Words — good, bad and ugly

Forbidden words

When writing, use specific words and terms. Consider the following words and terms forbidden (these are only a few of the many overused, yet weak, terms). They tell a reader — including your customers or clients — nothing, except that your vocabulary is limited.

Breathtaking
Dazzling
Fabulous

State-of-the-art
Striking
Stunning

You don’t want to alienate customers or clients, so keep the words you use in your company’s memos, pamphlets, advertising, etc. simple. Below are some bad — and good — words.

Bad                           Good

  • airlifted                              flown
  • ameliorate                         improve
  • approximately                   about
  • commence                       begin, start
  • docent                               guide
  • due to the fact that          because
  • enumerate                        list
  • finalize                              finish, complete
  • prioritize                           rank (as in a list)
  • pragmatic                        practical
  • purchase                           buy
  • spearheaded                     led
  • ubiquitous                       common
  • utilize                                use
  • viable option                     choice

Ugly words and their replacements

Of course, you should never use terms such as “messed up” or “goofed up” (as in “made a mistake”), “went missing” (as in “disappeared”), “diss” (as in “criticize”), “haggle” (as in “negotiate”), “hassle” (as in “bother”) or “pushy” (as in “assertive”).

More bad words and their replacements

Don’t say:  Say instead:
addressees you
assist/assistance aid/help
commence begin/start
implement carry out/start/do
in accordance with by/following/per/under
in order to to
in the amount of for
in the event that  if
it is requested that  please (or omit this term completely)
promulgate issue/publish
this institution
 us/we
utilize/utilization use