Try to use everyday words as much as possible. In this part of the guide, you'll find alternatives to common complicated words and long-winded phrases.
26TEN is also developing alternative suggestions for medical, legal, financial and social terms that are more likely to be understood by non-specialist readers.
In the meantime, Ireland's National Adult Literacy Agency has some available on their website. Please note that some of their suggestions are intended to be broad alternatives rather than strict definitions or equivalents.
See
www.simplyput.ie/words_and_phrases_to_avoid.
Everyday words
|
Instead of |
Consider |
| accompany | join, go with |
| alternatively | or |
| ascertain | find out |
| audit | review, check |
| avail of | take up, take |
| benchmark | standard |
| beneficial | helpful, useful |
| biannually | twice a year |
| biennially | every two years |
| calculate | work out |
| cease | end, finish |
| commence | start, begin |
| confiscate | take from |
| consequently | so |
| constitute | make up, form |
| demonstrate | show |
| determine | check, work out |
| disseminate | share, spread |
| endeavour | try |
| eventuality | situation |
| facilitate | make easier, help, enable |
| fundamental | basic |
| herewith | with |
| in lieu of | instead of |
| incremental | gradual, little by little |
| inter alia | among other things |
| interim | temporary, meantime, for now |
| irrespective | regardless |
| locality | place |
| modification | change, alteration |
| operational | working |
| optimum | best, greatest, most |
| participate | take part |
| particulars | details |
| persons | people |
| quarterly | every three months |
| is resident, residing | living |
| terminate | end, finish |
| utilise | use |
Concise words
|
Instead of |
Consider |
| adequate number of | enough |
| adjacent to | beside, next to |
| as a result of, due to the fact that | because |
| at the present time | now, currently |
| by means of | by, with |
| come to the conclusion | conclude |
| draw to your attention | point out, show |
| during the course of | while |
| excessive number of | too many |
| for the duration of | during, until the end |
| for the purpose of | to |
| give an indication | indicate, signal |
| give consideration to | consider, think about |
| hold discussions, hold meetings | discuss, meet |
| in conjunction with | with |
| in possession of | have, own |
| in proximity to | near, close to |
| in receipt of | receiving, getting |
| in reference to | about |
| in respect of | about, for |
| in the course of | during, while |
| in the event that | if |
| In the absence of | without |
| in view of the fact that | since, because |
| it would appear that | apparently |
| large proportion of | many |
| make an application | apply |
| not in a position to | unable to |
| notwithstanding the fact that | despite, even if, however |
| not later than | by, on or before |
| on a daily basis | daily, every day |
| on behalf of | by, for |
| on condition that | if |
| on the part of | by |
| provided that | if, as long as |
| subsequent to | after |
| sufficient number of | enough |
| take exception to | disagree with, object to |
| under the provisions of | under |
| until such time that | until |
| with regard to | about |