introduced, invented) |
| follow after | after |
| foot pedal | pedal |
| foreign imports | imports |
| forward progress | progress |
| free gift | free or gift |
| future plans | plans |
| general consensus | consensus |
| general public | public, citizens |
| group together | group |
| HIV virus | HIV |
| honest truth | truth |
| hot-water heater | water heater |
| if and when | either if or when |
| I wish to take this opportunity to thank you | thank you |
| join together, link together | join, link |
| large in size | large |
| made out of | Drop out |
| may possibly, might possibly | Drop possibly |
| month of January, month of June ... | January, June ... |
| more and more | often |
| mutual (agreement, communication, cooperation, friendship, understanding) | Drop mutual |
| necessary (prerequisite, requirement, requisite) | Drop necessary, use only necessary, or use needed or essential instead |
| new breakthrough | breakthrough |
| new development | development |
| none at all | none |
| old (adage, cliche, maxim, proverb, relic, saying) | drop old |
| over and over | again, repeatedly |
| overexaggerate | exaggerate |
| passing (craze, fad, fancy, phase) | Drop passing |
| past (previous, prior) history (accomplishment, experience, performance, practice, precedent, record) | Drop past, previous or prior |
| period of time | either period or time |
| personally responsible | responsible |
| PIN number | PIN |
| point in time | either now or today |
| postpone until later | postpone |
| potentially dangerous, potentially hazardous | dangerous, hazardous, unsafe |
| present incumbent | incumbent |
| rate of speed | speed |
| (all-time, new) record (high) | Drop all-time, new, high |
| repeat again | repeat |
| (the) reason is because | (the) reason is or because |
| round in shape | round |
| safe haven | haven |
| same identical | same |
| separate apart | separate |
| sharing the same ... | substitute using for sharing or drop same |
| small in size | small |
| smooth to the touch | smooth |
| square in shape | square |
| starve to death | starve |
| still remain(s) | remain(s) |
| storm event | storm |
| sum total | total |
| tall in height, tall of stature | tall |
| temporary loan | loan |
| time reprieve | reprieve |
| time period | time, period |
| totally demolished, totally destroyed | demolished, destroyed |
| (combine, group, join, link, unite) together (with) | drop together |
| total number | number |
| true fact | fact, truth |
| 12 noon, 12 midnight | noon, midnight |
| unite together | unite |
| unless or until | either unless or until |
| (ascend, climb, hoist, lift) up | up |
| usual custom, usual habit | custom, habit |
| visible to the eye | visible |
| warn in advance | warn |
| weather conditions | weather, climate |
| while at the same time | either while or at the same time |
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Maintained by Gary B. Larson of Seattle, Washington, garbltoo@gmail.com.
June 9, 2008.