In the quest for clear writing, clunky phrases are like a field of poppies—slowing your readers down and putting them to sleep. Some of these phrases are redundant, some are jargony, and some are needlessly formal. To streamline your writing and enhance readability, prune these phrases ruthlessly.
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| 12:00 noon | noon |
| 6-month period | 6 months |
| a large proportion of | many |
| a number of | some, several |
| able to | can |
| absolutely essential | essential |
| acquainted with | know |
| acted as | was |
| actual experience | experience |
| adequate enough | adequate |
| adjacent to | next to |
| advance planning | planning |
| advance warning | warning |
| added bonus | bonus |
| afford an opportunity | allow, let |
| any and all | all |
| as a means of | to |
| at such time as | when |
| a majority of | most |
| are in possession of | have |
| as prescribed by | under |
| at this point in time | now, today |
| at your earliest convenience | soon |
| basic fundamentals | basics, fundamentals |
| be responsible for | handle |
| best ever | best |
| brief summary | summary |
| by means of | by |
| classify into groups | classify |
| close proximity | proximity |
| consensus of opinion | consensus |
| consequently | so |
| current trends | trends |
| despite the fact that | although |
| deteriorate in quality | deteriorate |
| due to the fact that | because |
| during the course of | during |
| during the time that | while |
| each and every | each |
| eliminate altogether | eliminate |
| emergency situation | emergency |
| end result | result |
| estimated at about | estimated at |
| exact same | same |
| failed to | didn’t |
| final outcome | outcome |
| final conclusion | conclusion |
| first and foremost | first |
| first of all | first |
| follow after | follow |
| for a period of | for |
| for all intents and purposes | – |
| for the purpose of | to |
| forward initiative | plan |
| functioned as | was |
| furthermore | then |
| future plans | plans |
| give an affirmative answer to | say yes to, agree to |
| has the function of being | is |
| have a need for | need |
| hold a meeting | meet |
| if conditions are such that | if |
| in a timely manner | promptly |
| in accordance with | by, under |
| in addition | also |
| in an effort to | to |
| in conjunction with | with |
| in many cases | often |
| in order to | to |
| in regard to | about |
| in spite of the fact that | although |
| in the case of | if |
| in the course of | during, in |
| in the event that | if |
| in the nature of | like |
| in the near future | soon |
| in the neighborhood of | about |
| in the vicinity of | near |
| in this day and age | today |
| in view of | because |
| in light of the fact that | because |
| inasmuch as | because |
| incumbent upon | must |
| is capable of | can |
| is deficient in | lacks |
| is in a position to | can |
| is of the opinion that | believes |
| issue a reminder | remind |
| it is essential | must |
| it is recommended | we recommend |
| join together | join |
| it should be noted that | note |
| liaise with | talk to |
| limited number | few |
| make an announcement | announce |
| make a statement | say, state |
| mission-critical | critical |
| new innovation | innovation |
| no later than | by |
| on a [daily, weekly, monthly] basis | daily, weekly, monthly |
| on a regular basis | regularly |
| past experience | experience |
| past history | history |
| pertaining to | about |
| please be advised that | note |
| point in time | point |
| prior to | before |
| provides guidance for | guides |
| provided that | if |
| reason for | why |
| reason is because | reason is |
| regular routine | routine |
| responsible for managing | manages |
| serious crisis | crisis |
| similar to | like |
| state of the art | latest, current |
| strategic alliance | alliance |
| take action to | do |
| take into consideration | consider |
| trained professional | professional |
| until such time as | until |
| wide range of | many |
| with reference to | about, regarding |
| with the exception of | except for |
Sources:
Einsohn, Amy. The Copyeditor’s Handbook: A Guide for Book Publishing and Corporate Communications. University of California
Press, 2011.
Garner, Bryan A. HBR Guide to Better Business Writing. Harvard Business Review Press, 2012.
Stoughton, Mary. Substance & Style: Instruction and Practice in Copyediting. EEI Books, 1996.
Lohfeld, Bob. “100 Words Never to Use in Proposals.” Lohfeld Consulting.
This post is part of a series featuring Dragonfly field guides, tips, and tricks. You can download the PDF file here. Feel free to share!
