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Consider using these shorter, simpler alternatives to bureaucratic, overstated and pompous words. Note that several simple words may be clearer than a single long word.
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 ... |
| access (as a verb) | get, reach |
| accommodate | fit, hold, adapt, house, adjust, help, grant, allow |
| accommodation, accommodations | home, house, room, homes, houses, rooms |
| accompany, accompanying | go with, escort, with, attend, belong to |
| accomplish | do, achieve, perform, succeed, carry out |
| accordingly | so |
| acquire | get, buy, win, gain, earn, pick up |
| additionally | and, also |
| (an) additional | more, added, other, extra, another |
| adequate (number of) | enough, satisfactory, acceptable |
| adjust, adjustment | change |
| advise | tell, recommend |
| afford | give |
| alter, alteration | change |
| alternative | other |
| ameliorate | make better, improve |
| analogous | similar |
| anticipate | expect |
| append | attach, add |
| apprise | tell, advise |
| appropriate (as an adjective) | proper, right, fitting, suitable, apt, correct |
| (for) approximately | about, roughly, almost, around, close to, nearly, or so |
| ascertain | check, be sure, find out, discover, learn |
| assist; assistance | help, aid, back, relieve; help, aid, backing, support, relief |
| attain | reach, succeed, meet, gain, get, win, arrive at, grasp |
| attempt (as a verb) | try, take on |
| attired | dressed, dressed, clothed |
| augment | increase, make larger |
| basically | Delete or use mainly, most, mostly, chiefly, largely |
| biannually | twice a year |
| bimonthly , biweekly | every two months, every other month; every two weeks, every other week |
|
Words | Phrases | Redundancies |
|
| category | group |
| cease | end, stop, finish |
| cognizant | aware, knowing |
| commence | begin, start, open |
| commencement | beginning, start |
| communicate | write, talk |
| compensation | pay, payment |
| complete | finish |
| component, components | part, parts, ingredient, item, unit |
| comprise | consist of, contain |
| conceal | hide, cloak, cover, disguise, mask, shelter, veil |
| concept | idea |
| concerning | about, on, for, as for, in, of, over, to, toward, with |
| consequence | result, effect, outcome, importance, note, weight |
| consequently | so, thus |
| consolidate | combine, join |
| constitute | make up, be, compose, form, set up, frame |
| construct | build, make, erect, set up, compose, form, frame, model |
| container | bottle, jar, package |
| cooperate | help |
| currently | now, today, (just) yet or delete |
| customary | usual, ordinary, normal, routine, regular |
| deem | consider, think, treat as, believe, judge, view |
| delete | cut, drop |
| demise | death |
| demonstrate | show, prove, display, explain, teach, march |
| denote | show, say, mark, note, mean, stand for |
| depart | leave, go |
| designate | appoint, set, name, label, choose, earmark, show |
| desire | need, want, wish |
| desist | stop, suspend, end, give up |
| detain | hold |
| determine | figure out, learn, find out, fit, decide, settle, end, control, fix, discover |
| diminutive | small, tiny, little |
| disseminate | send out, spread, scatter |
| donate | give, grant, present |
| duplicate (as a verb) | copy, double, repeal, multiply |
|
Words | Phrases | Redundancies |
|
| effectuate | carry out, bring about, achieve, realize, cause |
| e.g. (exempli gratia) | for example |
| eliminate | cut, drop, end, get rid of, remove, erase, expel, cancel, cut out |
| employ (an instrument or tool) | use |
| encounter (as a verb) | meet, run into, face |
| endeavor (as a verb) | try, carry out |
| enumerate | list, name, count, number |
| et al. (et alibi, et alii) | and others, and elsewhere |
| etc. (et cetera) | and others, and the like, and the rest |
| evince | show, reveal |
| expedite | hasten, speed up, hurry |
| expend | spend, use, pay |
| expenditure | expense, cost, spending, outlay, charge, payment |
| expiration | end, close, finish, death |
| facilitate | help, ease, make easy, make easier, simplify, promote |
| facility | base, building, factory, laboratory, office, plant, warehouse (be specific or omit) |
| factor | part, fact, feature, condition, circumstances, reason, cause (be specific or omit) |
| feasible | possible, probable, likely |
| feedback | comments, response, opinions |
| finalize | finish, end, complete, settle, wrap up |
| following (as a preposition) | after |
| formulate | devise, develop, form, make, work out, draw up, draft, frame, create, express, plan |
| forward (as a verb) | send |
| fundamental | basic |
| furnish | give, send, provide, supply, equip |
| hence | so, from now, from here |
| henceforth | from now on, from now |
| hereafter; herein, herewith; heretofore | from now on or later for hereafter; here is (are), with this or in this for herein and herewith; up to now, earlier, before or until now for heretofore |
| hosted | gave, is host to, entertained |
|
Words | Phrases | Redundancies |
|
| i.e. (id est) | that is |
| impact (as a verb) | affect, influence |
| implement | carry out, achieve, do, follow, fulfill, make, produce, put in place, put into use, realize, set, set up, complete, impose (as a verb); tool, instrument (as a noun) |
| inception | beginning, start, birth |
| incombustible | fireproof |
| indicate | say, show, suggest, feel, hint, mention, point at, tell, mark, signal, point out, point to, read |
| indication | sign, signal, mark, hint, suggestion |
| individual, individuals | person, people, man, men, woman, women, anyone, everyone, someone |
| inform | tell |
| initiate | begin, introduce, open, start, cause, launch, set up, introduce, admit |
| input, output, throughput | information; input: advice, clout, comments, effort, ideas, opinions, thoughts, views; output: work, product, byproduct, result; throughput: material |
| inquire (about) | ask |
| institute (as a verb) | begin, start, set up, introduce, create, found |
| interface | interact, meet, collaborate, work together, link,contact |
| locality, location | area, city, district, locale, place, point, site, spot, town, zone, neighborhood |
| magnitude | size, extent, importance, greatness |
| manner | way |
| materialize | appear, develop, happen, occur, turn up, come about |
| maximum | most, largest, greatest |
| methodology | methods, principles, procedure |
| minuscule | tiny |
| mitigate | moderate, ease, soften, relieve, reduce |
| modify, modifications | change, vary, adapt, adjust; changes, variations, adjustments |
| monies, moneys | funds, money, cash |
| moreover | besides, also |
|
Back to
top
Words | Phrases | Redundancies |
|
| necessitate | require, demand, exact, must, need, force, compel, make, call, call for |
| necessity | need |
| nevertheless | anyhow, but, even so, however, still, yet |
| notification | notice, warning, advice, announcement |
| despite, although, even if, however | |
| numerous | many, countless, endless, several, untold (or be more specific) |
| objective | aim, goal |
| obligated | bound, compelled |
| obligation | debt, duty, bond, contract, tie, favor |
| observe | see, watch, note, view, follow, keep, obey, remark |
| obtain | get, earn, gain, buy, exist, hold, stand |
| obviate | avoid |
| ongoing | continuing, under way, active, constant, advancing, current, growing, endless, lasting |
| operate | use, work, run, perform, act, go, handle, manage, cause, keep |
| operational | active, live, running, working |
| optimal, optimum | best, ideal, model, greatest, most, peak |
| orientate | orient |
| overall | total, complete, general |
| paradigm | pattern, example, model |
| parameter | limit, boundary, guideline, extent, perimeter--or properties, conditions, characteristics, feature |
| permit | let, allow |
| peruse | read with care, review, study, examine, inspect |
| place (as a verb) | put |
| portion | part |
| possess | have, own, control, hold, take, take over |
| possibility | chance |
| preplan, preplanning | plan, planning |
| present (as a verb) | give, introduce, show |
| presently | in a little while, in a short time, shortly, soon |
| preserve | keep |
| preventative | preventive |
| previous | earlier |
| previously | before, earlier |
| principal | main, chief |
| prior | earlier |
| prioritize | arrange, list, order, rank, rate, set priorities |
| proceed | go, go ahead, continue, go on, move, run, walk, advance |
| procure | get, buy, gain, win, find |
| provide (with) | give |
| purchase (as a verb) | buy |
|
Words | Phrases | Redundancies |
|
| receive | accept, get |
| regard, regarding | about, on, for, as for, in, of, over, to, toward, with |
| relate (to) | say, show, tell |
| remain | stay |
| remainder | rest, remains, excess, surplus, balance |
| remove | take away, haul away |
| remunerate | pay |
| render | make, give, deliver, hand over, present, send in, pay, show |
| reoccur | recur |
| represents | is |
| reproduce | copy |
| request (as a verb) | ask, seek, question |
| reside | live, stay, remain |
| residences | homes, houses, addresses |
| retain | keep, hold, save |
| secure | get |
| select | choose, pick |
| semiannually | twice a year |
| shall | will, must |
| solely | only |
| state | say |
| strategize | plan |
| subsequently | later, afterward, then, after, next, since |
| subsequent (to) | later, after, afterward, next, since, then, following, resulting |
| substantiate | back up, confirm, prove, support, verify |
| summon | send for, call, call up, call on |
| supplement | add to |
|
Words | Phrases | Redundancies |
|
| terminate | end, stop, cancel, finish, fire, halt, close, wind up, limit |
| therefore | so, then, thus |
| thus | so |
| transmit | send, broadcast, relay, transfer, pass on, bear, carry |
| transpire | happen, occur, take place, leak out |
| ultimate | last, final, crowning, perfect, supreme, eventual |
| upon | on |
| utilize | use |
| use up | use |
| virtually | almost |
| vis-a-vis | about, compared with, opposite |
| whether | if |
|
Words | Phrases | Redundancies |
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Maintained by Gary B. Larson of Seattle, Washington, garbltoo@gmail.com.
June 9, 2008.