APPENDIX B

SIMPLER WORDS AND PHRASES

Official writing does not demand big words or fancy phrases. Write naturally--in the words you speak
with. These words are usually small, often one-syllable. Not only do they save writing and reading time,
they give power to your writing and clarify your ideas.

The words in italic boldface are the ones we believe most overworked. Be careful.

Instead of Try confront face, meet

consequently so
accompany go with consolidate combine
accomplish carry out, do constitutes is, forms
accomplish (a form) fill out construct build
accordingly so contains has, holds
accrue add, gain continue keep on
accurate correct, exact contribute give
achieve do, make cooperate help
actual real currently (leave it out)
additional added, more delete cut, drop
adjacent to next to demonstrate prove, show
advantageous helpful depart leave
advise recommend, tell designate appoint, pick
affix put, stick desire wish
afford an opportunity allow, let determine decide, find
aircraft plane develop grow, make
anticipate expect disclose show
a number of some discontinue drop, stop
apparent clear, plain disseminate send, issue
appear seem do not don't
appreciable many due to the fact that because, due to
appropriate proper, right echelons levels
approximately about effect make
as a means of to elect choose, pick
ascertain find out, learn eliminate cut, drop, end
as prescribed by under employ use
assist, assistance aid, help encounter meet
attached herewith is here's encourage urge
attempt try endeavor try
at the present time now enumerate count
benefit help equitable fair
by means of by, with equivalent equal
cannot can't establish set up, prove
capability ability evaluate check, test, rate
category class, group evidenced showed
comply follow Instead of Try
component part
comprise form, make up evident clear
concerning about examine check, look at
Instead of Try exhibit show
expedite hurry, speed up
conclude close, end expeditious fast, quick
concur agree expend pay out, spend

B-1
facilitate ease, help location place, scene, site
factor reason, cause magnitude size
failed to didn't maintain keep, support
feasible can be done majority most
final last maximum greatest, most
finalize complete, finish minimize decrease, lessen
for example such as monitor check, watch
forfeit give up, lose nebulous vague
for the purpose of for, to necessitate cause, need
forward send notify let know, tell
function act, role, work numerous many, most
fundamental basic objective aim, goal
furnish give, send obligate bind, compel
has the capability can observe see
herein here obtain get
however but operate run, work
identical same operational working
identify find, name, show optimum best, greatest
immediately at once, now option choice, way
impacted changed, affected participate take part
implement carry out, do perform do
in accordance with by, under permit let, allow
in addition also, besides, too personnel people, soldiers
in an effort to to pertaining to about, of, on
inasmuch as since place put
inception start portion part
in conjunction with with position place
incorporate blend, join possess have, own
incumbent upon must preclude prevent
indicate show, write down previous earlier, past
indication sign previously before
initial first prioritize rank
initiate start prior to before
in lieu of instead of probability chance
in order that for, so procedures rules, way
in order to to proceed do, go on, try
in regard to about, on proficiency skill
interpose no objection don't object programmed planned
in the amount of for promulgate announce, issue
in the course of during, in Instead of Try
in the event that if
in the near future soon provide give, say, supply
in view of since provided that if
Instead of Try provides guidance for guides
(the) provisions of (leave out)
in view of the above so purchase buy
it is (leave out) reason for why
it is essential must recapitulate sum up
it is recommended I/we recommend reduce cut
it is requested I/we ask reflect say, show
justify prove regarding about, of, on
legislation law relating to about, on
limited number few relocation move
limitations limits remain stay
locate find, place remainder rest

B-2
remuneration pay Instead of Try
render give, make
request ask subsequent later, next
require must subsequently after, later, then
requirement need substantial large, real, strong
retain keep sufficient enough
review check, go over take appropriate measures act
selection choice terminate end, stop
similar like that (leave out)
solicit ask for therefore so
state say there are/is (leave out)
subject the, this, you thereof its, their
subject to may be this office us, we
submit give, send time period time, period
transmit send
transpire happen, occur
type (leave out)
until such time as until
(the) use of (leave out)
utilize, utilization use
validate confirm
verbatim exact
via in, on, through
viable workable
warrant call for permit
whenever when
whereas since
with reference to about
with the exception of except for
witnessed saw

B-3