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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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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 |
top
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