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plain-english-alternatives.md

394 lines · skills/copy-editing/references/plain-english-alternatives.md at 88c79f6

Starts an agent

Most marks come from matching words in the file, so treat them as pointers.

1# Plain English Alternatives

3Replace complex or pompous words with plain English alternatives.

5Source: Plain English Campaign A-Z of Alternative Words (2001), Australian Government Style Manual (2024), plainlanguage.gov

7---

Plain English Alternatives

Replace complex or pompous words with plain English alternatives.

Source: Plain English Campaign A-Z of Alternative Words (2001), Australian Government Style Manual (2024), plainlanguage.gov

Raw lines 1 to 8

9## Contents

10- A

11- B

12- C

13- D

14- E

15- F

16- G-H

17- I

18- L-M

19- N-O

20- P

21- R

22- S

23- T-U

24- V-Z

25- Phrases to Remove Entirely

A
B
C
D
E
F
G-H
I
L-M
N-O
P
R
S
T-U
V-Z
Phrases to Remove Entirely

Raw lines 9 to 26

27## A

29| Complex | Plain Alternative |

30|---------|-------------------|

31| (an) absence of | no, none |

32| abundance | enough, plenty, many |

33| accede to | allow, agree to |

34| accelerate | speed up |

35| accommodate | meet, hold, house |

36| accomplish | do, finish, complete |

37| accordingly | so, therefore |

38| acknowledge | thank you for, confirm |

39| acquire | get, buy, obtain |

40| additional | extra, more |

41| adjacent | next to |

42| advantageous | useful, helpful |

43| advise | tell, say, inform |

44| aforesaid | this, earlier |

45| aggregate | total |

46| alleviate | ease, reduce |

47| allocate | give, share, assign |

48| alternative | other, choice |

49| ameliorate | improve |

50| anticipate | expect |

51| apparent | clear, obvious |

52| appreciable | large, noticeable |

53| appropriate | proper, right, suitable |

54| approximately | about, roughly |

55| ascertain | find out |

56| assistance | help |

57| at the present time | now |

58| attempt | try |

59| authorise | allow, let |

61---

A

Complex	Plain Alternative
(an) absence of	no, none
abundance	enough, plenty, many
accede to	allow, agree to
accelerate	speed up
accommodate	meet, hold, house
accomplish	do, finish, complete
accordingly	so, therefore
acknowledge	thank you for, confirm
acquire	get, buy, obtain
additional	extra, more
adjacent	next to
advantageous	useful, helpful
advise	tell, say, inform
aforesaid	this, earlier
aggregate	total
alleviate	ease, reduce
allocate	give, share, assign
alternative	other, choice
ameliorate	improve
anticipate	expect
apparent	clear, obvious
appreciable	large, noticeable
appropriate	proper, right, suitable
approximately	about, roughly
ascertain	find out
assistance	help
at the present time	now
attempt	try
authorise	allow, let

Raw lines 27 to 62

63## B

65| Complex | Plain Alternative |

66|---------|-------------------|

67| belated | late |

68| beneficial | helpful, useful |

69| bestow | give |

70| by means of | by |

72---

B

Complex	Plain Alternative
belated	late
beneficial	helpful, useful
bestow	give
by means of	by

Raw lines 63 to 73

74## C

76| Complex | Plain Alternative |

77|---------|-------------------|

78| calculate | work out |

79| cease | stop, end |

80| circumvent | avoid, get around |

81| clarification | explanation |

82| commence | start, begin |

83| communicate | tell, talk, write |

84| competent | able |

85| compile | collect, make |

86| complete | fill in, finish |

87| component | part |

88| comprise | include, make up |

89| (it is) compulsory | (you) must |

90| conceal | hide |

91| concerning | about |

92| consequently | so |

93| considerable | large, great, much |

94| constitute | make up, form |

95| consult | ask, talk to |

96| consumption | use |

97| currently | now |

99---

100

C

Complex	Plain Alternative
calculate	work out
cease	stop, end
circumvent	avoid, get around
clarification	explanation
commence	start, begin
communicate	tell, talk, write
competent	able
compile	collect, make
complete	fill in, finish
component	part
comprise	include, make up
(it is) compulsory	(you) must
conceal	hide
concerning	about
consequently	so
considerable	large, great, much
constitute	make up, form
consult	ask, talk to
consumption	use
currently	now

Raw lines 74 to 100

101## D

102

103| Complex | Plain Alternative |

104|---------|-------------------|

105| deduct | take off |

106| deem | treat as, consider |

107| defer | delay, put off |

108| deficiency | lack |

109| delete | remove, cross out |

110| demonstrate | show, prove |

111| denote | show, mean |

112| designate | name, appoint |

113| despatch/dispatch | send |

114| determine | decide, find out |

115| detrimental | harmful |

116| diminish | reduce, lessen |

117| discontinue | stop |

118| disseminate | spread, distribute |

119| documentation | papers, documents |

120| due to the fact that | because |

121| duration | time, length |

122| dwelling | home |

123

124---

125

D

Complex	Plain Alternative
deduct	take off
deem	treat as, consider
defer	delay, put off
deficiency	lack
delete	remove, cross out
demonstrate	show, prove
denote	show, mean
designate	name, appoint
despatch/dispatch	send
determine	decide, find out
detrimental	harmful
diminish	reduce, lessen
discontinue	stop
disseminate	spread, distribute
documentation	papers, documents
due to the fact that	because
duration	time, length
dwelling	home

Raw lines 101 to 125

Starts an agent dispatch :113

126## E

127

128| Complex | Plain Alternative |

129|---------|-------------------|

130| economical | cheap, good value |

131| eligible | allowed, qualified |

132| elucidate | explain |

133| enable | allow |

134| encounter | meet |

135| endeavour | try |

136| enquire | ask |

137| ensure | make sure |

138| entitlement | right |

139| envisage | expect |

140| equivalent | equal, the same |

141| erroneous | wrong |

142| establish | set up, show |

143| evaluate | assess, test |

144| excessive | too much |

145| exclusively | only |

146| exempt | free from |

147| expedite | speed up |

148| expenditure | spending |

149| expire | run out |

150

151---

152

E

Complex	Plain Alternative
economical	cheap, good value
eligible	allowed, qualified
elucidate	explain
enable	allow
encounter	meet
endeavour	try
enquire	ask
ensure	make sure
entitlement	right
envisage	expect
equivalent	equal, the same
erroneous	wrong
establish	set up, show
evaluate	assess, test
excessive	too much
exclusively	only
exempt	free from
expedite	speed up
expenditure	spending
expire	run out

Raw lines 126 to 152

153## F

154

155| Complex | Plain Alternative |

156|---------|-------------------|

157| fabricate | make |

158| facilitate | help, make possible |

159| finalise | finish, complete |

160| following | after |

161| for the purpose of | to, for |

162| for the reason that | because |

163| forthwith | now, at once |

164| forward | send |

165| frequently | often |

166| furnish | give, provide |

167| furthermore | also, and |

168

169---

170

F

Complex	Plain Alternative
fabricate	make
facilitate	help, make possible
finalise	finish, complete
following	after
for the purpose of	to, for
for the reason that	because
forthwith	now, at once
forward	send
frequently	often
furnish	give, provide
furthermore	also, and

Raw lines 153 to 170

171## G-H

172

173| Complex | Plain Alternative |

174|---------|-------------------|

175| generate | produce, create |

176| henceforth | from now on |

177| hitherto | until now |

178

179---

180

G-H

Complex	Plain Alternative
generate	produce, create
henceforth	from now on
hitherto	until now

Raw lines 171 to 180

181## I

182

183| Complex | Plain Alternative |

184|---------|-------------------|

185| if and when | if, when |

186| illustrate | show |

187| immediately | at once, now |

188| implement | carry out, do |

189| imply | suggest |

190| in accordance with | under, following |

191| in addition to | and, also |

192| in conjunction with | with |

193| in excess of | more than |

194| in lieu of | instead of |

195| in order to | to |

196| in receipt of | receive |

197| in relation to | about |

198| in respect of | about, for |

199| in the event of | if |

200| in the majority of instances | most, usually |

201| in the near future | soon |

202| in view of the fact that | because |

203| inception | start |

204| indicate | show, suggest |

205| inform | tell |

206| initiate | start, begin |

207| insert | put in |

208| instances | cases |

209| irrespective of | despite |

210| issue | give, send |

211

212---

213

I

Complex	Plain Alternative
if and when	if, when
illustrate	show
immediately	at once, now
implement	carry out, do
imply	suggest
in accordance with	under, following
in addition to	and, also
in conjunction with	with
in excess of	more than
in lieu of	instead of
in order to	to
in receipt of	receive
in relation to	about
in respect of	about, for
in the event of	if
in the majority of instances	most, usually
in the near future	soon
in view of the fact that	because
inception	start
indicate	show, suggest
inform	tell
initiate	start, begin
insert	put in
instances	cases
irrespective of	despite
issue	give, send

Raw lines 181 to 213

214## L-M

215

216| Complex | Plain Alternative |

217|---------|-------------------|

218| (a) large number of | many |

219| liaise with | work with, talk to |

220| locality | place, area |

221| locate | find |

222| magnitude | size |

223| (it is) mandatory | (you) must |

224| manner | way |

225| modification | change |

226| moreover | also, and |

227

228---

229

L-M

Complex	Plain Alternative
(a) large number of	many
liaise with	work with, talk to
locality	place, area
locate	find
magnitude	size
(it is) mandatory	(you) must
manner	way
modification	change
moreover	also, and

Raw lines 214 to 229

230## N-O

231

232| Complex | Plain Alternative |

233|---------|-------------------|

234| negligible | small |

235| nevertheless | but, however |

236| notify | tell |

237| notwithstanding | despite, even if |

238| numerous | many |

239| objective | aim, goal |

240| (it is) obligatory | (you) must |

241| obtain | get |

242| occasioned by | caused by |

243| on behalf of | for |

244| on numerous occasions | often |

245| on receipt of | when you get |

246| on the grounds that | because |

247| operate | work, run |

248| optimum | best |

249| option | choice |

250| otherwise | or |

251| outstanding | unpaid |

252| owing to | because |

253

254---

255

N-O

Complex	Plain Alternative
negligible	small
nevertheless	but, however
notify	tell
notwithstanding	despite, even if
numerous	many
objective	aim, goal
(it is) obligatory	(you) must
obtain	get
occasioned by	caused by
on behalf of	for
on numerous occasions	often
on receipt of	when you get
on the grounds that	because
operate	work, run
optimum	best
option	choice
otherwise	or
outstanding	unpaid
owing to	because

Raw lines 230 to 255

256## P

257

258| Complex | Plain Alternative |

259|---------|-------------------|

260| partially | partly |

261| participate | take part |

262| particulars | details |

263| per annum | a year |

264| perform | do |

265| permit | let, allow |

266| personnel | staff, people |

267| peruse | read |

268| possess | have, own |

269| practically | almost |

270| predominant | main |

271| prescribe | set |

272| preserve | keep |

273| previous | earlier, before |

274| principal | main |

275| prior to | before |

276| proceed | go ahead |

277| procure | get |

278| prohibit | ban, stop |

279| promptly | quickly |

280| provide | give |

281| provided that | if |

282| provisions | rules, terms |

283| proximity | nearness |

284| purchase | buy |

285| pursuant to | under |

286

287---

288

P

Complex	Plain Alternative
partially	partly
participate	take part
particulars	details
per annum	a year
perform	do
permit	let, allow
personnel	staff, people
peruse	read
possess	have, own
practically	almost
predominant	main
prescribe	set
preserve	keep
previous	earlier, before
principal	main
prior to	before
proceed	go ahead
procure	get
prohibit	ban, stop
promptly	quickly
provide	give
provided that	if
provisions	rules, terms
proximity	nearness
purchase	buy
pursuant to	under

Raw lines 256 to 288

289## R

290

291| Complex | Plain Alternative |

292|---------|-------------------|

293| reconsider | think again |

294| reduction | cut |

295| referred to as | called |

296| regarding | about |

297| reimburse | repay |

298| reiterate | repeat |

299| relating to | about |

300| remain | stay |

301| remainder | rest |

302| remuneration | pay |

303| render | make, give |

304| represent | stand for |

305| request | ask |

306| require | need |

307| residence | home |

308| retain | keep |

309| revised | changed, new |

310

311---

312

R

Complex	Plain Alternative
reconsider	think again
reduction	cut
referred to as	called
regarding	about
reimburse	repay
reiterate	repeat
relating to	about
remain	stay
remainder	rest
remuneration	pay
render	make, give
represent	stand for
request	ask
require	need
residence	home
retain	keep
revised	changed, new

Raw lines 289 to 312

313## S

314

315| Complex | Plain Alternative |

316|---------|-------------------|

317| scrutinise | examine, check |

318| select | choose |

319| solely | only |

320| specified | given, stated |

321| state | say |

322| statutory | legal, by law |

323| subject to | depending on |

324| submit | send, give |

325| subsequent to | after |

326| subsequently | later |

327| substantial | large, much |

328| sufficient | enough |

329| supplement | add to |

330| supplementary | extra |

331

332---

333

S

Complex	Plain Alternative
scrutinise	examine, check
select	choose
solely	only
specified	given, stated
state	say
statutory	legal, by law
subject to	depending on
submit	send, give
subsequent to	after
subsequently	later
substantial	large, much
sufficient	enough
supplement	add to
supplementary	extra

Raw lines 313 to 333

334## T-U

335

336| Complex | Plain Alternative |

337|---------|-------------------|

338| terminate | end, stop |

339| thereafter | then |

340| thereby | by this |

341| thus | so |

342| to date | so far |

343| transfer | move |

344| transmit | send |

345| ultimately | in the end |

346| undertake | agree, do |

347| uniform | same |

348| utilise | use |

349

350---

351

T-U

Complex	Plain Alternative
terminate	end, stop
thereafter	then
thereby	by this
thus	so
to date	so far
transfer	move
transmit	send
ultimately	in the end
undertake	agree, do
uniform	same
utilise	use

Raw lines 334 to 351

352## V-Z

353

354| Complex | Plain Alternative |

355|---------|-------------------|

356| variation | change |

357| virtually | almost |

358| visualise | imagine, see |

359| ways and means | ways |

360| whatsoever | any |

361| with a view to | to |

362| with effect from | from |

363| with reference to | about |

364| with regard to | about |

365| with respect to | about |

366| zone | area |

367

368---

369

V-Z

Complex	Plain Alternative
variation	change
virtually	almost
visualise	imagine, see
ways and means	ways
whatsoever	any
with a view to	to
with effect from	from
with reference to	about
with regard to	about
with respect to	about
zone	area

Raw lines 352 to 369

370## Phrases to Remove Entirely

371

372These phrases often add nothing. Delete them:

373

374- a total of

375- absolutely

376- actually

377- all things being equal

378- as a matter of fact

379- at the end of the day

380- at this moment in time

381- basically

382- currently (when "now" or nothing works)

383- I am of the opinion that (use: I think)

384- in due course (use: soon, or say when)

385- in the final analysis

386- it should be understood

387- last but not least

388- obviously

389- of course

390- quite

391- really

392- the fact of the matter is

393- to all intents and purposes

394- very

Phrases to Remove Entirely

These phrases often add nothing. Delete them:

a total of
absolutely
actually
all things being equal
as a matter of fact
at the end of the day
at this moment in time
basically
currently (when "now" or nothing works)
I am of the opinion that (use: I think)
in due course (use: soon, or say when)
in the final analysis
it should be understood
last but not least
obviously
of course
quite
really
the fact of the matter is
to all intents and purposes
very

Raw lines 370 to 394