Word and phrase swap
On this page
Swap |
For |
---|---|
A number of | Several, many, some |
Adequate | Enough |
Additional | More, extra |
Alleviate | Ease, reduce |
Approximately | About |
Are required to | Must |
At this moment in time | Now |
Attributable to | Due to, because |
Attain | Reach |
Beneficial | Helpful, useful |
By means of | By |
Cease | Stop |
Comply with | Keep to, meet |
Concerning | About, on |
Consequently | So, because of |
Considerable | Great, important |
Currently | Now (or delete) |
Deficiency | Lack of |
Detrimental | Harmful, damaging |
Endeavour to | Try to, aim to |
Ensure | Make sure |
Excessive | Too much |
Facilitate | Help |
Following | After |
Frequently | Often |
Give consideration to | Consider, think about |
Immediately | At once |
Impacts on | Affects |
In a number of cases | Some, often |
In addition (to) | And, also, as well as |
In case of | If |
Intend to | Will |
In the near future | Soon |
In the majority of cases | Most of the time |
Irrespective of | Despite, even it |
Jeopardise | Risk, threaten |
Key | Main |
Locality | Area |
(It is) mandatory | You must |
Modify | Change |
Negligible | Very small, tiny |
Notify | Tell, let us/you know |
Notwithstanding | Even if, despite |
Numerous | Many |
On request | If you Ask |
Objective | Aim, goal |
On behalf of | For |
On request | If you ask |
On the grounds that | Because |
Optimum | Best, ideal |
Option | Choice |
Otherwise | Or |
Partially | Partly |
Per annum | A year |
Practically | Almost, nearly |
Predominant | Main |
Principal | Main |
Progressive | Get worse / better |
Proximity | Closeness |
Provided that | If, as long as |
Reimburse | Repay, pay back |
Reiterate | Repeat, restate |
Relating to | About |
Remainder | The rest, what is left |
Request | Ask |
Require | Need, want |
Reside | Live |
Retain | Keep |
Revised | New, changed |
Similarly | In the same way |
Statutory | Legal, by law |
Subject to | Depending on |
Subsequently | Later, after |
Substantial | Large, great, a lot of |
Sufficient | Enough |
Sustainable | Able to be kept up |
Terminate | Stop, end |
That being the case | If so |
To date | So far, up to now |
Transfer | Move |
Utilise | Use |
Virtually | Almost |
We have pleasure in | We are glad to |
With effect from | From |
Without delay | Quickly (or say when) |
You are requested | Please |
Zone | Area, region |
We have pleasure in | We are glad to |
Words or phrases to avoid
Often you can remove the following words or phrases without affecting your meaning.
- Absolutely
- Actually
- At this moment in time
- Basically
- Currently
- During the period from
- In due course to
- In view of the fact
- I wish to (only fairies grant wishes!)
- (I would like to) take this opportunity
- Obviously
- Quite
- Really
- Should (reword as a positive message)
- That
- The month of
- To the extent that
- Until such time
- Very
- Platform
Many words and phrases are vague and unclear
Take care with:
- Agenda (unless it’s for a meeting)
- Counter (unless it’s the front counter)
- Drive (except in relation to transport)
- Framework
- Overarching
- Platform (unless it’s a physical platform)
- Progress (unless you are using it as a noun)
- Promote
- Streamline
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