91d2e6d5f9
Cherry-picked the genuinely unique content from PR #10 and integrated into existing skills: seo-audit/references: - ai-writing-detection.md: AI writing patterns to avoid (em dashes, overused phrases, filler words) - aeo-geo-patterns.md: Answer Engine & Generative Engine Optimization content patterns copy-editing/references: - plain-english-alternatives.md: Complex to simple word replacements copywriting/references: - natural-transitions.md: Transitional phrases for better content flow Updated SKILL.md files to link to new references. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
377 lines
8.0 KiB
Markdown
377 lines
8.0 KiB
Markdown
# Plain English Alternatives
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Replace complex or pompous words with plain English alternatives.
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Source: Plain English Campaign A-Z of Alternative Words (2001), Australian Government Style Manual (2024), plainlanguage.gov
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---
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## A
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| Complex | Plain Alternative |
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|---------|-------------------|
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| (an) absence of | no, none |
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| abundance | enough, plenty, many |
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| accede to | allow, agree to |
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| accelerate | speed up |
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| accommodate | meet, hold, house |
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| accomplish | do, finish, complete |
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| accordingly | so, therefore |
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| acknowledge | thank you for, confirm |
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| acquire | get, buy, obtain |
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| additional | extra, more |
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| adjacent | next to |
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| advantageous | useful, helpful |
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| advise | tell, say, inform |
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| aforesaid | this, earlier |
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| aggregate | total |
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| alleviate | ease, reduce |
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| allocate | give, share, assign |
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| alternative | other, choice |
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| ameliorate | improve |
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| anticipate | expect |
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| apparent | clear, obvious |
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| appreciable | large, noticeable |
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| appropriate | proper, right, suitable |
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| approximately | about, roughly |
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| ascertain | find out |
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| assistance | help |
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| at the present time | now |
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| attempt | try |
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| authorise | allow, let |
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---
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## B
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| Complex | Plain Alternative |
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|---------|-------------------|
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| belated | late |
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| beneficial | helpful, useful |
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| bestow | give |
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| by means of | by |
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## C
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| Complex | Plain Alternative |
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|---------|-------------------|
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| calculate | work out |
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| cease | stop, end |
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| circumvent | avoid, get around |
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| clarification | explanation |
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| commence | start, begin |
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| communicate | tell, talk, write |
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| competent | able |
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| compile | collect, make |
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| complete | fill in, finish |
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| component | part |
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| comprise | include, make up |
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| (it is) compulsory | (you) must |
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| conceal | hide |
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| concerning | about |
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| consequently | so |
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| considerable | large, great, much |
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| constitute | make up, form |
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| consult | ask, talk to |
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| consumption | use |
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| currently | now |
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## D
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| Complex | Plain Alternative |
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|---------|-------------------|
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| deduct | take off |
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| deem | treat as, consider |
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| defer | delay, put off |
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| deficiency | lack |
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| delete | remove, cross out |
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| demonstrate | show, prove |
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| denote | show, mean |
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| designate | name, appoint |
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| despatch/dispatch | send |
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| determine | decide, find out |
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| detrimental | harmful |
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| diminish | reduce, lessen |
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| discontinue | stop |
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| disseminate | spread, distribute |
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| documentation | papers, documents |
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| due to the fact that | because |
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| duration | time, length |
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| dwelling | home |
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## E
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| Complex | Plain Alternative |
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|---------|-------------------|
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| economical | cheap, good value |
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| eligible | allowed, qualified |
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| elucidate | explain |
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| enable | allow |
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| encounter | meet |
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| endeavour | try |
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| enquire | ask |
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| ensure | make sure |
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| entitlement | right |
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| envisage | expect |
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| equivalent | equal, the same |
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| erroneous | wrong |
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| establish | set up, show |
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| evaluate | assess, test |
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| excessive | too much |
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| exclusively | only |
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| exempt | free from |
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| expedite | speed up |
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| expenditure | spending |
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| expire | run out |
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## F
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| Complex | Plain Alternative |
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|---------|-------------------|
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| fabricate | make |
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| facilitate | help, make possible |
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| finalise | finish, complete |
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| following | after |
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| for the purpose of | to, for |
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| for the reason that | because |
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| forthwith | now, at once |
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| forward | send |
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| frequently | often |
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| furnish | give, provide |
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| furthermore | also, and |
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## G-H
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| Complex | Plain Alternative |
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|---------|-------------------|
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| generate | produce, create |
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| henceforth | from now on |
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| hitherto | until now |
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## I
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| Complex | Plain Alternative |
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|---------|-------------------|
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| if and when | if, when |
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| illustrate | show |
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| immediately | at once, now |
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| implement | carry out, do |
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| imply | suggest |
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| in accordance with | under, following |
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| in addition to | and, also |
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| in conjunction with | with |
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| in excess of | more than |
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| in lieu of | instead of |
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| in order to | to |
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| in receipt of | receive |
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| in relation to | about |
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| in respect of | about, for |
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| in the event of | if |
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| in the majority of instances | most, usually |
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| in the near future | soon |
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| in view of the fact that | because |
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| inception | start |
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| indicate | show, suggest |
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| inform | tell |
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| initiate | start, begin |
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| insert | put in |
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| instances | cases |
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| irrespective of | despite |
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| issue | give, send |
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## L-M
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| Complex | Plain Alternative |
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|---------|-------------------|
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| (a) large number of | many |
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| liaise with | work with, talk to |
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| locality | place, area |
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| locate | find |
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| magnitude | size |
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| (it is) mandatory | (you) must |
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| manner | way |
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| modification | change |
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| moreover | also, and |
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## N-O
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| Complex | Plain Alternative |
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|---------|-------------------|
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| negligible | small |
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| nevertheless | but, however |
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| notify | tell |
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| notwithstanding | despite, even if |
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| numerous | many |
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| objective | aim, goal |
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| (it is) obligatory | (you) must |
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| obtain | get |
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| occasioned by | caused by |
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| on behalf of | for |
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| on numerous occasions | often |
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| on receipt of | when you get |
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| on the grounds that | because |
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| operate | work, run |
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| optimum | best |
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| option | choice |
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| otherwise | or |
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| outstanding | unpaid |
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| owing to | because |
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## P
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| Complex | Plain Alternative |
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|---------|-------------------|
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| partially | partly |
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| participate | take part |
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| particulars | details |
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| per annum | a year |
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| perform | do |
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| permit | let, allow |
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| personnel | staff, people |
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| peruse | read |
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| possess | have, own |
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| practically | almost |
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| predominant | main |
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| prescribe | set |
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| preserve | keep |
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| previous | earlier, before |
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| principal | main |
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| prior to | before |
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| proceed | go ahead |
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| procure | get |
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| prohibit | ban, stop |
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| promptly | quickly |
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| provide | give |
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| provided that | if |
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| provisions | rules, terms |
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| proximity | nearness |
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| purchase | buy |
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| pursuant to | under |
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## R
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| Complex | Plain Alternative |
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|---------|-------------------|
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| reconsider | think again |
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| reduction | cut |
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| referred to as | called |
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| regarding | about |
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| reimburse | repay |
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| reiterate | repeat |
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| relating to | about |
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| remain | stay |
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| remainder | rest |
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| remuneration | pay |
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| render | make, give |
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| represent | stand for |
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| request | ask |
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| require | need |
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| residence | home |
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| retain | keep |
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| revised | changed, new |
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## S
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| Complex | Plain Alternative |
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|---------|-------------------|
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| scrutinise | examine, check |
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| select | choose |
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| solely | only |
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| specified | given, stated |
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| state | say |
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| statutory | legal, by law |
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| subject to | depending on |
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| submit | send, give |
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| subsequent to | after |
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| subsequently | later |
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| substantial | large, much |
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| sufficient | enough |
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| supplement | add to |
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| supplementary | extra |
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## T-U
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| Complex | Plain Alternative |
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|---------|-------------------|
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| terminate | end, stop |
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| thereafter | then |
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| thereby | by this |
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| thus | so |
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| to date | so far |
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| transfer | move |
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| transmit | send |
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| ultimately | in the end |
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| undertake | agree, do |
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| uniform | same |
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| utilise | use |
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## V-Z
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| Complex | Plain Alternative |
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|---------|-------------------|
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| variation | change |
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| virtually | almost |
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| visualise | imagine, see |
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| ways and means | ways |
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| whatsoever | any |
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| with a view to | to |
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| with effect from | from |
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| with reference to | about |
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| with regard to | about |
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| with respect to | about |
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| zone | area |
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## Phrases to Remove Entirely
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These phrases often add nothing. Delete them:
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- a total of
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- absolutely
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- actually
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- all things being equal
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- as a matter of fact
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- at the end of the day
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- at this moment in time
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- basically
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- currently (when "now" or nothing works)
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- I am of the opinion that (use: I think)
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- in due course (use: soon, or say when)
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- in the final analysis
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- it should be understood
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- last but not least
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- obviously
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- of course
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- quite
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- really
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- the fact of the matter is
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- to all intents and purposes
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- very
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