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Introduction

Abbreviations

Capitalization

Dates, Numbers, Places

Plurals & Possessives

Punctuation Primer

Sensitivities

Titles

Tech Talk

Using Tricky Words

Pet Peeves

Carnegie Mellon Terminology

Carnegie Mellon Facts

Proofreaders' Marks


Identity Style Guide

Web Style Guide




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a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w


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 (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


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