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 abbreviate accompany accomplish additional additionally admonish aforementioned afterwards antecedent anticipate antithesis apparent approximately ascertain autonomous shorten go with do extra also warn mentioned, [blank]* afterward preceding, prior expect opposite clear about find out independent capability caveat cessation commence commencement component concept conduct conjecture consider construct contiguous currently ability warning stop, pause begin, start beginning part idea do guess think build, make near, touching now with Replace basically breakthrough with [blank]* discovery

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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Writing Tips: Concise Word Usage equivalent fabricate facilitate feasible finalize firstly following formulate make, build ease possible end first after invent, devise heretofore geometry gradient guidelines shape, form slope guidance hitherto homogeneous hypothesis hypothesize illustrate illustrated impact impairment implement inception incision incombustible incorporate indication individualized initiate interface introduced inundate show drawn, sketched affect injury, harm do, put into effect start cut fireproof include sign individual start connect, boundary put flood obtain optimum orientate get best orient maintenance methodology miniscule modification upkeep method tiny change previous until now uniform idea suggest etc. etiology eventuate evidenced exhibit expedite equal [blank] cause happen showed show hasten, speed

parameters penultimate

limits, factors next to last

quantify quite

measure [blank]

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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 secondly segregate shortfall shortly subsequent terminate therewith towards transmit end with toward send validate ultimate unambiguous upon utilize, utilization last [blank] on use verification velocity (magnitude) very viable virtually within witnessed in saw confirm, evaluate proof speed [blank] workable almost subsequently sufficient surreptitiously second set apart shortage soon next later enough secretly remuneration represents requisite reveal pay, payment is needed show

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Writing Tips: Concise Word Usage

Part II: Making phrases more concise.

Replace a considerable amount (number) of a small number of a great number of times a majority (number) of a positive identification absolutely essential accounted for by the fact that actual experience advance plan afford an opportunity along the lines of already existing alternative choices almost unique an actual investigation an essential condition an example of this is the fact that an innumerable number of an integral part an order of magnitude faster and so on any and all are found to be, are known to be are in agreement are of the same opinion as a consequence of as a general rule as a matter of fact as a means of Redmond Physical Sciences -4 with much (many) a few, several often most (some, several, many) an identification essential because experience plan let like existing choices rare a study, an investigation a condition for example many, countless a part 10 times faster [blank] any are agree agree because generally [blank], in fact to 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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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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Writing Tips: Concise Word Usage first of all, first and foremost, (first introduction) first priority for a period of for the purpose of Xing (for the reason that) from the point of view of future plans gave a report give an account of give consideration (rise) to goes under the name of grouped together 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 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 first (introduction) priority for to X (because) for, according to plans reported describe consider (cause) is called grouped had done has studied is is has proved, is can (can, can) discuss look like about higher than if, when if essentials some can, may satisfactorily (promptly) [blank], in a sense nearly always

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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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Writing Tips: Concise Word Usage incumbent upon introduced a new is able to is beginning (is Xing) is defined as is equal to is equipped with is expected to is knowledgeable of (is known to be) is larger than is used to detect issued an announcement it has been reported by Jones it has been shown that it is apparent that (it is believed that) it is clear that must introduced can begins (Xs) is equals has, contains should knows (is) exceeds detects announced Jones reported [blank] apparently (I think) clearly

it is clear that more work needs to be done before I do not understand gaining a complete understanding of it is doubtful that possibly it is evident that a produced b it is found that it is generally believed it is important to note that it is likely that it is my (our) intention to it is my understanding that it is noteworthy that, it is of interest to note that it is often the case that it is possible that it is recognized that it is recommended that a produced b [blank] many think [blank] likely [blank], I (we) I understand that [blank] often possibly [blank] we (or I) recommend

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Writing Tips: Concise Word Usage it is significant that it is worth noting (or pointing out) that it may be mentioned that it may be that, it may be seen that it may, however, be noted that it must be remembered that it should be noted (or pointed out) that it was found that it was observed in these experiments that it will be appreciated that it would appear that join together lacked the ability to large amounts of large in size lenticular in character located at (near) made the arrangement for made the decision made the measurement of main essentials majority of make an assumption that make preparations for make reference to mix together more or less mutual cooperation [blank] [blank], note that [blank] I think, [blank] but [blank] [blank], note that [blank] we observed [blank] apparently join could not much big, large lenticular at (near) arranged decided measured essentials most assume prepare refer mix [blank] cooperation

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Writing Tips: Concise Word Usage necessary requisite necessitates the inclusion of needless to say never before none at all not later than not uncommon now at this time of great importance of great practical importance of long standing of such hardness that of the opinion that offered a suggestion on a daily (weekly, annual) basis on account of on behalf of on no occasion on the basis of on the grounds that (on the occasion of) on the order of on the part of on the other hand one and the same one of the (one of the only) open up or alternately original source overall plan owing to the fact that requisite needs, requires [blank you may delete the sentence] never none by common now important useful old so hard that think that suggested daily (weekly, yearly) because for never by, based on since, because (when) about by, among, for otherwise, conversely the same a (the only) open or, alternately source plan because

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Writing Tips: Concise Word Usage

past history percolate down performed the development of period of time place emphasis on point in time pooled together positive identification presents a picture similar to prior to private industry provided that quite a large quantity of rather abnormal reason why refer back to as referred to as related to each other rendered completely inoperative repeat again reported in the literature resultant effect results so far achieved reverted back root cause separate entities serious crisis served as a catalyst

history percolate built, developed, made period stress, emphasize time pooled identification resembles before industry if much abnormal reason refer to, call called related broken repeat reported result results so far reverted cause entities crisis catalyzed

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Writing Tips: Concise Word Usage serves the function of being smaller in size so as to start out, start off still persists subject matter subsequent to superimpose over each other symptoms indicative of take action take (takes) into consideration take part in taken into account tentatively suggest the course of the fact that the great majority of the opinion is advanced that the predominant number of the presence of the purpose of this study is to clarify the question as to whether the reason is because the tests have not as yet the vast majority of the X in question there is no doubt that there is reason to believe this particular instance (this particular time) this result would seem to indicate is smaller to start persists subject after superimpose symptoms of act consider (includes) affect, influence included suggest [blank] [blank] most we [I] think most [blank] we clarify whether because the tests have not most this X, these X [blank] no doubt we [I] think this instance (now) this result indicates (or suggests)

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Writing Tips: Concise Word Usage through the use of time period to the extent that to the fullest possible extent true facts two equal halves unanimity of opinion uniformly consistent until such time as very necessary was of the opinion that ways and means we have insufficient knowledge we might add that we wish to thank X for what is known as what is the explanation of whether or not with a view to with reference to with regard to with respect to with the possible exception of with the result that within the realm of possibility X different ways by, with period, time if fully facts halves agreement consistent until necessary believed, thought means, ways we do not know [blank] we thank X for [or just state the deed] [blank] why whether to about about, concerning about except so that possible X ways

Sources
The above suggestions came from the first eight books on our source page plus ones I Redmond Physical Sciences -14 Jon Nelson 6/2011

Writing Tips: Concise Word Usage have noted in my own research.

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