Writing Standards Knowledge Pack Files

Plain English Alternatives

Replace complex words with their plain alternatives. Simpler words are faster to read, harder to misunderstand, and make copy feel more human. When two alternatives are listed, pick the one that fits the sentence rhythm.

A-Z Reference

Complex Word	Plain Alternative
Accordingly	So
Acquire	Get, buy
Additional	More, extra
Advantageous	Helpful, useful
Aforementioned	This, that, the
Allocate	Give, set aside
Ameliorate	Improve, fix
Anticipate	Expect
Approximately	About, around
Ascertain	Find out, learn
Assist	Help
Collaborate	Work together
Commence	Start, begin
Communicate	Talk, tell, share
Compensation	Pay
Complement	Go with, add to
Comprehensive	Full, complete
Consequently	So
Constitute	Make up, form
Consume	Use, eat
Demonstrate	Show
Designate	Name, choose
Determine	Find out, decide
Diminish	Shrink, reduce
Discontinue	Stop, end
Disseminate	Share, spread
Effectuate	Carry out, do
Eliminate	Cut, remove
Employ	Use, hire
Encompass	Include, cover
Endeavor	Try
Enhance	Improve
Ensure	Make sure
Establish	Set up, create
Facilitate	Help, make easier
Forthcoming	Coming, next
Furnish	Give, provide
Generate	Create, make
Implement	Start, carry out, do
Inaugurate	Start, launch
Incorporate	Include, add
Indicate	Show, point to
Initiate	Start, begin
Leverage	Use
Magnitude	Size, scale
Maximize	Get the most from
Methodology	Method, approach
Mitigate	Reduce, lessen
Modify	Change
Monitor	Watch, track
Navigate	Use, move through
Necessitate	Need, require
Notify	Tell, let know
Numerous	Many
Objective	Goal, aim
Obtain	Get
Optimal	Best
Participate	Take part, join
Perpetuate	Keep going, continue
Pertaining to	About
Possess	Have, own
Predominant	Main
Prioritize	Rank, put first
Procure	Get, buy
Proficiency	Skill
Provision	Give, supply
Purchase	Buy
Regarding	About
Reimburse	Pay back
Remainder	Rest
Remuneration	Pay
Replicate	Copy, repeat
Represents	Is
Require	Need
Reside	Live
Retain	Keep
Solicit	Ask for, seek
Streamline	Simplify
Subsequent	Next, later
Sufficient	Enough
Terminate	End, stop
Transform	Change
Transmit	Send
Utilization	Use
Utilize	Use
Validate	Confirm, check
Verify	Check, confirm
Vicinity	Near, area

Phrases to Remove Entirely

These phrases add no meaning. Delete them and the sentence will say the same thing:

• "It is important to note that"
• "It should be noted that"
• "As a matter of fact"
• "In order to" (replace with "to")
• "Due to the fact that" (replace with "because")
• "In the event that" (replace with "if")
• "At the present time" (replace with "now")
• "At this point in time" (replace with "now")
• "For the purpose of" (replace with "to" or "for")
• "In terms of" (replace with "for" or rephrase)
• "With regard to" (replace with "about")
• "In light of the fact that" (replace with "because" or "since")
• "It goes without saying" (then don't say it)
• "Needless to say" (then don't say it)
• "As previously mentioned"
• "In today's world"
• "In this day and age"
• "Each and every"
• "First and foremost"
• "Any and all"
• "One of the most"
• "The fact that"
• "When it comes to"
• "At the end of the day"
• "On a daily basis" (replace with "daily")
• "In a timely manner" (replace with "on time" or "quickly")
• "Take into consideration" (replace with "consider")
• "Make a decision" (replace with "decide")
• "Reach out to" (replace with "contact" or "email")
• "In close proximity to" (replace with "near")
• "A large number of" (replace with "many")
• "On the grounds that" (replace with "because")