These words and phrases have their place only in history
books, legal halls and the poetic prose of fiction writers and orators. We've
found better ways to get your point across without using redundant, awkward or
pretentious statements. The following chart lists "weak" and
"better" ways to express yourself:
| W E A K |
B E T T E R |
|
A
|
|
|
|
absolutely essential
|
essential |
|
|
accompany
|
go with |
|
|
accordingly
|
so |
|
|
additional
|
added, more, other |
|
|
address
|
discuss |
|
|
adequate enough
|
enough |
|
|
adjacent to
|
next to |
|
|
afford an opportunity
|
allow, let |
|
|
anticipate
|
expect |
|
|
a large number/part
|
many/most |
|
|
a number of
|
some |
|
|
a variety of
|
many, different |
|
|
appreciable
|
many |
|
|
approximately
|
about |
|
|
as a means of
|
to |
|
|
at the present time
|
now |
|
|
|
|
top |
B
|
|
|
|
basic fundamentals |
basics |
|
|
be responsible for |
handle |
|
|
|
|
top |
C
|
|
|
|
capability/capable of |
ability/can |
|
|
center around |
center in, at or on |
|
|
comes into conflict |
conflicts |
|
|
commitment to excellence |
quality |
|
|
comply with |
follow |
|
|
comprise |
form, include, make up |
|
|
concerning |
about, on |
|
|
constitutes |
is, forms, makes up |
|
|
construct |
build |
|
|
contact |
call, write, reach |
|
|
currently |
omit it. It’s already implied. |
|
|
cutting edge |
forefront, frontier |
|
|
cutting-edge |
leading, pioneering, progressive |
top |
D
|
|
|
|
designate |
appoint, choose, name |
|
|
determine |
decide, figure, find |
|
|
do not hesitate to call |
call |
|
|
due to the fact that |
due to, since |
|
|
|
|
top |
E
|
|
|
|
equitable |
fair |
|
|
evidenced |
showed, shown |
|
|
exhibit |
show |
|
|
exhibits a tendency to |
tends to |
|
|
|
|
top |
F
|
|
|
|
facilitate |
ease, help |
|
|
factor |
reason, cause |
|
|
feedback, input |
opinion, reaction |
|
|
foreign imports |
imports |
|
|
for the purpose of |
to |
|
|
furnish |
give, send |
|
|
future prospects |
prospects |
top |
G
|
|
|
|
generate
|
do, make, create |
|
|
gives consideration to |
considers |
|
|
|
|
top |
H
|
|
|
|
head up |
head |
|
|
high tech |
pioneering technology (or a more specific substitute) |
|
|
holds a belief |
believes |
|
|
|
|
top |
I
|
|
|
|
if at all possible |
if possible |
|
|
impacted |
affected, changed, hit |
|
|
implement |
carry out, do, follow |
|
|
in accordance with |
by, following, under |
|
|
in addition |
also, besides, too |
|
|
in an effort to |
to |
|
|
in conjunction with |
with |
|
|
in order to |
to |
|
|
in the near future |
soon |
|
|
inception |
start, beginning |
|
|
initiate |
start, begin |
|
|
innovative |
creative, pioneering, inventive |
|
|
input |
comments, advice, response |
top |
J
|
|
|
|
joint cooperation |
cooperation |
|
|
just exactly |
exactly |
|
|
|
|
top |
K
|
|
|
L
|
|
|
|
legislation |
law |
|
|
|
|
top |
M
|
|
|
|
makes an attempt |
attempts, tries |
|
|
maximize |
increase, enlarge, expand, broaden |
|
|
may/maybe
|
can/can be
|
|
|
minimize |
decrease, lessen, reduce |
|
|
modify |
change |
top |
N
|
|
|
|
necessary (pre)requisites |
(pre)requisites |
|
|
new innovations |
innovations |
|
|
numerous |
many, most |
|
|
|
|
top |
O
|
|
|
|
objective |
aim, goal |
|
|
optimum |
best, greatest, most |
|
|
output |
comment, idea |
|
|
|
|
top |
P
|
|
|
|
past experience |
experience |
|
|
personnel |
people, staff |
|
|
pre-planning |
planning |
|
|
prioritize |
put in order |
|
|
prior to |
before |
|
|
provides guidance for |
guides |
|
|
possibly might |
might |
|
|
postpone until later |
postpone |
|
|
purpose is to |
(unnecessary) |
top |
Q
|
|
|
|
qualified expert |
expert |
|
|
|
|
top |
R
|
|
|
|
(in the) real world |
in the world, in society, in business |
|
|
real-world problem |
practical issue, business (or social) issue or problem |
|
|
refer back |
refer |
|
|
retain |
keep |
|
|
|
|
top |
S
|
|
|
|
send a communication to |
notify |
|
|
similar to |
like |
|
|
solicit |
ask for |
|
|
state-of-the-art |
latest |
top |
T
|
|
|
|
try and fix |
try to fix |
|
|
|
|
top |
U
|
|
|
|
unique |
one-of-a-kind (literal) exciting, new, unusual (as often
used) |
|
|
utilize, utilization |
use |
|
|
|
|
top |
V
|
|
|
|
viable |
practical, workable |
top |
W
|
|
|
|
warrant |
call for, permit |
|
|
whereas |
since |
|
|
wide range |
many, range |
|
|
wide variety |
many, variety |
|
|
without further delay |
now, immediately |
|
|
with the exception of |
except for |
top |
X
|
|
|
Y
|
|
|
Z
|
|
|
