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Compact Oxford Thesaurus for Students

Keep it simple

Keep it simple

When you are producing a college assignment, or composing a job application, keeping your writing simple and straightforward will ensure that the person reading it understands what you are saying quickly and easily. If you try to express your points in overcomplicated language or elaborate vocabulary there is a danger that your writing may become confusing. It could also sound self-conscious or pretentious and instead of giving someone the impression that you are thoughtful and intelligent, have exactly the opposite effect.

Here's a sentence which the Plain English Campaign use as an example of over–complicated language getting in the way of what's actually being said:

High–quality learning environments are a necessary precondition for facilitation and enhancement of the ongoing learning process.

As their website points out, this convoluted and jargon–packed statement could be expressed much more straightforwardly as:

Children need good schools if they are to learn properly.

(For information about the Plain English Campaign see www.plainenglish.co.uk)

If you have a perfectly adequate word in mind and it's part of standard English (e.g. school), there's no need to search for another, either in your head or in your thesaurus, that may sound superficially more impressive (e.g. learning environment). Nor is there any need to pad your writing out or to use complicated sentences: simplicity is often the key to getting your point across in the clearest possible way and keeping your reader interested.

Here are a few further examples of unnecessarily complicated sentences, each followed by a more streamlined alternative:

Before
The relevant comments which you have made in respect of the case under review have been carefully considered.
After
We have considered your comments carefully.

Before
The company needs to re–evaluate its strategic objectives in terms of its consumer base.
After
The company needs to re–evaluate its commercial aims.

Before
We will endeavour to continue to grow our platform in the North American market going forward.
After
We will try to expand our sales in North America.

Getting rid of unnecessary words