Wiping out wordiness and windy phrases
You know what they say about people who use big words….
I have a little game for you. It’s a word game. Pretty simple really. Look at the list of words and phrases below and come up with a simpler alternative.
I came up with this exercise to help with writing press releases but its relevant for all writing projects where you want to engage with the general public reader. I’ve given you a couple to get you started.
Just answering a few? Post your answers in the comments. Want to give them all a go? Post them online and send me a link via comments.
I’ll re-post the table at the end of the Month with my suggestions in the second and fourth columns. Have fun!
Replace these words with shorter or simple ones |
Replace these windy phrases with one word |
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Accommodation | rooms | Subsequent to | ||
Proliferation | Contingent upon | |||
Deactivate | Cognisant of | |||
Finalise | The reason for | |||
Methodology | Due to the fact that | |||
Approximately | Owing to the fact that | |||
Commence | At this point in time | |||
Implement | In view of the fact that | |||
Utilise | In connection with | |||
Purchase | In addition to the above | |||
Remuneration | In the course of | during | ||
Endeavour | It is requested that | |||
Facilitate | Are in a position to | |||
Eventuate | A number of | |||
Render | A large number of | |||
Accordingly | As a means of | |||
Utilisation | On behalf of | |||
Acquire | In the event that | |||
Transmit | At an early date | |||
Approximately | In the vicinity of | |||
Assistance | Ahead of schedule | |||
Collaboration | At a later date | |||
Currently | Conduct an investigation | |||
Demonstrate | A little time ago | |||
introduction | Destroyed by fire | |||
suffice | Take into consideration | |||
Terminate | A majority of | |||
Apprise | As stated earlier |