Garbl's Long Word Replacements -- shorter, simpler alternatives to bur...

http://home.comcast.net/~garbl/stylemanual/words.htm

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[ Home ] [ Up ] [ Writing Resources ] [ Style Manual ] [ Writing Bookshelf ] [ What's New ] 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 websites 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.

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Instead of ...
access (as a verb) accommodate accommodation, accommodations accompany, accompanying accomplish accordingly acquire additionally (an) additional

Change to or try ...

get, reach fit, hold, adapt, house, adjust, help, grant, allow home, house, room, homes, houses, rooms go with, escort, with, attend, belong to do, achieve, perform, succeed, carry out so get, buy, win, gain, earn, pick up and, also more, added, other, extra, another

adequate (number of) enough, satisfactory, acceptable adjust, adjustment advise afford alter, alteration alternative ameliorate analogous anticipate append apprise change tell, recommend give change other make better, improve similar expect attach, add tell, advise

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Garbl's Long Word Replacements -- shorter, simpler alternatives to bur...

http://home.comcast.net/~garbl/stylemanual/words.htm

appropriate (as an adjective) (for) approximately ascertain assist; assistance attain attempt (as a verb) attired augment basically biannually bimonthly , biweekly

proper, right, fitting, suitable, apt, correct about, roughly, almost, around, close to, nearly, or so check, be sure, find out, discover, learn help, aid, back, relieve; help, aid, backing, support, relief reach, succeed, meet, gain, get, win, arrive at, grasp try, take on dressed, dressed, clothed increase, make larger Delete or use mainly, most, mostly, chiefly, largely twice a year every two months, every other month; every two weeks, every other week
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Words | Phrases | Redundancies category cease cognizant commence commencement communicate compensation complete component, components comprise conceal concept concerning consequence group end, stop, finish aware, knowing begin, start, open beginning, start write, talk pay, payment finish part, parts, ingredient, item, unit consist of, contain hide, cloak, cover, disguise, mask, shelter, veil idea about, on, for, as for, in, of, over, to, toward, with result, effect, outcome, importance, note, weight

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Garbl's Long Word Replacements -- shorter, simpler alternatives to bur...

http://home.comcast.net/~garbl/stylemanual/words.htm

consequently consolidate constitute construct container cooperate currently customary deem delete demise demonstrate denote depart designate desire desist detain determine diminutive disseminate donate duplicate (as a verb)

so, thus combine, join make up, be, compose, form, set up, frame build, make, erect, set up, compose, form, frame, model bottle, jar, package help now, today, (just) yet or delete usual, ordinary, normal, routine, regular consider, think, treat as, believe, judge, view cut, drop death show, prove, display, explain, teach, march show, say, mark, note, mean, stand for leave, go appoint, set, name, label, choose, earmark, show need, want, wish stop, suspend, end, give up hold figure out, learn, find out, fit, decide, settle, end, control, fix, discover small, tiny, little send out, spread, scatter give, grant, present copy, double, repeal, multiply
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Words | Phrases | Redundancies effectuate e.g. (exempli gratia) eliminate employ (an instrument or tool) encounter (as a verb) carry out, bring about, achieve, realize, cause for example cut, drop, end, get rid of, remove, erase, expel, cancel, cut out use meet, run into, face

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Garbl's Long Word Replacements -- shorter, simpler alternatives to bur...

http://home.comcast.net/~garbl/stylemanual/words.htm

endeavor (as a verb) enumerate et al. (et alibi, et alii) etc. (et cetera) evince expedite expend expenditure expiration facilitate facility factor feasible feedback finalize following (as a preposition) formulate forward (as a verb) fundamental furnish hence henceforth hereafter; herein, herewith; heretofore hosted

try, carry out list, name, count, number and others, and elsewhere and others, and the like, and the rest show, reveal hasten, speed up, hurry spend, use, pay expense, cost, spending, outlay, charge, payment end, close, finish, death help, ease, make easy, make easier, simplify, promote base, building, factory, laboratory, office, plant, warehouse (be specific or omit) part, fact, feature, condition, circumstances, reason, cause (be specific or omit) possible, probable, likely comments, response, opinions finish, end, complete, settle, wrap up after devise, develop, form, make, work out, draw up, draft, frame, create, express, plan send basic give, send, provide, supply, equip so, from now, from here from now on, from now 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 gave, is host to, entertained
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Words | Phrases | Redundancies i.e. (id est) impact (as a verb) that is affect, influence

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Garbl's Long Word Replacements -- shorter, simpler alternatives to bur...

http://home.comcast.net/~garbl/stylemanual/words.htm

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) beginning, start, birth fireproof say, show, suggest, feel, hint, mention, point at, tell, mark, signal, point out, point to, read sign, signal, mark, hint, suggestion person, people, man, men, woman, women, anyone, everyone, someone tell begin, introduce, open, start, cause, launch, set up, introduce, admit information; input: advice, clout, comments, effort, ideas, opinions, thoughts, views; output: work, product, byproduct, result; throughput: material ask begin, start, set up, introduce, create, found interact, meet, collaborate, work together, link,contact area, city, district, locale, place, point, site, spot, town, zone, neighborhood size, extent, importance, greatness way appear, develop, happen, occur, turn up, come about most, largest, greatest methods, principles, procedure tiny moderate, ease, soften, relieve, reduce change, vary, adapt, adjust; changes, variations, adjustments funds, money, cash besides, also
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inception incombustible indicate indication individual, individuals inform initiate

input, output, throughput inquire (about) institute (as a verb) interface locality, location magnitude manner materialize maximum methodology minuscule mitigate modify, modifications monies, moneys moreover

Words | Phrases | Redundancies

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Garbl's Long Word Replacements -- shorter, simpler alternatives to bur...

http://home.comcast.net/~garbl/stylemanual/words.htm

necessitate necessity nevertheless notification

require, demand, exact, must, need, force, compel, make, call, call for need anyhow, but, even so, however, still, yet notice, warning, advice, announcement despite, although, even if, however

numerous objective obligated obligation observe obtain obviate ongoing operate operational optimal, optimum orientate overall paradigm parameter permit peruse place (as a verb) portion possess possibility preplan, preplanning present (as a verb) presently preserve

many, countless, endless, several, untold (or be more specific) aim, goal bound, compelled debt, duty, bond, contract, tie, favor see, watch, note, view, follow, keep, obey, remark get, earn, gain, buy, exist, hold, stand avoid continuing, under way, active, constant, advancing, current, growing, endless, lasting use, work, run, perform, act, go, handle, manage, cause, keep active, live, running, working best, ideal, model, greatest, most, peak orient total, complete, general pattern, example, model limit, boundary, guideline, extent, perimeter--or properties, conditions, characteristics, feature let, allow read with care, review, study, examine, inspect put part have, own, control, hold, take, take over chance plan, planning give, introduce, show in a little while, in a short time, shortly, soon keep

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Garbl's Long Word Replacements -- shorter, simpler alternatives to bur...

http://home.comcast.net/~garbl/stylemanual/words.htm

preventative previous previously principal prior prioritize proceed procure provide (with) purchase (as a verb)

preventive earlier before, earlier main, chief earlier arrange, list, order, rank, rate, set priorities go, go ahead, continue, go on, move, run, walk, advance get, buy, gain, win, find give buy
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Words | Phrases | Redundancies receive regard, regarding relate (to) remain remainder remove remunerate render reoccur represents reproduce request (as a verb) reside residences retain secure select semiannually shall accept, get about, on, for, as for, in, of, over, to, toward, with say, show, tell stay rest, remains, excess, surplus, balance take away, haul away pay make, give, deliver, hand over, present, send in, pay, show recur is copy ask, seek, question live, stay, remain homes, houses, addresses keep, hold, save get choose, pick twice a year will, must

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Garbl's Long Word Replacements -- shorter, simpler alternatives to bur...

http://home.comcast.net/~garbl/stylemanual/words.htm

solely state strategize subsequently subsequent (to) substantiate summon supplement

only say plan later, afterward, then, after, next, since later, after, afterward, next, since, then, following, resulting back up, confirm, prove, support, verify send for, call, call up, call on add to
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Words | Phrases | Redundancies terminate therefore thus transmit transpire ultimate upon utilize use up virtually vis-a-vis whether end, stop, cancel, finish, fire, halt, close, wind up, limit so, then, thus so send, broadcast, relay, transfer, pass on, bear, carry happen, occur, take place, leak out last, final, crowning, perfect, supreme, eventual on use use almost about, compared with, opposite if
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Words | Phrases | Redundancies

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Maintained by Gary B. Larson of Seattle, Washington, garbltoo@gmail.com. June 9, 2008.

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