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Death by Bush: family members, friends, colleagues ...People killed in Bush's War: Americans | Iraqis | Cost | Faces of death Speaking out: Your right. Your responsibility. Use your writing, speaking and thinking skills to make a difference in your country and world. |
What Every American Should Know About Iraq--CommonDreams.org, June 15, 2007 | "The Deadly Occupation" -- The Nation, July 11, 2007: Veterans of conscience have come forward with evidence that U.S. forces kill Iraqi noncombatants every day. America must bring this deadly occupation to an immediate end.
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Consider using these simpler, concise alternatives to verbose, sometimes amusing redundant 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 ... |
| absolutely complete | complete |
| absolutely essential, absolutely indispensable | essential, indispensable |
| actual experience, past experience | experience |
| added bonus | bonus |
| advance planning, advance notice, advance warning | planning, notice, warning |
| advance reservations | reservations |
| already exist | drop already |
| and also | use either and or also but not both |
| are in receipt of | have, have received |
| arrived at the conclusion | concluded |
| ask the question | ask |
| assembled together | assembled |
| at about | about or at |
| ATM machine | ATM |
| at the earliest possible date | , soon, as soon as possible (or be specific) |
| (refer, repay, return, revert) back | drop back |
| basic fundamental | basic, fundamental |
| big in size | big |
| brief in duration | brief |
| cancel out | cancel |
| capital city, Capitol building | capital, Capitol |
| CD-ROM disk | CD-ROM |
| clearly evident | evident, obvious |
| close proximity | near, close |
| (blue, green, red ...) in color | blue, green, red ... |
| completely demolished, completely destroyed | demolished, destroyed |
| completely opposite | opposite |
| completely surrounded | surrounded |
| complete monopoly | monopoly |
| consensus of opinion, general consensus | consensus |
| continue on | continue |
| contributing factor | factor, reason, cause |
| controversial issue | issue |
| cooperate together | cooperate (or replace with simpler help) |
| costs a total of, costs the sum of | costs |
| current status | status |
| doctorate degree | doctorate |
| each and every | each or every (not both) |
| enclosed herewith please find, enclosed herein | enclosed is, I enclose, here is, here are |
| end product, end result | product, result |
| estimated at about | estimated at or about |
| exactly identical | identical |
| excess verbiage | verbiage |
| few in number | few |
| filled to capacity | filled |
| final completion, final conclusion, final outcome, final result | completion, conclusion, outcome, result |
| first and foremost | first |
| first began (created, introduced, invented) | began (created, introduced, invented) |
| follow after | after |
| foot pedal | pedal |
| foreign imports | imports |
| forward progress | progress |
| free gift | free or gift |
| future plans | plans |
| general consensus | consensus |
| general public | public, citizens |
| group together | group |
| HIV virus | HIV |
| honest truth | truth |
| hot-water heater | water heater |
| if and when | either if or when |
| I wish to take this opportunity to thank you | thank you |
| join together, link together | join, link |
| large in size | large |
| made out of | Drop out |
| may possibly, might possibly | Drop possibly |
| month of January, month of June ... | January, June ... |
| more and more | often |
| mutual (agreement, communication, cooperation, friendship, understanding) | Drop mutual |
| necessary (prerequisite, requirement, requisite) | Drop necessary, use only necessary, or use needed or essential instead |
| new breakthrough | breakthrough |
| new development | development |
| none at all | none |
| old (adage, cliche, maxim, proverb, relic, saying) | drop old |
| over and over | again, repeatedly |
| overexaggerate | exaggerate |
| passing (craze, fad, fancy, phase) | Drop passing |
| past (previous, prior) history (accomplishment, experience, performance, practice, precedent, record) | Drop past, previous or prior |
| period of time | either period or time |
| personally responsible | responsible |
| PIN number | PIN |
| point in time | either now or today |
| postpone until later | postpone |
| potentially dangerous, potentially hazardous | dangerous, hazardous, unsafe |
| present incumbent | incumbent |
| rate of speed | speed |
| (all-time, new) record (high) | Drop all-time, new, high |
| repeat again | repeat |
| (the) reason is because | (the) reason is or because |
| round in shape | round |
| safe haven | haven |
| same identical | same |
| separate apart | separate |
| sharing the same ... | substitute using for sharing or drop same |
| small in size | small |
| smooth to the touch | smooth |
| square in shape | square |
| starve to death | starve |
| still remain(s) | remain(s) |
| storm event | storm |
| sum total | total |
| tall in height, tall of stature | tall |
| temporary loan | loan |
| time reprieve | reprieve |
| time period | time, period |
| totally demolished, totally destroyed | demolished, destroyed |
| (combine, group, join, link, unite) together (with) | drop together |
| total number | number |
| true fact | fact, truth |
| 12 noon, 12 midnight | noon, midnight |
| unite together | unite |
| unless or until | either unless or until |
| (ascend, climb, hoist, lift) up | up |
| usual custom, usual habit | custom, habit |
| visible to the eye | visible |
| warn in advance | warn |
| weather conditions | weather, climate |
| while at the same time | either while or at the same time |
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Maintained by Gary B. Larson of Seattle, Washington, garbltoo@gmail.com.
Updated Feb. 17, 2007.
As a U.S. citizen, I am embarrassed for my
country that the failed Bush administration is escalating U.S. attacks on
Iraqi citizens. George first led an unprovoked attack on Iraq
and now leads the failed U.S. occupation of that sovereign nation. His
incompetent leadership has unleashed the civil war there. And sending
20,000 more U.S. troops to occupy Baghdad will lead to only more blood,
more gore and more slaughter. Say "No!" to George's
arrogance. Say "No!" to more troops.