USING WORDS SKILLFULLY

FAMILIAR WORDS
• are more meaningful to readers; clear
messages contain words that are
familiar and meaningful to the readers.

• Avoid long, difficult, unfamiliar words.

Substitute them with short, simple,
common words.
 Familiar Words
Difficult, Unfamiliar Simple Alternatives
Words
• Ascertain
• Find out
• Conceptualize • See
• Encompass • Include
• Hypothesize • Guess
• Monitor • Check
• Operational • work
 FAMILIAR WORDS
Difficult, Unfamiliar Words Simple Alternatives
• Option
• Choice
• Perpetuate • Continue
• Perplexing • Troubling
• Reciprocate • Return
• Stipulate • Require
• Terminate • End
• Utilize • use
 Use of efficient words
Avoid inefficient words Use efficient words/phrases
Acknowledge receipt of Thank you for
As a matter of fact In fact; indeed
At an early date Give an specific date.
At that point in time Then
At this time; at this point in time Now
Because of the fact that Because
During the month of July during July
Each and every Each
Enclosed herewith Enclosed
For an extended period of time Give an exact time.
For the amount of Php 10,000 For Php 10,000
I would appreciate it if Please
In accordance with your suggestion As you suggested
In spite of the fact that although
 Use of efficient words
Avoid inefficient words Use efficient words/phrases
In the city of Cebu In Cebu City
In the last analysis Do not use this phrase.

Please do not hesitate to contact Please contact us

us

Please find enclosed State what is enclosed.

Thank you in advance Do not use this phrase.
Until such time as until
VAGUE MODIFIERS HOW TO AVOID VAGUE USE PRECISE EXPRESSION
MODIFIERS
As soon as State an exact date or time. Please return the form by Monday, June
possible 12.
better Provide specific information. The 250-LK scans six pages per minute,
which is two pages faster than the 150-LK
model.
big State the size or You will need 8 2-inch by 14-inch paper for
measurement. the form.
fast State the exact rate of speed. Rafael inputs text at the rate of 65 words
per minute.
few State a number. Carmen bought three reams of paper.

good Describe fully. Yael used 20-pound bond paper with 25

percent rag content.

high State the exact height. The windows begin 10 inches above the
floor.
little Describe the size. Aluminum foil measures 660 microns
thick, but plastic wrap measures only 25
microns thick.
long State the distance or Arnel commutes 42 miles to work each
measurement. morning.
many State a number. Alex requested 30 new printers.
more State the difference in Jennifer completed five mailable letters;
numbers. Melissa produced three draft copies.

most Quote an exact number or Sang completed 97 percent of the

percentage. problems within the time limit.

several State a number. Savita purchased seven printer cartridges.

slow State the exact rate of The 125-IT printer produces 15 pages per
speed. minute.
some Quote an exact number or Manuel sold six ads for the newspaper.
percentage.

soon State the exact date or time. Wendy, please fax the message by 2 p.m.
today.
too much State exactly how much Curt’s score on the math test was three
variance occurred. points below the acceptable limit.

worthwhile Explain the benefit. Donors receive a ticket to the awards

banquet and a tax deduction.
 JARGON
• is a terminology unique to a certain profession
and should be reserved for individuals who
understand it.
a. geologists – exfoliation, calcareous ooze,
siliceous particles
b. aerospace engineers – infrared processing
flags, output latches, movable symbology
 JARGON
• communication expert – protocol,
mode, asynchronous transmission
 Plain Language

• writing that is clear, simple, and

understandable; it suggests writing that is
easy to follow, well organized, and
appropriately divided
• inflated, unnatural writing - is intended to
impress readers but more often confuse them
 INFLATED UNNATURAL WRITING
• legalese official style
• thereafter bureaucratese
federalese whereas
• Doublespeak herein / after
 SLANG WORDS
• are phrases or expressions that are informal,
nonstandard, and inexact.
• their use in technical writing is as out of place
as the use of clichés.
• are quickly outdated
• sound fashionable, but they lack precise
meaning and should be avoided
 SLANG WORDS
• crib (house, home)
• my bad (error, mistake)
• war paint (make up, cosmetics)
• shorty (pretty girl)
• racket (line of work)
• kicks (shoes)
• you feelin me (you understand me)
 SLANG WORDS
• wuz up, thug? (Hello, how are you?)
• phat(really nice)
• bogus (wrong, incorrect)
• homies (friends)
• bling bling (expensive jewelry)
• whack (tired, worn out)
• take a chill pill (just relax)
 CLICHES
• are expressions that have become exhausted by
overuse;

• they lack freshness and clarity

• excessive use of certain phrases has caused

them to lose their impact

• they are ineffective and not striking

 CLICHES
• rack one’s brain (concentrates)
• laid to rest (buried)
• as plain as day ( very clear)
• on the right track (correct)
• first and foremost
• green with envy (envious)
• better than new
 CLICHES
• to the bitter end (to the conclusion)
• quick as a flash
• whole nine yards (all of…)
• last but not least
• beyond the shadow of a doubt
• exception to the rule
• easier said than done
 CLICHES
• pass with flying colors
• bored to tears (bored)
• chip off the old block (like his father)
• after all is said and done (in the end)
• as cold as ice (cold, frigid)
• slept like a log(slept soundly)
• as happy as a lark (ecstatic)
• stick to your guns(stand firm
 CLICHES
• at the crack of dawn (early)
• the picture of health (healthy)
• in the minds and hearts of (predominant idea)
• from the bottom of my heart (sincerely)
• the powers that be (the authorities)
• like a needle in a haystack (hard to find)
• ins and outs (workings)
 CLICHES
• old as the hills (ancient)
• in the nick of time (in time)
• around the horn (long way)
• do or die situation (crucial moment)
• worried to death (concerned)
• tapped out (exhausted
 CLICHES
• tunnel vision (short-sighted)
• icing on the cake (extra)
• hard facts
• below the belt
• true to form
 BUZZ WORDS
• are overworked expressions taken from
industry or government
• interfacecon figuration impact on
• commonality dysfunction incremental
• logistical orientate
• interrelationships
 BUZZ WORDS
• parameter prioritize scenario
• Unilateral systematized subsystem
• Profit-wise budget- wise
• production-wise
 REPETITIOUS WORDS
• the unconscious repetition of words creates
monotonous and boring reading

• Employees will be able to elect an

additional six employees to serve with the four
previously elected employees who currently
comprise the employees’ board of directors.
To ensure representation, swing-shift
employees will be electing one swing-shift
employee as their sole representative.
 REPETITIOUS WORDS
• Better:
Employees will be able to elect additional
six representatives to serve with the four
previously elected members of the
employees’ board of directors. To ensure
representation, swing-shift workers will
elect their own board member.
 REDUNDANT EXPRESSIONS
• are those which say the same thing more than
once; are needless repetition of meanings
• they cause extra wordage in your writing
 REDUNDANT EXPRESSIONS
• obviously apparent (apparently)
• big in size (big)
• final outcome (outcome)
• continue on (continue)
• absolutely essential (essential)
• few in number (few)
• Adequate enough (adequate)
 REDUNDANT EXPRESSIONS
• grateful thanks (thanks)
• exactly identical (identical)
• reason why (reason)
• advance warning (warning)
• true facts (facts)
• Basic fundamentals (fundamentals)
• Mix/Combine together (mix/combine)
 REDUNDANT EXPRESSIONS
• connect together (connect)
• refer back (refer)
• consensus of opinion (concensus)
• red in color (red)
• for the purpose of (for or to)
• past history (history)
• each and every (each)
• repeat again (repeat)
 REDUNDANT EXPRESSIONS
• new beginning (beginning)
• alone all by himself (alone)
• mutual cooperation (cooperation)
• necessary prerequisite (prerequisite)
• a speech about the subject of (a speech on)
• noticeable to the eye (noticeable)
• as to whether (whether)
• visible to the eye (visible)
 REDUNDANT EXPRESSIONS
• bitter in taste (bitter)
• in the city of Cebu(in Cebu)
• half in two (in half)
• audible to the eye (audible)
• whole entire (entire)
• honest truth (truth)
• retrieve back (retrieve)
• final conclusion (conclusion)
 REDUNDANT EXPRESSIONS
• fluid liquid (liquid)
• bought and paid for (bought)
• might possibly (might)
• winning another victory (another victory)
• center around (center on)
• two twins (twins)
• here in this place(here)
• small in size(small)
 REDUNDANT EXPRESSIONS
• resulting consequences (consequences)
• different variations(variations)
• written literature (literature)
• in this day and age (today)
• prior to the time that (before)
 REDUNDANT EXPRESSIONS
• due to the fact that (due to)
• has proved itself to be (is)
• during the years between (between
• foreseeable future (future)