Appendix B —Preferred Expressions
Accordion
| DON'T SAY | SAY |
|---|---|
| accorded | given |
| adequate number of | enough |
| afford an opportunity | allow, let |
| afforded | given |
| all of the | all the |
| approximately | about |
| attains the age of | become... years old |
| at the time | when |
| attempt [as a verb] | try |
| by means of | by |
| calculate | compute |
| category | kind, class, group |
| cease | stop |
| commence | begin, start |
| complete [as a verb] | finish |
| conceal | hide |
| consequence | result |
| contiguous to | next to |
| corporation organized and existing under the laws of New Jersey |
New Jersey corporation |
| DON'T SAY | SAY |
|---|---|
| deem | consider |
| donate | give |
| during such time as | while |
| during the course of | during |
| echelons | levels |
| effectuate | carry out, try |
| endeavor [as a verb] | carry out, try |
| enter into a contract with | contract with |
| enumerate | count |
| equitable | fair |
| evince | show |
| excessive number of | too many |
| expedite | hasten, speed up |
| expend | spend |
| expiration | end |
| DON'T SAY | SAY |
|---|---|
| feasible | possible |
| for the duration of | during |
| for the purpose of holding [or other gerund] |
to hold or comparable infinitive |
| for the reason that | because |
| forthwith | immediately |
| frequently | often |
| hereafter | after this... takes effect |
| heretofore | before this... takes effect |
| implement | carry out, do follow |
| in case | if |
| in cases in which | when, where [say "whenever" or "wherever" only when you need to emphasize the exhaustive or recurring applicability of the regulation |
| indicate [in the sense of "show"] | show |
| inform | tell |
| in lieu of | instead of, in place of |
| in order to | to |
| inquire | ask |
| in sections 2023 to 2039, inclusive of the Act |
in sections 2023-2039 of the Act |
| institute | begin, start |
| interrogate | question |
| in the event that | if |
| in the interest of | for |
| incumbent upon | must |
| is able to | can |
| is authorized | may |
| is binding upon | binds |
| is empowered | may |
| is unable to | cannot |
| it shall be lawful | may |
None
| DON'T SAY | SAY |
|---|---|
| manner | way |
| maximum | most, largest, greatest |
| minimum | least, smallest |
| modify | change |
| necessitate | require |
| no later than June 30, 19___ | before July 1, 19___ |
| non-concur | disagree |
| obligate | bind, compel |
| obtain | get |
| occasion [as a verb] | cause |
| of a technical nature | technical |
| on and after July 1, 19___ | after June 30, 19___ |
| on his own application on or before June 30, 19___ | at his request before July 1, 19___ |
| on the part of | by |
| or, in the alternative | or |
| DON'T SAY | SAY |
|---|---|
| paragraph (5) of subsection (a) of section 2097 of Title 5 of the United States Code |
5 U.S.C. 2097(a)(5) |
| parameters | limits |
| Party of the First Part | [the party's name] |
| per annum, per day, per foot | a year, a day, a foot |
| per centum | percent |
| period of time | period, time |
| portion | part |
| possess | have |
| preserve | keep |
| prior | earlier |
| prior to | before |
| proceed | go, go ahead |
| procure | obtain, get |
| prosecute its business | carry on its business |
| provides guidance for | provides |
| provision of law | law |
| purchase [as a verb] | buy |
| pursuant to | under |
| remainder | rest |
| render [in the sense of "cause to be"] | make |
| render [in the sense of "give"] | give |
| require [in the sense of "need"] | need |
| retain | keep |
| DON'T SAY | SAY |
|---|---|
| specified [in the sense of "expressly mentioned" or "listet"] | named |
| State of Kansas | Kansas |
| subsequent to | after |
| suffer [in the sense of "permit"] | permit |
| sufficient number of | enough |
| summon | send for, call |
| The Congress | Congress |
| the manner in which | how |
| to the effect that | that |
| under the provisions of | under |
| until such time as | until |
| utilize, employ [in the sense of "use"] | use |
| within or without the United States | inside or outside the United States |
| with reference to | for |
None