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Simple Words

Simple words

Fancy-pants words, academic language and unnecessary complexity are the enemies of good copy. On this page, you will simple alternatives to complex words.

(These words were originally published by Plain Language Action and Information Network (PLAIN), www.plainlanguage.gov.)
Don't say
a and/or b
accompany
accomplish
accorded
accordingly
accrue
accurate
additional
address
addressees
addressees are requested
adjacent to
advantageous
adversely impact on
advise
afford an opportunity
aircraft
allocate
anticipate
a number of
apparent
appreciable
appropriate
approximate
arrive onboard
as a means of
ascertain
as prescribed by
assist, assistance
attain
attempt
at the present time
be advised
benefit
by means of
capability
caveat
close proximity
combat environment
combined
commence
comply with
component
comprise
concerning
consequently
consolidate
constitutes
contains
convene
currently
deem
delete
demonstrate
depart
designate
desire
determine
disclose
discontinue
disseminate
due to the fact that
during the period
effect modifications
elect
eliminate
employ
encounter
endeavor
ensure
enumerate
equipments
equitable
establish
evidenced
evident
exhibit
expedite
expeditious
expend
expertise
expiration
facilitate
failed to
feasible
females
finalize
for a period of
for example,______etc.
forfeit
forward
frequently
function
finish
has a requirement for
herein
heretofore
herewith
however
identical
identify
immediately
impacted
implement
in accordance with
in addition
in an effort to
inasmuch as
in a timely manner
inception
incumbent upon
indicate
indication
initial
initiate
in lieu of
in order that
in order to
in regard to
in relation to
interface
interpose no objection
in the amount of
in the event of
in the near future
in the process of
in view of
in view of the above
is applicable to
is authorized to
is in consonance with
is responsible for
it appears
it is
it is essential
it is requested
liaison
limited number
magnitude
maintain
maximum
methodology
minimize
minimum
modify
monitor
necessitate
notify
not later than 10 May
not later than 1600
notwithstanding
numerous
objective
obligate
observe
on a regular basis
operate
optimum
option
parameters
participate
perform
permit
pertaining to
portion
possess
practicable
preclude
previous
previously
prioritize
prior to
proceed
procure
proficiency
promulgate
provide
provided that
provides guidance for
purchase
pursuant to
reflect
regarding
relative to
relocate
remain
remainder
remuneration
render
represents
request
require
requirement
reside
retain
said, some, such
selection
set forth in
similar to
solicit
state-of-the-art
subject
submit
subsequent
subsequently
substantial
successfully complete
sufficient
take action to
terminate
the month of
there are
therefore
therein
there is
thereof
the undersigned
the use of
this activity, command
timely
time period
transmit
type
under the provisions of
until such time as
utilize, utilization
validate
viable
vice
warrant
whereas
with reference to
with the exception of
witnessed
your office
/ (slash)
Say
a or b or both
go with
carry out, do
given
so
add, gain
correct, exact, right
added, more, other
discuss
you
(omit), please
next to
helpful
hurt, set back
recommend, tell
allow, let
plane
divide
expect
some
clear, plain
many
(omit) proper, right
about
arrive
to
find out, learn
in, under
aid, help
meet
try
at present, now
(omit)
help
by, with
ability
warning
near
combat
joint
begin, start
follow
part
form, include, make up
about, on
so
combine, join, merge
is, forms, makes up
has
meet
(omit), now
believe, consider, think
cut, drop
prove, show
leave
appoint, choose, name
want, wish
decide, figure, find
show
drop, stop
give, issue, pass, send
due to, since
during
make changes
choose, pick
cut, drop, end
use
meet
try
make sure
count
equipment
fair
set up, prove, show
showed
clear
show
hasten, speed up
fast, quick
spend
ability
end
ease, help
didn’t
can be done, workable
women
complete, finish
for
for example, such as
give up, lose
send
often
act, role, work
give, send
needs
here
until now
below, here
but
same
find, name, show
at once
affected, changed
carry out, start
by, following, per, under
also, besides, too
to
since
on time, promptly
start
must
show, write down
sign
first
start
instead
for, so
to
about, concerning, on
about, with, to
meet, work with
don’t object
for
if
shortly, soon
(omit)
since
so
applies to
may
agrees with, follows
(omit) handles
seems
(omit)
must, need to
please, we request, I request
discussion
limits
size
keep, support
greatest, largest, most
method
decrease, method
least, smallest
change
check, watch
cause, need
let know, tell
by 10 May, before 11 May
by 1600
inspite of, still
many
aim, goal
bind, compel
see
(omit)
run, use, work
best, greatest, most
choice, way
limits
take part
do
let
about, of, on
part
have, own
practical
prevent
earlier
before
rank
before
do, go ahead, try
(omit)
skill
issue, publish
give, offer, say
if
guides
buy
by, following, per, under
say, show
about, of, on
about, on
move
stay
rest
pay, payment
give, make
is
ask
must, need
need
live
keep
the, this, that
choice
in
like
ask for, request
latest
the, this, your
give, send
later, next
after, later, then
large, much
complete, pass
enough
(omit)
end, stop
(omit)
(omit)
so
there
(omit)
its, their
I
(omit)
us, we
prompt
(either one)
send
(omit)
under
until
use
confirm
practical, workable
instead of, versus
call for, permit
because, since
about
except for
saw
you
and, or
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