A. The Tone Rule
Aim for formal but familiar. If a word sounds like legal text or a contract, pick the simpler twin.
B. Traffic Lights for Word Choice
Green = always safe
use, show, find, help, start, end, cause, result, problem, reason, idea, example, common, many, few, big, small, enough
Amber = fine in context
demonstrate, indicate, facilitate, significant, substantial, moreover, however, therefore, consequently, evidence, increase, decrease
Red = avoid in essays
utilize, aforementioned, herein, thereof, whatsoever, aforementioned, ameliorate, commence, terminate, pertaining to, prior to, in lieu of
C. High-Utility Safe Swaps
| Over-formal | Band-safe swap | Model line |
|---|---|---|
| utilize | use | Most households use mobile banking. |
| attempt | try | The policy tries to reduce costs. |
| assist | help | Subsidies help small firms grow. |
| commence | start | The survey started in 2023. |
| terminate | end | The program ended after two years. |
| numerous | many | Many cities improved recycling. |
| facilitate | help, make easier | Digital tools make filing easier. |
| prior to | before | Before 2020, tourism fell. |
| subsequent to | after | After the ban, waste fell. |
| in order to | to | The plan funds buses to cut traffic. |
| with regard to | about | The text is about climate policy. |
| a large number of | many | Many workers support the change. |
| due to the fact that | because | Results shifted because of policy. |
| individuals | people | People prefer flexible hours. |
| purchase | buy | Families buy food online. |
| demonstrate | show | The chart shows a steady rise. |
| moreover | also | Also, farms saved water. |
| consequently | so, therefore | Costs rose, so demand fell. |
Tip: keep demonstrate and consequently for emphasis only.
D. Meaning-Safe Tighteners
- absolutely essential → essential
- very necessary → necessary
- make a decision → decide
- provide an explanation → explain
- conduct an analysis → analyse
- in the event that → if
- it is important to note that → importantly
- a rise in the number of → more
E. Collocation-Smart Choices
- strong evidence, clear trend, mixed results
- heavy traffic, high cost, low income
- make progress, take action, draw a conclusion
- play a role, meet a need, raise awareness
These pairs sound natural and avoid awkward phrasing.
F. Context Compass
- Numbers and charts: prefer show, rise, fall, peak, remain.
- Argument: prefer claim, argue, suggest, support.
- Cause-effect: prefer lead to, result in, cause.
- Recommendation: prefer should, could, need to.
G. Quick Rewrites
- Over-formal: The findings demonstrate a substantial augmentation in sales.
Clean: The findings show a large rise in sales. - Over-formal: Prior to implementation, individuals utilized cash.
Clean: Before implementation, people used cash. - Wordy: In order to address this problem, the council commenced a plan.
Clean: To solve this problem, the council started a plan.
H. Mini Test
Replace the highlighted word with a safer option.
- The policy commenced in April.
- The report demonstrates a link.
- Subsequent to the flood, prices rose.
- There are numerous reasons.
- The app assists users.
Answers
- started 2) shows 3) after 4) many 5) helps
I. Clarity Checklist
- Simple verb chosen
- No legalistic phrases
- One meaning per sentence
- Collocations sound natural
- Wordy pairs trimmed
J. Ten-Minute Routine
Minutes 1-3: highlight heavy words in yesterday’s draft.
Minutes 4-6: swap each with a green word.
Minutes 7-8: read aloud and cut extra phrases.
Minutes 9-10: replace 2 reds in your next paragraph before you write.
Pocket List
use, show, find, help, start, end, rise, fall, remain, cause, lead to, result in, many, most, several, few, enough, clear, strong, likely, possible, necessary, important, therefore, however, also
Keep it simple, specific, and natural. This is the safest path to clear, high-scoring writing.