---
title: 'Use simple words and phrases'
sidenav: guidelines
redirect_from:
  - /howto/wordsuggestions/simplewords.cfm
---

When you're making word choices, pick the familiar or commonly used word over the unusual or obscure. There are many lists of complex words and suggested substitutes, like the one below. See also the lists in Kimble (2006).

Bold marks the dirty dozen, the 12 offenders most likely to weaken your work.

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