Plain words

Formal words and the plainer words that usually do the same job.

Long, formal words make writing slower to read and rarely make it more precise. “Utilize” means “use”. “Commence” means “start”. “Approximately” means “about”. Swapping them is the easiest way to raise a readability score without changing what you say.

This list pairs 288 such words with plainer alternatives. Each entry covers every form of the word, so “utilizes”, “utilized” and “utilizing” are all matched in the editor, where they appear in the Simplify tab with one-click replacements.

Many entries also appear in the “Use simple words and phrases” list of the US Federal Plain Language Guidelines, a public-domain government resource; those are marked FPLG. The wording of our alternatives is our own.

Use the list as a prompt, not a rule. Some formal words are the right term in context. “Terminate” is precise in a contract, “remuneration” may be the defined term in an employment policy, and “monitor” is a noun as well as a verb. Where that is common, the entry says so. If the plain word changes your meaning, keep the original.

The list (288 entries)

accentuate→stress, highlight

accompany→go withFPLG

accomplish→do, carry out, finishFPLGaccomplished as an adjective (skilled) is fine

accordingly→soFPLG

accrue→build up, gainFPLGkeep in accounting

accumulate→collect, gather, build up

acquire→get, buy

additional→more, extraFPLG

additionally→also

adequate→enough

adhere→stick, follow

advantageous→helpful, usefulFPLG

advise→tell, recommendFPLG

advocate→support, urge, backthe noun is fine

aforementioned→this, these

aforesaid→this, that

alleviate→ease, relieve

allocate→give, assign, divideFPLG

ameliorate→improve

amidst→amid

amongst→among

anticipate→expectFPLG

apparel→clothes, clothing

apparent→clear, plainFPLG

appreciable→noticeable, largeFPLG

apprehend→arrest, catch, grasp

apprise→tell, inform

appropriate→right, proper, suitableFPLG

approximate→roughFPLG

approximately→about, around

ascertain→find out, learnFPLG

assist→help

assistance→help

attain→reach, meetFPLG

attempt→tryFPLGas a noun, attempt is fine

attire→clothes

attributable→due

augment→add to, increase

beneficial→helpful, good

bestow→give, grant

beverage→drink

capability→abilityFPLG

cease→stop

cessation→end, stop

circumvent→get around, avoid

cognizance→awareness, notice

cognizant→aware

collaborate→work together

commence→start, beginFPLG

commencement→start, beginningkeep for graduation ceremonies

commensurate→in line, matching

compel→force, makecompelling (persuasive) is fine

component→partFPLGkeep in software and engineering

comprehend→understand

comprehensive→full, complete

comprise→include, make upFPLG

conceal→hide

conceptualize→imagine, picture

concerning→aboutFPLG

concur→agree

conflagration→fire

consequently→soFPLG

consolidate→combine, mergeFPLG

constitute→make up, formFPLG

construct→buildthe noun is fine

contemplate→consider, think about

convene→meet, call togetherFPLG

converse→talkthe converse (the opposite) is fine

correspondence→letters, mail

culminate→end, peak

currently→nowFPLGoften you can cut it

deem→consider, thinkFPLG

deficiency→lack, gap, flawkeep in medicine

deficient→lacking, short

deleterious→harmful

delineate→outline, describe

demonstrate→show, proveFPLG

denote→mean, show

depart→leaveFPLG

depict→show, describe

designate→name, chooseFPLG

desire→want, wishFPLG

determine→decide, find outFPLGdetermined as an adjective (resolute) is fine

detrimental→harmful

diminish→shrink, reduce, lessen

disburse→pay, pay out

discern→see, tell, notice

disclose→reveal, tell, showFPLG

discontinue→stop, endFPLG

disseminate→spread, share, sendFPLG

domicile→homekeep in legal text

dwelling→home, house

effectuate→carry out, cause

efficacious→effective

elevate→raise, lift

eliminate→cut, remove, endFPLG

elucidate→explain, clarify

emanate→come, flow

encompass→include, cover

encounter→meet, find, faceFPLG

endeavor→tryFPLGas a noun, use effort or attempt

enhance→improve

ensue→follow, result

ensure→make sureFPLG

enumerate→list, countFPLG

envisage→imagine, expect

envision→imagine, picture

equitable→fairFPLG

eradicate→wipe out, end

erroneous→wrong

erroneously→wrongly, by mistake

establish→set up, createFPLG

evident→clearFPLG

evince→show

exacerbate→worsen

exceedingly→very

exhibit→showFPLGkeep the noun for shows and court evidence

expedite→speed up, hurryFPLG

expeditious→fast, quickFPLG

expend→spend, useFPLG

expenditure→spending, cost

expiration→endFPLG

expound→explain

fabricate→make, buildif it means lie, say invent or make up

facilitate→help, easeFPLG

feasible→possible, workableFPLG

finalize→finish, completeFPLG

forfeit→lose, give upFPLG

forthwith→at once, now

frequently→oftenFPLG

furnish→give, send, supplyFPLGkeep when it means fitting out with furniture

henceforth→from now on

herein→here, in thisFPLG

heretofore→until nowFPLG

herewith→here, with thisFPLG

hitherto→until now, so far

identical→sameFPLG

immediately→at once, nowFPLGfine when you need the emphasis

impart→give, pass on, tell

impede→slow, block, hold up

impending→coming, near

imperative→vital, urgentkeep in grammar and programming

implement→carry out, do, startFPLGkeep in software, where it is the usual term

inadvertently→by mistake, accidentally

incentivize→encourage, reward

inception→start, beginningFPLG

incorporate→include, addkeep for forming a company

indebtedness→debt

indicate→show, sayFPLG

individual→personthe adjective is fine

inebriated→drunk

inform→tell

initial→firstFPLG

initiate→start, beginFPLG

inquire→ask

inquiry→questionkeep for formal investigations

instantaneously→at once, instantly

institute→start, set upthe noun is fine

insufficient→not enough

interrogate→question, ask

juncture→point, stage

leverage→usekeep in finance (borrowing)

locality→place, area

magnitude→sizeFPLGkeep in science

mandatory→required

manifest→showthe noun (cargo list) is fine

maximum→most, largestFPLG

merchandise→goods

methodology→methodFPLGkeep when you mean the study of methods

minimize→reduce, cutFPLG

minimum→least, smallestFPLG

mitigate→reduce, ease, lessen

modify→changeFPLG

monitor→watch, check, trackFPLGthe noun (a screen) is fine

necessitate→need, call for, forceFPLG

nevertheless→still, even so

nomenclature→names, terms

nonetheless→still, even so

notify→tellFPLG

notwithstanding→despite, stillFPLG

numerous→manyFPLG

obfuscate→hide, confuse, muddlekeep in programming

objective→aim, goalFPLGthe adjective (unbiased) is fine

obligate→bind, requireFPLG

observe→see, watch, noticeFPLG

obtain→get

oftentimes→often

operate→run, work, useFPLGkeep for surgery

operationalize→carry out, use

optimal→bestkeep in math and engineering

optimize→improvekeep in technical writing

optimum→bestFPLG

originate→start, come

ostensibly→seemingly, apparently

parameter→limit, settingFPLGkeep in math and programming

paramount→main, chief, vital

partake→take part, share

participate→take part, joinFPLG

perform→doFPLGkeep for stage performances

permissible→allowed

permit→let, allowFPLGthe noun (a license) is fine

perpetuate→keep alive, continue

peruse→read, look over

plethora→glut, excessa plethora of means many

portion→part, shareFPLG

posit→suggest, propose, claim

possess→have, ownFPLG

practicable→workable, possibleFPLG

preceding→earlier, previous

precipitate→cause, triggerkeep in chemistry

preclude→prevent, rule outFPLG

predominantly→mostly, mainly

preliminary→first, early

preponderance→bulk, most

presently→now, soonambiguous; say now or soon

previously→before, earlierFPLG

principal→main, chiefkeep for a school head or a loan's principal

prioritize→rank, focus onFPLG

proceed→go, go ahead, continueFPLGproceeds (money) is fine

procure→get, buyFPLG

proffer→offer

proficiency→skillFPLG

proficient→skilled, good

prohibit→ban, forbid

proliferate→spread, grow, multiply

promulgate→issue, publishFPLG

propensity→tendency

provide→give, offerFPLGfine when it means supply; give is often plainer

proximity→nearness

purchase→buyFPLGas a noun, purchase is fine

rectify→fix, correct

regarding→about, onFPLG

reimburse→repay, pay back

reiterate→repeat, restate

relinquish→give up, hand over

relocate→moveFPLG

remainder→restFPLGkeep in math

remediate→fix

remuneration→payFPLG

render→make, giveFPLGkeep in graphics and web code

replicate→copy, repeatkeep in science and databases

request→ask, ask forFPLGas a noun, request is fine

require→needFPLGfine for rules and requirements

requirement→needFPLG

reside→liveFPLG

residence→home

resultant→resulting

retain→keepFPLG

salient→main, key

scrutinize→examine, check

selection→choice, rangeFPLG

signify→mean, show

solely→only

solicit→ask for, seekFPLG

stipulate→state, require, set

strategize→plan

subsequent→later, nextFPLG

subsequently→later, thenFPLG

substantial→large, muchFPLG

substantiate→prove, support

sufficient→enoughFPLG

sufficiently→enough

supersede→replace

supplementary→extra, added

tantamount→equaltantamount to means equal to

terminate→end, stopFPLG

thereafter→after that, then

thereby→so, by doing this

therefore→soFPLG

therein→there, in itFPLG

thereof→its, of itFPLG

thusly→thus, like this

timely→promptFPLG

totality→whole

transmit→sendFPLG

transpire→happen

ubiquitous→everywhere, common

undertake→do, take on

utilization→use

utilize→use

validate→confirm, checkFPLGkeep in software for input checks

viable→workable, practicalFPLG

voluminous→large, bulky

warrant→justify, call forFPLGthe noun (legal order) is fine

whereby→by which, so that

wherein→in which, where

whilst→while

witness→seeFPLGthe noun is fine