Web design for the disadvantaged.


Short words and phrases to replace long ones.
A‐B C‐D E‐F H‐I L‐M N‐O P‐R S‐T U‐Y
Instead of: Use:
a and/or ba or b or both
accompanygo with
accomplishcarry out, do
accordedgiven
accordinglyso
accrueadd, gain
accurate correct, exact, right, true
additionaladded, more, other
addressdiscuss
addresseesyou
addressees are requested(omit), please
adjacent to next to
advantageoushelpful
adversely impact onhurt, set back
adviserecommend, tell
afford an opportunityallow, let
aircraftplane
allocatedivide
anticipateexpect
a number ofsome
apparentclear, plain
appreciablemany
appropriate(omit), proper, right
approximateabout
arrive onboardarrive
as a means ofto
ascertainfind out, learn
as prescribed byin, under
assist, assistanceaid, help
attainmeet
attempttry
at the present timeat present, now
at this point in time now
be advised(omit)
benefithelp
by means ofby, with
 
Instead of:Use:
capabilityability
caveatwarning
close proximity near
combat environmentcombat
combinedjoint
commencebegin, start
comply withfollow
componentpart
comprise form, include, made of
concerningabout, on
consequentlyso
consolidatecombine, join, merge
constitutesis, forms, makes up
containshas
convenemeet
currently(omit), now
deembelieve, consider, think
deletecut, drop
demonstrateprove, show
departleave
designateappoint, choose, name
desirewant, wish
determinedecide, figure, find
discloseshow
discontinuedrop, stop
disseminate spread, distribute
due to the fact thatdue to, since
during the periodduring
 
Instead of:Use:
effect modificationsmake changes
electchoose, pick
eliminatecut, drop, end
employuse
encountermeet
endeavortry
ensuremake sure
enumeratecount
equipmentsequipment
equitablefair
establish set up, bring about
evidencedshowed
evidentclear
exhibitshow
expeditehasten, speed up
expeditiousfast, quick
expendspend
expertiseability
expirationend
facilitateease, help
failed to didn't
feasiblecan be done, workable
femaleswomen
finalizecomplete, finish
for a period of for
for example,______etc.for example, such as
forfeitgive up, lose
forwardsend
free gift gift
frequentlyoften
functionact, role, work
furnishgive, send
 
Instead of:Use:
has a requirement forneeds
hereinhere
heretoforeuntil now
herewithbelow, here
howeverbut
identicalsame
identify name, pinpoint, reveal
immediatelyat once
impactedaffected, changed
implementcarry out, start
in accordance withby, following, per, under
in additionalso, besides, too
in an effort toto
inasmuch as since
in a timely manneron time, promptly
inceptionstart
incumbent uponmust
indicateshow, write down
indicationsign
initialfirst
initiatestart
in lieu ofinstead
in order thatfor, so
in order to to
in regard to about, concerning, on
in relation to about, with, to
inter alia(omit)
interfacemeet, work with
interpose no objectiondon't object
in the amount of for
in the event ofif
in the near futureshortly, soon
in the process of(omit)
in view ofsince
in view of the aboveso
is applicable toapplies to
is authorized tomay
is in consonance with agrees with, follows
is responsible for(omit) handles
it appears seems
it is (omit)
it is essential must, need to
it is requestedplease, we request, I request
 
Instead of:Use:
liaisondiscussion
limited numberlimits
magnitudesize
maintainkeep, support
maximumgreatest, largest, most
methodologymethod
minimizedecrease, method
minimumleast, smallest
modifychange
monitorcheck, watch
 
Instead of:Use:
necessitatecause, need
notifylet know, tell
not later than 10 Mayby 10 May, before 11 May
not later than 1600by 1600
notwithstandinginspite of, still
numerousmany
objectiveaim, goal
obligatebind, compel
observesee
on a _________basis(omit)
operaterun, use, work
optimumbest, greatest, most
optionchoice, way
 
Instead of:Use:
parameterslimits
participatetake part
performdo
permitlet
pertaining toabout, of, on
portionpart
possesshave, own
practicablepractical
precludeprevent
previousearlier
previouslybefore
prioritizerank
prior tobefore
proceeddo, go ahead, try
procure(omit)
proficiencyskill
promulgateissue, publish
providegive, offer, say
provided thatif
provides guidance forguides
purchasebuy
pursuant toby, following, per, under
reflectsay, show
regardingabout, of, on
relative toabout, on
relocatemove
remainstay
remainstay
remainderrest
remunerationpay, payment
rendergive, make
representsis
requestask
requiremust, need
requirementneed
residelive
retainkeep
 
Instead of:Use:
said, some, suchthe, this, that
selectionchoice
set forth in in
similar tolike
solicitask for, request
state-of-the-artlatest
subjectthe, this, your
submitgive, send
subsequentlater, next
subsequentlyafter, later, then
substantiallarge, much
successfully completecomplete, pass
sufficientenough
take action to(omit)
terminateend, stop
the month of (omit)
there are(omit)
thereforeso
thereinthere
there is(omit)
thereofits, their
the undersigned I
the use of(omit)
this activity, commandus, we
timelyprompt
time period (either one)
transmitsend
type(omit)
 
Instead of:Use:
under the provisions ofunder
until such time asuntil
utilize, utilizationuse
validateconfirm
viablepractical, workable
viceinstead of, versus
warrantcall for, permit
whereasbecause, since
with reference toabout
with the exception of except for
witnessedsaw
your officeyou
/ (slash)and, or

The words in italics are very commonly used.


Adapted from Plain Language.gov