Words and phrases to avoid, with suggested replacements ...

[Pages:15]Writing Tips: Concise Word Usage

Words and phrases to avoid, with suggested replacements

Part I: Replacing hard-to-say words with simpler, equivalent words.

Replace

with

Replace

with

abbreviate

shorten

basically

[blank]*

accompany

go with

breakthrough

discovery

accomplish

do

additional

extra

capability

ability

additionally

also

caveat

warning

admonish aforementioned

warn

cessation

mentioned, [blank]* commence

stop, pause begin, start

afterwards

afterward

commencement

beginning

antecedent

preceding, prior

component

part

anticipate

expect

concept

idea

antithesis

opposite

conduct

do

apparent

clear

conjecture

guess

approximately

about

consider

think

ascertain

find out

construct

build, make

autonomous

independent

contiguous

near, touching

currently

now

deem deficit demonstrate discourse discretized disengage duplicate

think shortage show talk discrete free copy

echelons eliminate elucidate employ enumerate encounter endeavor

levels remove, cut out explain, clarify use count, list meet try

* [blank] means that the word or phrase can be removed without any replacement words.

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? Jon Nelson 6/2011

Writing Tips: Concise Word Usage

fabricate facilitate feasible finalize firstly following formulate

geometry gradient guidelines

illustrate illustrated impact impairment implement inception incision incombustible incorporate indication individualized initiate interface introduced inundate

make, build ease possible end first after invent, devise

shape, form slope guidance

show drawn, sketched affect injury, harm do, put into effect start cut fireproof include sign individual start connect, boundary put flood

equivalent etc. etiology eventuate evidenced exhibit expedite

heretofore hitherto homogeneous hypothesis hypothesize

maintenance methodology miniscule modification

obtain optimum orientate

parameters penultimate

limits, factors next to last

quantify quite

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equal [blank] cause happen showed show hasten, speed

previous until now uniform idea suggest

upkeep method tiny change

get best orient

measure [blank]

? Jon Nelson 6/2011

Writing Tips: Concise Word Usage

perform permit personalized possess posterior potentiality practicable prepared preventative prioritize

do let personal have rear potential practical made preventive rank

terminate therewith towards transmit

end with toward send

ultimate unambiguous upon utilize, utilization

last [blank] on use

within

in

witnessed

saw

remuneration represents requisite reveal

pay, payment is needed show

secondly segregate shortfall shortly subsequent subsequently sufficient surreptitiously

second set apart shortage soon next later enough secretly

validate verification velocity (magnitude) very viable virtually

confirm, evaluate proof speed [blank] workable almost

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? Jon Nelson 6/2011

Writing Tips: Concise Word Usage

Part II: Making phrases more concise.

Replace

with

a considerable amount (number) of

much (many)

a small number of

a few, several

a great number of times

often

a majority (number) of

most (some, several, many)

a positive identification

an identification

absolutely essential

essential

accounted for by the fact that

because

actual experience

experience

advance plan

plan

afford an opportunity

let

along the lines of

like

already existing

existing

alternative choices

choices

almost unique

rare

an actual investigation

a study, an investigation

an essential condition

a condition

an example of this is the fact that

for example

an innumerable number of

many, countless

an integral part

a part

an order of magnitude faster

10 times faster

and so on

[blank]

any and all

any

are found to be, are known to be

are

are in agreement

agree

are of the same opinion

agree

as a consequence of

because

as a general rule

generally

as a matter of fact

[blank], in fact

as a means of

to

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? Jon Nelson 6/2011

Writing Tips: Concise Word Usage

as already stated as is the case as is well known as of this date as shown in Fig. 1 as to (as to whether) as yet ascertain the location of at a rapid rate at all times at an early date (at an earlier date) at present at some future time at the conclusion of at the present time, at the present moment at this (that) point in time

balance against one another based on (based on the fact that) basic fundamentals (essentials) be advised that, be able to be considered as body of work bring to a conclusion by means of

cancel out carefully examined carried out (carry out) characteristic features clearly demonstrate, clearly indicate

[blank] as happens [blank] today Figure 1 shows [blank], about (whether) yet find rapidly, fast always soon (previously) now later after now now (then)

balance from (because) fundamentals (essentials) [blank] is work conclude, end by, from, using, with

cancel scrutinized (or just `examined') done (do) characteristics show

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? Jon Nelson 6/2011

Writing Tips: Concise Word Usage

combine into one completely eliminate completely full (surrounded) conclusive proof consecutive in a row consensus of opinion continue to remain (continue on) control groups currently being (current status) currently underway

deemed it necessary to definitely proved despite the fact that different features (varieties) disease process due to the fact that during that time, during the time that during the course of

each individual person empty space enclosed herewith entirely X (X could be anything) eradicate completely even more significant every individual one examine the validity of exhibit a tendency to (exhibits the ability)

fatal outcome (final outcome) fewer in number

combine eliminate full (surrounded) proof consecutive consensus remain (continue) controls (but may be mistaken for a verb) being (status) underway

[blank] proved despite, although features (varieties) disease because while during, while

each person empty, space enclosed X eradicate more significant every one evaluate, test tend (can)

death (outcome) fewer

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? Jon Nelson 6/2011

Writing Tips: Concise Word Usage

first of all, first and foremost, (first introduction) first priority for a period of for the purpose of "X"ing (for the reason that) from the point of view of future plans

first (introduction) priority for to X (because) for, according to plans

gave a report give an account of give consideration (rise) to goes under the name of grouped together

reported describe consider (cause) is called grouped

had done previously has been engaged in a study of has been shown to be has been widely acknowledged as has proved itself to be has the capability of (`ability', `potential') have discussion of have the appearance of having regard to higher in comparison to

had done has studied is is has proved, is can (can, can) discuss look like about higher than

if conditions are such that if it is assumed that important essentials in a number of cases in a position to in a satisfactory (timely) manner in a very real sense in almost all cases

if, when if essentials some can, may satisfactorily (promptly) [blank], in a sense nearly always

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? Jon Nelson 6/2011

Writing Tips: Concise Word Usage

in case in close proximity to in color (e.g., red in color) in connection with in consequence of this fact in length (width, height) in light of the fact that in many cases in order to in relation (respect) to in shape (size) in some cases, in other cases in spite of the fact that in terms of in the absence (amount) of in the case of in the course of in the event of (in the event that) in the first place in the form of in the majority of instances in the near future in the possession of (in the presence of) in the process of tabulating in the vast majority of cases in the vicinity of in this day and age in view of the fact that inasmuch as incline to the view including but not limited to

if near, close [blank] (e.g., red) ? just state the color about, concerning thus, therefore, consequently long (wide, high) e.g. "5-m long" because often to to, toward (about) just say the shap or size (e.g. `small') sometimes despite, although about without (for) in, for the during, while when (if) first as usually, generally soon has, have (by, with) in tabulating usually near now because, since because think including

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? Jon Nelson 6/2011

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