Extra Words

Extra words often appear in technical writing. These add nothing to the meaning of the text and slow down the reader. These are closely related to the complex words issue.

If you find the words or phrases from the left-hand column in your text, consider the alternatives in the right-hand column.

Avoid this	Consider this
a certain number of	some
a considerable amount of	much
a considerable number of	many
a decreased amount of	less
a decreased number of	fewer
a number of	some, many
accounted for by the fact that	because
already exist	exist
alternative choices	choices
an adequate amount of	enough
an example of this is the fact that	for example
annual basis	annually, every year
any and all	(pick one)
as a consequence	so
as a result of	because
as is well known	(delete)
as well as	and
as yet	yet
at or about	(pick one)
at the present time	now
attached herewith is	here is
based on the fact that	because
bring to a conclusion	end, close, conclude
by the use of	with
come to an agreement	agree
compared with	than
comply with	meet, obey
conduct an evaluation	evaluate
conduct an investigation	study, investigate
considering the fact that	because
contributing factor	factor
despite the fact that	despite
do an inspection of	inspect
due to the fact that	because
duly authorized	authorized
during such time	while
during the course of	during
each and every	(pick one)
end result	result
excessive number	too many
for a period of	for
for all intents and purposes	virtually
for the purpose of	to
for the reason that	because
from the time that	since
furnish a solution	solve
future plans	plans
give rise to	cause
group together	group
has been shown to be	is
has been widely acknowledged as	is
has the ability	can
have an effect on	affect, influence
in a westward direction	west
in consequence	so
in consequence of this fact	therefore
in height	high, tall
in light of the fact that	because
in only a small number of cases	rarely
in order to	to
in regard to	about
in the amount of	for
in the ballpark	about, around
in the event of	if
in the near future	soon
in the neighbourhood of	near, about
in the vicinity of	near, close to
in view of the fact that	because
in whole or in part	(delete)
is authorized to	may
is of the opinion	believes
it appears that	apparently
it has long been known that	(delete)
it is important to note that	(delete)
it is requested	please
it may, however, be noted that	but
lacks the ability to	cannot
located in immediate vicinity of	near
majority of	most
make an assumption that	assume
may, in its sole discretion	may
mutual agreement	agreement
mutually agree	agree
new development	development
not correct	incorrect
not in a position to	unable to, cannot
notwithstanding the fact that	although
of an indefinite nature	indefinite
on a weekly basis	weekly
on condition that	if
on most occasions	usually
on the grounds that	because
one and only	only
owing to the fact that	because
per annum	yearly, per year, a year
per diem	daily, daily allowance
perform an assessment of	assess
period of n days	n days
point in time	time
potentially dangerous/hazardous	unsafe, dangerous
previous to	before
prior experience	experience
prior to	before
prior to the occasion when	before
provide a description of	describe
provided that	if
pursuant to	under, about, following, by
saving and excepting	except
set out	explain, describe
should it prove to be the case that	if
significant portion	most
so as to be able to	to
spell out	explain, describe
standards and criteria	standards
start off	start
subsequent to	after
such time as	when
sufficient number	enough
take into consideration	consider
terms and conditions	terms, conditions
the question as to whether	whether
the vast majority of	most
to all appearances	apparently
true facts	facts
undertake an analysis	analyze
was found to be	was
while at the same time	while
within a comparatively short period	soon
within the realm of possibility	possible
worst-case scenario	at worst

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