These words and phrases have been “done to death.” Here are a few ideas for better ways to get your point across without using redundant, awkward or pretentious wording:
Weak |
Better |
|
A |
||
|
absolutely essential |
essential | |
|
accompany |
go with | |
|
accordingly |
so | |
|
additional |
added, more, other | |
|
address |
discuss | |
|
adequate enough |
enough | |
|
adjacent to |
next to | |
|
afford an opportunity |
allow, let | |
|
anticipate |
expect | |
|
a large number/part |
many/most | |
|
a number of |
some | |
|
a variety of |
many, different | |
|
appreciable |
many | |
|
approximately |
about | |
|
as a means of |
to | |
|
at the present time |
now | |
B |
||
| basic fundamentals | basics | |
| be responsible for | handle | |
C |
||
| capability/capable of | ability/can | |
| center around | center in, at or on | |
| comes into conflict | conflicts | |
| commitment to excellence | quality | |
| comply with | follow | |
| comprise | form, include, make up | |
| concerning | about, on | |
| constitutes | is, forms, makes up | |
| construct | build | |
| contact | call, write, reach | |
| currently | omit it. It’s already implied. | |
| cutting edge | forefront, frontier | |
| cutting-edge | leading, pioneering, progressive | |
D |
||
| designate | appoint, choose, name | |
| determine | decide, figure, find | |
| do not hesitate to call | call | |
| due to the fact that | due to, since | |
E |
||
| equitable | fair | |
| evidenced | showed, shown | |
| exhibit | show | |
| exhibits a tendency to | tends to | |
F |
||
| facilitate | ease, help | |
| factor | reason, cause | |
| feedback, input | opinion, reaction | |
| foreign imports | imports | |
| for the purpose of | to | |
| furnish | give, send | |
| future prospects | prospects | |
G |
||
|
generate |
do, make, create | |
| gives consideration to | considers | |
H |
||
| head up | head | |
| high tech | pioneering technology (or a more specific substitute) | |
| holds a belief | believes | |
I |
||
| if at all possible | if possible | |
| impacted | affected, changed, hit | |
| implement | carry out, do, follow | |
| in accordance with | by, following, under | |
| in addition | also, besides, too | |
| in an effort to | to | |
| in conjunction with | with | |
| in order to | to | |
| in the near future | soon | |
| inception | start, beginning | |
| initiate | start, begin | |
| innovative | creative, pioneering, inventive | |
| input | comments, advice, response | |
J |
||
| joint cooperation | cooperation | |
| just exactly | exactly | |
K |
||
L |
||
| legislation | law | |
M |
||
| makes an attempt | attempts, tries | |
| maximize | increase, enlarge, expand, broaden | |
| minimize | decrease, lessen, reduce | |
| modify | change | |
N |
||
| necessary (pre)requisites | (pre)requisites | |
| new innovations | innovations | |
| numerous | many, most | |
O |
||
| objective | aim, goal | |
| optimum | best, greatest, most | |
| output | comment, idea | |
P |
||
| past experience | experience | |
| personnel | people, staff | |
| pre-planning | planning | |
| prioritize | put in order | |
| prior to | before | |
| provides guidance for | guides | |
| possibly might | might | |
| postpone until later | postpone | |
| purpose is to | (don’t need it) | |
Q |
||
| qualified expert | expert | |
R |
||
| (in the) real world | in the world, in society, in business | |
| real-world problem | practical issue, business (or social) issue or problem | |
| refer back | refer | |
| retain | keep | |
S |
||
| send a communication to | notify | |
| similar to | like | |
| solicit | ask for | |
| state-of-the-art | latest | |
T |
||
| try and fix | try to fix | |
U |
||
| unique | one-of-a-kind (literal) exciting, new, unusual (as often used) | |
| utilize, utilization | use | |
V |
||
| viable | practical, workable | |
W |
||
| warrant | call for, permit | |
| whereas | since | |
| wide range | many, range | |
| wide variety | many, variety | |
| without further delay | now, immediately | |
| with the exception of | except for | |
X |
||
Y |
||
Z |
||