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Dead family members, friends and colleaguesPeople 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 shorter, simpler alternatives to bureaucratic, overstated and pompous words. Note that several simple words may be clearer than a single long word.
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 ... |
| access (as a verb) | get, reach |
| accommodate | fit, hold, adapt, house, adjust, help, grant, allow |
| accommodation, accommodations | home, house, room, homes, houses, rooms |
| accompany, accompanying | go with, escort, with, attend, belong to |
| accomplish | do, achieve, perform, succeed, carry out |
| accordingly | so |
| acquire | get, buy, win, gain, earn, pick up |
| additionally | and, also |
| (an) additional | more, added, other, extra, another |
| adequate (number of) | enough, satisfactory, acceptable |
| adjust, adjustment | change |
| advise | tell, recommend |
| afford | give |
| alter, alteration | change |
| alternative | other |
| ameliorate | make better, improve |
| analogous | similar |
| anticipate | expect |
| append | attach, add |
| apprise | tell, advise |
| appropriate (as an adjective) | proper, right, fitting, suitable, apt, correct |
| (for) approximately | about, roughly, almost, around, close to, nearly, or so |
| ascertain | check, be sure, find out, discover, learn |
| assist; assistance | help, aid, back, relieve; help, aid, backing, support, relief |
| attain | reach, succeed, meet, gain, get, win, arrive at, grasp |
| attempt (as a verb) | try, take on |
| attired | dressed, dressed, clothed |
| augment | increase, make larger |
| basically | Delete or use mainly, most, mostly, chiefly, largely |
| biannually | twice a year |
| bimonthly , biweekly | every two months, every other month; every two weeks, every other week |
|
Words | Phrases | Redundancies |
|
| category | group |
| cease | end, stop, finish |
| cognizant | aware, knowing |
| commence | begin, start, open |
| commencement | beginning, start |
| communicate | write, talk |
| compensation | pay, payment |
| complete | finish |
| component, components | part, parts, ingredient, item, unit |
| comprise | consist of, contain |
| conceal | hide, cloak, cover, disguise, mask, shelter, veil |
| concept | idea |
| concerning | about, on, for, as for, in, of, over, to, toward, with |
| consequence | result, effect, outcome, importance, note, weight |
| consequently | so, thus |
| consolidate | combine, join |
| constitute | make up, be, compose, form, set up, frame |
| construct | build, make, erect, set up, compose, form, frame, model |
| container | bottle, jar, package |
| cooperate | help |
| currently | now, today, (just) yet or delete |
| customary | usual, ordinary, normal, routine, regular |
| deem | consider, think, treat as, believe, judge, view |
| delete | cut, drop |
| demise | death |
| demonstrate | show, prove, display, explain, teach, march |
| denote | show, say, mark, note, mean, stand for |
| depart | leave, go |
| designate | appoint, set, name, label, choose, earmark, show |
| desire | need, want, wish |
| desist | stop, suspend, end, give up |
| detain | hold |
| determine | figure out, learn, find out, fit, decide, settle, end, control, fix, discover |
| diminutive | small, tiny, little |
| disseminate | send out, spread, scatter |
| donate | give, grant, present |
| duplicate (as a verb) | copy, double, repeal, multiply |
|
Words | Phrases | Redundancies |
|
| effectuate | carry out, bring about, achieve, realize, cause |
| e.g. (exempli gratia) | for example |
| eliminate | cut, drop, end, get rid of, remove, erase, expel, cancel, cut out |
| employ (an instrument or tool) | use |
| encounter (as a verb) | meet, run into, face |
| endeavor (as a verb) | try, carry out |
| enumerate | list, name, count, number |
| et al. (et alibi, et alii) | and others, and elsewhere |
| etc. (et cetera) | and others, and the like, and the rest |
| evince | show, reveal |
| expedite | hasten, speed up, hurry |
| expend | spend, use, pay |
| expenditure | expense, cost, spending, outlay, charge, payment |
| expiration | end, close, finish, death |
| facilitate | help, ease, make easy, make easier, simplify, promote |
| facility | base, building, factory, laboratory, office, plant, warehouse (be specific or omit) |
| factor | part, fact, feature, condition, circumstances, reason, cause (be specific or omit) |
| feasible | possible, probable, likely |
| feedback | comments, response, opinions |
| finalize | finish, end, complete, settle, wrap up |
| following (as a preposition) | after |
| formulate | devise, develop, form, make, work out, draw up, draft, frame, create, express, plan |
| forward (as a verb) | send |
| fundamental | basic |
| furnish | give, send, provide, supply, equip |
| hence | so, from now, from here |
| henceforth | from now on, from now |
| hereafter; herein, herewith; heretofore | from now on or later for hereafter; here is (are), with this or in this for herein and herewith; up to now, earlier, before or until now for heretofore |
| hosted | gave, is host to, entertained |
|
Words | Phrases | Redundancies |
|
| i.e. (id est) | that is |
| impact (as a verb) | affect, influence |
| implement | carry out, achieve, do, follow, fulfill, make, produce, put in place, put into use, realize, set, set up, complete, impose (as a verb); tool, instrument (as a noun) |
| inception | beginning, start, birth |
| incombustible | fireproof |
| indicate | say, show, suggest, feel, hint, mention, point at, tell, mark, signal, point out, point to, read |
| indication | sign, signal, mark, hint, suggestion |
| individual, individuals | person, people, man, men, woman, women, anyone, everyone, someone |
| inform | tell |
| initiate | begin, introduce, open, start, cause, launch, set up, introduce, admit |
| input, output, throughput | information; input: advice, clout, comments, effort, ideas, opinions, thoughts, views; output: work, product, byproduct, result; throughput: material |
| inquire (about) | ask |
| institute (as a verb) | begin, start, set up, introduce, create, found |
| interface | interact, meet, collaborate, work together, link,contact |
| locality, location | area, city, district, locale, place, point, site, spot, town, zone, neighborhood |
| magnitude | size, extent, importance, greatness |
| manner | way |
| materialize | appear, develop, happen, occur, turn up, come about |
| maximum | most, largest, greatest |
| methodology | methods, principles, procedure |
| minuscule | tiny |
| mitigate | moderate, ease, soften, relieve, reduce |
| modify, modifications | change, vary, adapt, adjust; changes, variations, adjustments |
| monies, moneys | funds, money, cash |
| moreover | besides, also |
|
Back to
top
Words | Phrases | Redundancies |
|
| necessitate | require, demand, exact, must, need, force, compel, make, call, call for |
| necessity | need |
| nevertheless | anyhow, but, even so, however, still, yet |
| notification | notice, warning, advice, announcement |
| despite, although, even if, however | |
| numerous | many, countless, endless, several, untold (or be more specific) |
| objective | aim, goal |
| obligated | bound, compelled |
| obligation | debt, duty, bond, contract, tie, favor |
| observe | see, watch, note, view, follow, keep, obey, remark |
| obtain | get, earn, gain, buy, exist, hold, stand |
| obviate | avoid |
| ongoing | continuing, under way, active, constant, advancing, current, growing, endless, lasting |
| operate | use, work, run, perform, act, go, handle, manage, cause, keep |
| operational | active, live, running, working |
| optimal, optimum | best, ideal, model, greatest, most, peak |
| orientate | orient |
| overall | total, complete, general |
| paradigm | pattern, example, model |
| parameter | limit, boundary, guideline, extent, perimeter--or properties, conditions, characteristics, feature |
| permit | let, allow |
| peruse | read with care, review, study, examine, inspect |
| place (as a verb) | put |
| portion | part |
| possess | have, own, control, hold, take, take over |
| possibility | chance |
| preplan, preplanning | plan, planning |
| present (as a verb) | give, introduce, show |
| presently | in a little while, in a short time, shortly, soon |
| preserve | keep |
| preventative | preventive |
| previous | earlier |
| previously | before, earlier |
| principal | main, chief |
| prior | earlier |
| prioritize | arrange, list, order, rank, rate, set priorities |
| proceed | go, go ahead, continue, go on, move, run, walk, advance |
| procure | get, buy, gain, win, find |
| provide (with) | give |
| purchase (as a verb) | buy |
|
Words | Phrases | Redundancies |
|
| receive | accept, get |
| regard, regarding | about, on, for, as for, in, of, over, to, toward, with |
| relate (to) | say, show, tell |
| remain | stay |
| remainder | rest, remains, excess, surplus, balance |
| remove | take away, haul away |
| remunerate | pay |
| render | make, give, deliver, hand over, present, send in, pay, show |
| reoccur | recur |
| represents | is |
| reproduce | copy |
| request (as a verb) | ask, seek, question |
| reside | live, stay, remain |
| residences | homes, houses, addresses |
| retain | keep, hold, save |
| secure | get |
| select | choose, pick |
| semiannually | twice a year |
| shall | will, must |
| solely | only |
| state | say |
| strategize | plan |
| subsequently | later, afterward, then, after, next, since |
| subsequent (to) | later, after, afterward, next, since, then, following, resulting |
| substantiate | back up, confirm, prove, support, verify |
| summon | send for, call, call up, call on |
| supplement | add to |
|
Words | Phrases | Redundancies |
|
| terminate | end, stop, cancel, finish, fire, halt, close, wind up, limit |
| therefore | so, then, thus |
| thus | so |
| transmit | send, broadcast, relay, transfer, pass on, bear, carry |
| transpire | happen, occur, take place, leak out |
| ultimate | last, final, crowning, perfect, supreme, eventual |
| upon | on |
| utilize | use |
| use up | use |
| virtually | almost |
| vis-a-vis | about, compared with, opposite |
| whether | if |
|
Words | Phrases | Redundancies |
|
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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.