1# Plain English Alternatives
2 
3Replace complex or pompous words with plain English alternatives.
4 
5Source: Plain English Campaign A-Z of Alternative Words (2001), Australian Government Style Manual (2024), plainlanguage.gov
6 
7---
8 
9## Contents
10- A
11- B
12- C
13- D
14- E
15- F
16- G-H
17- I
18- L-M
19- N-O
20- P
21- R
22- S
23- T-U
24- V-Z
25- Phrases to Remove Entirely
26 
27## A
28 
29| Complex | Plain Alternative |
30|---------|-------------------|
31| (an) absence of | no, none |
32| abundance | enough, plenty, many |
33| accede to | allow, agree to |
34| accelerate | speed up |
35| accommodate | meet, hold, house |
36| accomplish | do, finish, complete |
37| accordingly | so, therefore |
38| acknowledge | thank you for, confirm |
39| acquire | get, buy, obtain |
40| additional | extra, more |
41| adjacent | next to |
42| advantageous | useful, helpful |
43| advise | tell, say, inform |
44| aforesaid | this, earlier |
45| aggregate | total |
46| alleviate | ease, reduce |
47| allocate | give, share, assign |
48| alternative | other, choice |
49| ameliorate | improve |
50| anticipate | expect |
51| apparent | clear, obvious |
52| appreciable | large, noticeable |
53| appropriate | proper, right, suitable |
54| approximately | about, roughly |
55| ascertain | find out |
56| assistance | help |
57| at the present time | now |
58| attempt | try |
59| authorise | allow, let |
60 
61---
62 
63## B
64 
65| Complex | Plain Alternative |
66|---------|-------------------|
67| belated | late |
68| beneficial | helpful, useful |
69| bestow | give |
70| by means of | by |
71 
72---
73 
74## C
75 
76| Complex | Plain Alternative |
77|---------|-------------------|
78| calculate | work out |
79| cease | stop, end |
80| circumvent | avoid, get around |
81| clarification | explanation |
82| commence | start, begin |
83| communicate | tell, talk, write |
84| competent | able |
85| compile | collect, make |
86| complete | fill in, finish |
87| component | part |
88| comprise | include, make up |
89| (it is) compulsory | (you) must |
90| conceal | hide |
91| concerning | about |
92| consequently | so |
93| considerable | large, great, much |
94| constitute | make up, form |
95| consult | ask, talk to |
96| consumption | use |
97| currently | now |
98 
99---
100 
101## D
102 
103| Complex | Plain Alternative |
104|---------|-------------------|
105| deduct | take off |
106| deem | treat as, consider |
107| defer | delay, put off |
108| deficiency | lack |
109| delete | remove, cross out |
110| demonstrate | show, prove |
111| denote | show, mean |
112| designate | name, appoint |
113| despatch/dispatch | send |
114| determine | decide, find out |
115| detrimental | harmful |
116| diminish | reduce, lessen |
117| discontinue | stop |
118| disseminate | spread, distribute |
119| documentation | papers, documents |
120| due to the fact that | because |
121| duration | time, length |
122| dwelling | home |
123 
124---
125 
126## E
127 
128| Complex | Plain Alternative |
129|---------|-------------------|
130| economical | cheap, good value |
131| eligible | allowed, qualified |
132| elucidate | explain |
133| enable | allow |
134| encounter | meet |
135| endeavour | try |
136| enquire | ask |
137| ensure | make sure |
138| entitlement | right |
139| envisage | expect |
140| equivalent | equal, the same |
141| erroneous | wrong |
142| establish | set up, show |
143| evaluate | assess, test |
144| excessive | too much |
145| exclusively | only |
146| exempt | free from |
147| expedite | speed up |
148| expenditure | spending |
149| expire | run out |
150 
151---
152 
153## F
154 
155| Complex | Plain Alternative |
156|---------|-------------------|
157| fabricate | make |
158| facilitate | help, make possible |
159| finalise | finish, complete |
160| following | after |
161| for the purpose of | to, for |
162| for the reason that | because |
163| forthwith | now, at once |
164| forward | send |
165| frequently | often |
166| furnish | give, provide |
167| furthermore | also, and |
168 
169---
170 
171## G-H
172 
173| Complex | Plain Alternative |
174|---------|-------------------|
175| generate | produce, create |
176| henceforth | from now on |
177| hitherto | until now |
178 
179---
180 
181## I
182 
183| Complex | Plain Alternative |
184|---------|-------------------|
185| if and when | if, when |
186| illustrate | show |
187| immediately | at once, now |
188| implement | carry out, do |
189| imply | suggest |
190| in accordance with | under, following |
191| in addition to | and, also |
192| in conjunction with | with |
193| in excess of | more than |
194| in lieu of | instead of |
195| in order to | to |
196| in receipt of | receive |
197| in relation to | about |
198| in respect of | about, for |
199| in the event of | if |
200| in the majority of instances | most, usually |
201| in the near future | soon |
202| in view of the fact that | because |
203| inception | start |
204| indicate | show, suggest |
205| inform | tell |
206| initiate | start, begin |
207| insert | put in |
208| instances | cases |
209| irrespective of | despite |
210| issue | give, send |
211 
212---
213 
214## L-M
215 
216| Complex | Plain Alternative |
217|---------|-------------------|
218| (a) large number of | many |
219| liaise with | work with, talk to |
220| locality | place, area |
221| locate | find |
222| magnitude | size |
223| (it is) mandatory | (you) must |
224| manner | way |
225| modification | change |
226| moreover | also, and |
227 
228---
229 
230## N-O
231 
232| Complex | Plain Alternative |
233|---------|-------------------|
234| negligible | small |
235| nevertheless | but, however |
236| notify | tell |
237| notwithstanding | despite, even if |
238| numerous | many |
239| objective | aim, goal |
240| (it is) obligatory | (you) must |
241| obtain | get |
242| occasioned by | caused by |
243| on behalf of | for |
244| on numerous occasions | often |
245| on receipt of | when you get |
246| on the grounds that | because |
247| operate | work, run |
248| optimum | best |
249| option | choice |
250| otherwise | or |
251| outstanding | unpaid |
252| owing to | because |
253 
254---
255 
256## P
257 
258| Complex | Plain Alternative |
259|---------|-------------------|
260| partially | partly |
261| participate | take part |
262| particulars | details |
263| per annum | a year |
264| perform | do |
265| permit | let, allow |
266| personnel | staff, people |
267| peruse | read |
268| possess | have, own |
269| practically | almost |
270| predominant | main |
271| prescribe | set |
272| preserve | keep |
273| previous | earlier, before |
274| principal | main |
275| prior to | before |
276| proceed | go ahead |
277| procure | get |
278| prohibit | ban, stop |
279| promptly | quickly |
280| provide | give |
281| provided that | if |
282| provisions | rules, terms |
283| proximity | nearness |
284| purchase | buy |
285| pursuant to | under |
286 
287---
288 
289## R
290 
291| Complex | Plain Alternative |
292|---------|-------------------|
293| reconsider | think again |
294| reduction | cut |
295| referred to as | called |
296| regarding | about |
297| reimburse | repay |
298| reiterate | repeat |
299| relating to | about |
300| remain | stay |
301| remainder | rest |
302| remuneration | pay |
303| render | make, give |
304| represent | stand for |
305| request | ask |
306| require | need |
307| residence | home |
308| retain | keep |
309| revised | changed, new |
310 
311---
312 
313## S
314 
315| Complex | Plain Alternative |
316|---------|-------------------|
317| scrutinise | examine, check |
318| select | choose |
319| solely | only |
320| specified | given, stated |
321| state | say |
322| statutory | legal, by law |
323| subject to | depending on |
324| submit | send, give |
325| subsequent to | after |
326| subsequently | later |
327| substantial | large, much |
328| sufficient | enough |
329| supplement | add to |
330| supplementary | extra |
331 
332---
333 
334## T-U
335 
336| Complex | Plain Alternative |
337|---------|-------------------|
338| terminate | end, stop |
339| thereafter | then |
340| thereby | by this |
341| thus | so |
342| to date | so far |
343| transfer | move |
344| transmit | send |
345| ultimately | in the end |
346| undertake | agree, do |
347| uniform | same |
348| utilise | use |
349 
350---
351 
352## V-Z
353 
354| Complex | Plain Alternative |
355|---------|-------------------|
356| variation | change |
357| virtually | almost |
358| visualise | imagine, see |
359| ways and means | ways |
360| whatsoever | any |
361| with a view to | to |
362| with effect from | from |
363| with reference to | about |
364| with regard to | about |
365| with respect to | about |
366| zone | area |
367 
368---
369 
370## Phrases to Remove Entirely
371 
372These phrases often add nothing. Delete them:
373 
374- a total of
375- absolutely
376- actually
377- all things being equal
378- as a matter of fact
379- at the end of the day
380- at this moment in time
381- basically
382- currently (when "now" or nothing works)
383- I am of the opinion that (use: I think)
384- in due course (use: soon, or say when)
385- in the final analysis
386- it should be understood
387- last but not least
388- obviously
389- of course
390- quite
391- really
392- the fact of the matter is
393- to all intents and purposes
394- very
395