Bureaucratic documents are full of jargon and cumbersome expressions that can be highly contagious for writers. Jargon obscures meaning and makes your writing clumsy and dull.
Regular immunisation is vital if you are to avoid this plague.
Stick this list near your computer and check it regularly to ensure your writing stays healthy. You can also add your own.
| a series of information sessions | meetings |
| a small percentage of | few |
| accompany | go with |
| accomplish | carry out/do |
| accordingly | so |
| accrue | add/gain |
| accurate | correct, right, exact |
| additional | extra, more, added, other |
| adjacent to | near |
| an initial preferred location | first/previous site |
| announced, stated, declared | said |
| approximately | about |
| are being asked to have their say | invited to comment |
| arrived at the scene | arrived |
| as a consequence of | because |
| assist, come to the aid of | help |
| at the moment, at this point in time, at present | now |
| attempt | try |
| behind schedule | late |
| beverage | drink |
| called a halt to | stopped |
| can take part in a meeting | can meet |
| carriageway | road/highway/lane |
| commence | start/begin |
| consider the impact of its decisions on young people | affect on youth |
| constructed | made/built |
| currently/presently/ | now |
| demonstrate | show |
| development plan | plan |
| discussions, consultations | talks |
| dispatch, transmit | send |
| donate | give |
| dwelling, residence | home/house |
| establish, implement | set up |
| eventuate | happen |
| facilitate | help/aid |
| felt the decision was a valid one | agreed |
| impact | affect, influence, transform, change, result |
| off of – grammatically incorrect. | off/from |
| unpack | explain, examine, clarify |