Avoid Complex Words
Use shorter words that aren't ambiguous
Shorter words are often more accurate and less ambiguous. Writers sometimes use long, complex words as a way to distance themselves from the text or as a way of sounding authoritative. Unless certain words or phrases are required due to regulation or contract, use the shorter, simpler word or phrase.
A
- abort, kill, terminate (except in technical, programming documentation)
- abundance: plenty
- accelerate: speed up
- accentuate: stress
- accompany: go with
- accomplish: carry out or do
- accorded: given
- accordingly: so
- accrue: add
- accurate: right or exact
- acquiesce: agree
- acquire: get or buy
- additional: more or extra
- address: discuss
- addressees: you
- adjacent to: next to
- adjustment: change
- admissible: allowed
- advantageous: helpful
- advise: tell
- aggregate: total
- aircraft: plane
- alleviate: ease
- allocate: assign or divide
- alternatively: or
- alternatives: choices or options
- ameliorate: improve
- amend: change
- anticipate: expect
- apparent: clear or plain
- approximately: about
- ascertain: discover or find out
- assistance: help
- attain: meet
- attempt: try
- authorize: allow
B-C
- belated: late
- bestow: give
- cease: stop or end
- collaborate: work together
- collaborate:use working with
- commence: begin
- compensate: pay
- component: part
- comprise: form or include
- concept: idea
- concerning: about
- confer: give or award
- consequently: so
- consolidate: merge
- constitutes: forms
- contains: has
- convene: meet
D-F
- demonstrate: show or prove
- depart: leave
- designate: choose
- desire: want or wish
- determine: decide or find
- detrimental: bad or harmful
- dialogue is used for conversations, dialog is the interface item, as in dialog box
- disclose: share or tell
- discontinue: stop
- disseminate: send or give
- eliminate: end
- elucidate: explain
- employ: use
- enclosed: inside or included
- encounter: meet
- endeavor: try
- enumerate: count
- equitable: fair
- equivalent: equal
- exclusively: only
- execute:use run or do instead
- expedite: hurry
- facilitate: ease
- females: women
- finalize: complete or finish
- frequently: often
I-L
- identical: same
- in order to:use to
- incorrect: wrong
- indication: sign
- initiate: start or begin
- input: use type or enter or select
- itemized: listed
- jeopardize: risk
- liaise: work with or partner with
M-P
- maintain: keep or support
- methodology: method
- modify: change
- monitor: check or watch
- multiple: many
- necessitate: cause
- notify: tell
- numerous: many
- objective: aim or goal
- obligate: bind or compel
- optimum: best or most
- permit: let
- portion: part
- possess: own
- previous: earlier
- previously: before
- prioritize: rank
- procure: buy
- provide: give or offer
- purchase: buy
R-U
- relocate: move
- simple or simply. Avoid these as something simple to a power user isn't so simple to a new user.
- solicit: request
- state-of-the-art: latest
- subsequent: later or next
- substantial: large
- sufficient: enough
- terminate: end
- transmit: send
- utilization: use
- utilize. use