Wordy phrases
Phrases that take several words to say what one word says better.
Some phrases pad a sentence without adding meaning. “In order to” says “to”. “Due to the fact that” says “because”. “At this point in time” says “now”. Each one costs the reader only a moment, but a page of them adds up, and they push the important words further from the start of the sentence.
This list pairs 185 wordy phrases with a shorter form. Where the best fix is to delete the phrase, the entry says so. In the editor, matches appear in the Simplify tab, where you can replace them all at once and undo with Ctrl+Z.
About a quarter of the entries also appear in the US Federal Plain Language Guidelines’ list of simpler words and phrases, a public-domain resource; those are marked FPLG.
A few phrases earn their length now and then. “With regard to” can signal a change of topic in a long letter, and “it is important to note that” is sometimes exactly what a warning needs. Cut by default, and keep the phrase only when you can say why.
The list (185 entries)
a great deal of→much
a large number of→many
a majority of→most
a number of→someFPLG
a small number of→a few
a sufficient number of→enough
a total of→cut it
a variety of→various
absolutely essential→essential
added bonus→bonus
adjacent to→next toFPLG
advance planning→planning
advance warning→warning
adversely impact→hurt
afford an opportunity→allow; letFPLG
along the lines of→like
an adequate number of→enough
an increased number of→more
are able to→can
as a consequence of→because of
as a means of→toFPLG
as a result of→because of
as of yet→yet
as to whether→whether
at a later date→later
at all times→always
at an early date→soon
at that point in time→then
at the earliest possible date→as soon as possible
at the present time→nowFPLG
at this moment in time→now
at this point in time→now
basic fundamentals→fundamentals
by means of→by; withFPLG
by virtue of→by; because of
carry out an evaluation→evaluate
close scrutiny→scrutiny
combine together→combine
come to a conclusion→conclude
come to an agreement→agree
completely eliminate→eliminate
conduct an analysis→analyze
conduct an investigation→investigate
consensus of opinion→consensus
despite the fact that→although
due to the fact that→becauseFPLG
during the period of→during
effect modifications→make changesFPLG
end result→result
final outcome→outcome
first of all→first
for a period of→forFPLG
for the most part→mostly
for the purpose of→to; for
for the reason that→because
free gift→gift
future plans→plans
give consideration to→consider
has a requirement for→needsFPLG
has the ability to→can
has the capacity to→can
have a discussion→discuss
have the ability to→can
hold a meeting→meet
in a manner similar to→like
in a situation where→when; if
in a timely manner→promptlyFPLG
in accordance with→under; followingFPLG
in addition to→besides
in an effort to→toFPLG
in cases where→when
in close proximity to→near
in compliance with→under; following
in conjunction with→with
in excess of→more than
in lieu of→instead ofFPLG
in light of the fact that→because
in many cases→often
in most cases→usually
in order for→for
in order that→so thatFPLG
in order to→toFPLG
in reference to→about
in regard to→aboutFPLG
in relation to→aboutFPLG
in some cases→sometimes
in spite of the fact that→although
in such a manner as to→to
in the absence of→without
in the amount of→forFPLG
in the course of→during
in the event of→ifFPLG
in the event that→if
in the near future→soonFPLG
in the neighborhood of→about
in the not too distant future→soon
in the process of→cut itFPLG
in the vicinity of→near
in view of the above→soFPLG
in view of the fact that→because
inasmuch as→sinceFPLG
interpose no objection→don't objectFPLG
is able to→can
is applicable to→applies toFPLG
is authorized to→mayFPLG
is dependent on→depends on
is in consonance with→agrees withFPLG
is in need of→needs
is indicative of→shows
is reflective of→reflects
is responsible for→handlesFPLG
is unable to→can't
it appears that→it seems
it is apparent that→clearly
it is clear that→clearly
it is essential that→must
it is important to note that→cut it
it is necessary that→must
it is requested that→please
it is worth noting that→cut it
it should be noted that→cut it
join together→join
make a decision→decide
make a recommendation→recommend
make an assumption→assume
make an effort to→try to
make reference to→refer to
merge together→merge
new innovation→innovation
not later than→by
notwithstanding the fact that→although
on a daily basis→daily
on a monthly basis→monthly
on a number of occasions→several times
on a regular basis→regularlyFPLG
on a weekly basis→weekly
on account of→because of
on an annual basis→yearly
on the basis of→based on; by
on the occasion of→when
over the course of→during
owing to the fact that→because
past history→history
perform an analysis→analyze
period of time→period; time
pertaining to→aboutFPLG
plan ahead→plan
please be advised that→cut it
postpone until later→postpone
prior to→beforeFPLG
provide assistance to→help
provided that→ifFPLG
provides guidance for→guidesFPLG
pursuant to→underFPLG
reach a conclusion→conclude
refer back→refer
regardless of the fact that→although
repeat again→repeat
return back→return
revert back→revert
set forth in→inFPLG
so as to→to
subsequent to→after
successfully complete→completeFPLG
take action to→cut itFPLG
take into consideration→consider
the majority of→most
the month of→cut itFPLG
the reason is because→because
the reason why is that→because
the vast majority of→most
there is no doubt that→doubtless
time period→period; timeFPLG
true facts→facts
under the provisions of→underFPLG
unexpected surprise→surprise
until such time as→untilFPLG
up until→until
whether or not→whether
with reference to→aboutFPLG
with regard to→about
with respect to→about
with the exception of→exceptFPLG
with the purpose of→to
with the result that→so