Concise Terms
Use shorter terms and phrases to convey an idea clearly. The following table lists concise terms to use instead of their longer counterparts. Use a longer counterpart only if the two terms or phrases are not interchangeable because of context.
In addition to using concise terms, use the shorter of two approved spellings. For example, canceled instead of cancelled.
Avoid | Preferred |
|---|---|
a great many | many |
a number of | several |
additional | more |
along with | with |
are able to | can |
are not able to | cannot |
as a result of | because |
as long as | if |
as opposed to | instead of |
as well as | and |
at the current time | now |
at the present time | now |
at the point where | when |
at the time of this writing | now |
at this point in time | now |
check to ensure | verify |
click the buttonName button | click buttonName |
commence | start |
concerning | about |
contains a list of | lists |
currently | now |
cut down, cut down on | reduce |
despite the fact that | although |
did not run successfully | failed |
due to the fact that | because |
during the process of | while |
for the purpose of | for |
for the purpose of | to |
from time to time | periodically |
is going to be | will be |
has the ability to | can |
has to | must |
have the ability to | can |
have to | must |
if you want to | to |
in between | between |
in combination with | with |
in conjunction with | with |
in many cases | often |
in order to | to |
in other words | for example |
in other words | that is |
in regard to | about |
in spite of | regardless |
in the case of | when |
in the circumstance that | if |
in the event | if |
in the previous version | earlier |
inside of | inside |
is able to | can |
is capable of | can |
is dependent on, is dependent upon | depends on |
it is assumed that | assumes that |
it is recommended | we recommend |
keep in mind | consider |
keep in mind | remember |
kick off | start |
leave out | omit |
make use of | use |
most of the time | usually |
need to | must |
once in a while | sometimes |
pertaining to | about |
prior to | before |
provided that | if |
provides a description of | describes |
quite a few | several |
reach out to | contact |
refer to | see |
revert back | revert |
select the buttonName button | click buttonName |
specify the name of the | specify |
take a backup of | back up |
time needed for, time required for | time for |
time needed to, time required to | time to |
upon | on |
utilization | usage |
utilize | use |
whether or not | whether |
will have to | must |
will need to | must |
will not be able to | cannot |
with respect to | about |
with the exception of | except for |