Garbl's Wordy Phrases Replacements -- simpler, concise alternatives to bureaucratic phrases

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Consider using these simpler, concise alternatives to bureaucratic, wordy phrases.

Garbl's Fat-Free-Writing Links--This annotated directory lists Web sites with tips to help you cut the fat from your writing--so your readers can easily chew, digest and be nourished by your top-choice words.

Instead of ...	Change to or try ...
adequate number (of)	enough
adjacent to	close to, near, next to, beside, by
afford an opportunity	allow, give, let
ahead of schedule	early, too soon
all of (the); all of (us)	all (the); (we) all
almost all	most
along the lines of	close to, like, resembling, similar to, such as
an estimated	about, almost, around, close to, more than, nearly, or so, roughly
arrange to return	return
arrived at (an agreement, a compromise, a conclusion, a decision, an estimate)	agreed, compromised, concluded, decided, estimated
as a consequence, as a result	so, then, thus
as a consequence of, as a result of	because, because of, from, since
as a means of	to
as long as	if, since
as of now	about
as regards	about, as for, for, in, of, on, over, respecting, to, toward, with
assuming that	if
as to	on, for, about, of, by, from, in, over, to, with (or leave out)
as well as	and, also
at all times	always
at present, at the present time, at this point in time, at this time	now, today
attached herewith is	here's
at the end of	after
at the time (that)	when
because of the fact that	because, since
by (the) means of	by, with, from, in, over, through
by reason of	because, because of, since
by the name of	named, called
by virtue of	by, because of, under
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call a halt (stop) to, call an end to	halt, stop, end
came to an agreement	agreed
carry out an evaluation of	evaluate
center around	at, center on, in, on, revolve around
come to an agreement	agree, compromise, decide, resolve, settle
come to an end	close, end, finish, halt, stop
comply with	follow, obey
conduct an investigation	investigate or find out, study, explore, examine, research, search, look into
conduct a review of	review
conduct experiments	experiment
contiguous to	next to, adjoining, touching
course of	during, while, in, at
desirous of	use a form of want
despite the fact that	although, even though, despite
draw attention to	announce, mention, point out, point to, promote, publicize, reveal, show, tell, unveil
due to the fact that	because, because of, since, for, as
during such time, during the course of, during the period from, during the time	while, during, for, in, over, throughout, when, with
Back to top Words \| Phrases \| Redundancies
effect many changes	change
employment opportunities	jobs
except when	unless
excessive number (of)	too many
extend an invitation	invite
for the purpose of	to, for, of
for the reason that	because, since, for, given
from the point of view of	from, for
give and take	compromise, concession, exchange, discussion
give an indication of	show
give rise to	cause, lead to, result in
give consideration to	consider
has (had) occasion to be	is (was)
has no	lacks
has the ability to, has the capability	can
have an effect on	affect, influence
hold a conference, hold a meeting	confer, meet
Back to top Words \| Phrases \| Redundancies
if that (this) is not the case	if not
if that (this) is the case	if so
implement an investigation of	investigate or find out, study, explore, examine, research, search, look into
in addition	also, and, as well, besides, further, then, too
in addition to	besides, and, beyond, as well as, also
in advance of	ahead of, before, by
in an effort to	to
inasmuch as	because, since, as, as far as
in back of	behind
in conjunction with	along with, and, combined with, coupled with, joined with, paired with, with
in connection with	with, about, for, of, in, on, over
in excess of	more than
in favor of	for
in lieu of	for, instead of
in most (many) cases, in most (many) instances	almost always, commonly, many, most, mostly, most of, most often, most of these, much, nearly all, nearly always, normally, often, typically, usually
in order to	to, for
in (the) past (days, months, weeks, years)	before, earlier
in place of	for
in (the) possession of	has, have
in proximity to	close to, near
(be) in receipt of	have, received
in reference to	about, on, for, as for, in, of, over, respecting, to, toward, with
in regard to, in relation to	about, on, for, as for, in, of, over, respecting, to, toward, with
in respect of	about, as for, for, in, of, on, over, respecting, to, toward, with
in spite of	after all, apart, aside, despite, even with, for all, with all, although
in terms of	in, for, about, as, as for, by, of, on, respecting, through, under, with
in the absence of	without
in the amount of	for, of
in the case of	in, with, if, by, for (or delete)
in the context of	in, about, for, of
in the course of	during, at, for, in, over, throughout, when, while, with
in the event that (of)	if, should
in the nature of	like, about
in the neighborhood of	about, roughly
in the (very) near future	soon, before long, in a week (month), next month (year), shortly, this month (year), tomorrow
in the vicinity of	close to, near, about, close by, in, nearby, around, round, close
in view of the fact	because, since, for, given, when
is able to	can
it would appear that	apparently
it is probable that	probably
limited number (of)	a couple, a few, little, meager, not many, one or two (two or three), scant, only so many, some, spare, sparse
made a statement	said
make an application	apply
make an examination of	examine
make reference to	refer to
Back to top Words \| Phrases \| Redundancies
none at all	none
not in a position to	unable to, cannot
not many	few
not in a position to	unable to, cannot
not old enough	too young
not possible	impossible
not the same	different
notwithstanding the fact that	although, but, even though, still, though, yet
of major importance	is important, are important, was important
on a daily basis, on a regular basis	daily, every other day, hour, monthly, regularly, twice a month, twice a week
on behalf of	for, backed, supported
one of the	a, an, one
on most occasions	usually
on the basis of	by, from, because of, assuming, based on, from
on the part of	by, among, for, from, in, of
opt for	choose
over the duration of	during, for, in, over, throughout, when, while, with
per annum	a year, yearly, for each year
per diem	daily, daily allowance, a day, for each day
perform an assessment of	assess
present time	present, now
previous to, prior to	before
provided (providing) that	if
pursuant to	under, by, following
Back to top Words \| Phrases \| Redundancies
realize a savings of	save
refer to as	call, name, term
regards to, as regards, with regard to	about, as for, for, in, of, on, over, respecting, to, toward, with
relating to	about, as for, for, in, of, on, over, to, toward, with
result in	lead to
some of the	some
spell out	explain, specify, describe, detail
state with confidence	use a form of be confident
submit an application for	apply for
subsequent to	after, afterward, later, next, since, then, following
sufficient number (of)	enough
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take action	act
the question as to whether	the question whether
this office	we, us
time frame, time period	time, period, age, era, interval
to a certain degree	in a sense, in part, less often, less so, partially, some
to whatever extent	however
under the provisions of	under, of
until such time (point) as	until
use up	use
with a view to	to, for
with reference to	about, on, for, as for, in, of, over, respecting, to, toward, with (or leave out)
with regard to	about, on, for, as for, in, of, over, respecting, to, toward, with (or leave out)
with respect to	about, on, for, with
with the exception of	except for
Back to top Words \| Phrases \| Redundancies

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Maintained by Gary B. Larson of Seattle, Washington, garbltoo@gmail.com.

June 9, 2008.

Instead of ...

Change to or try ...