Avoid some wordy expressions. check on the list are some prime examples of phrases that amount to little more than ‘dead wood’.
Most can be trimmed to a single word.
| Avoid | Replace it with |
| At the present time | Now |
| On the occasion of | When, during |
| Subsequent to | After |
| On the grounds that | Because |
| In spite of the fact that | Although |
| At an early date | Soon |
| Come in contact with | Meet |
| Reach a conclusion as to | Decide |
| After very careful consideration | After condidering |
| Is of the opinion | Believes |
Commonly Confused Words
| accept – to receive except – excluding | complement – complete compliment – praise | sight – something seen site – place |
| adapt – to adjust to adopt – to accept formally | continual – repeated continuous – uninterrupted | stationery – fixed stationery – writing supplies |
| affect – to influence effect – to bring about | council – a group counsel – advise, to advise | their – possessive there – showing location they’re – contraction of they are |
| aid – help aide – staff member | it’s – contraction for it is its – possessive | principal – chief principle – rule |
| all ready – prepared already – previously | presently – soon at present – now | who’s – contraction of who is whose – possessive |
| among – more than two involved between – two involved | you’re – contraction of you are your – possessive yours – belong to you |