Use simple, common words that convey meaning clearly. Clear, unambiguous word choices make content easier to understand and more useful. The following tables make word suggestions as guidelines, not rules. There may be times when words like implement, accomplish, or verify express the meaning clearly and consistently, and should be used.
Use the verbs in the second column in place of the words in the first column.
| Words to Avoid | Words to Use Instead | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Incorporate | Add | Add any feedback... |
| Initiate | Begin or Start | Start this process... Begin backing up... |
| Perform, achieve, accomplish | Do or Finish | Do the following... You must finish this preliminary analysis. |
| Conclude, terminate | End or Finish | This will end the process. |
| Provides, exhibits, demonstrates, achieves | Has or Have | This dialog has the following options... This has the following advantages... |
| Represents | Is or Are | This is an error. This statement is not clear. (instead of "This statement lacks clarity."). |
| Implement, initiate, construct, incorporate, accomplish | Make or Made | We made the following changes: To make these changes... |
| Must or Should | You must reboot now. (for a recommendation, use should instead of must) |
|
| Transmit | Send | Send the report... |
| Illustrate, demonstrate, indicate | Show | This shows the results. |
| Utilize, employ | Use | Use the following options: |
Where possible, choose concise words over an inflated phrase.
| Inflated Form (should be avoided) | Concise Form (should be used) |
|---|---|
| in the neighborhood of | about |
| in spite of the fact that | although, though |
| at all times | always |
| because of the fact that, due to the fact that | because |
| by means of | by |
| have the ability to | can, be able to |
| results in, is responsible for | causes |
Although common in the academy, some abbreviations can be misunderstood and should be replaced with an equivalent phrase.
| Abbreviated Form (should be avoided) | Simpler Equivalent (should be used) |
|---|---|
| e.g. | for example, for instance |
| etc. | preface the list with such as |
| i.e. | that is, in other words |