Getting rid of old-fashioned words and phrases

If you tend to use any of these in your writing, find more everyday words or expressions, or simply delete them. Why? They’re old-fashioned and no longer used in modern everyday English. Sometimes in international organizations they linger on…

If you’re writing a formal report or a diplomatic communication, you may come across some of them, but they should not appear in the informal communications of an international organization.

Here are some that are often superfluous and can usually be deleted:

• appropriate
• duly
• respective
• hereby
• necessary
• on a regular basis
• relevant

Test yourself. Find a short word or a short phrase to replace the following:

1. at the present time
2. during such time as
3. have the possibility
4. herewith (for attachments)
5. hereafter
6. in due course
7. in the event of
8. in view of the fact that
9. inter alia
10. with a view to
11. a number of
12. notwithstanding
13. necessitate
14. prior to
15. with regard to/ in regard to

Answer key

1. at the present time = now
2. during such time as = when
3. have the possibility = can
4. herewith (for attachments) = attached
5. hereafter = as follows
6. in due course = soon
7. in the event of = if
8. in view of the fact that = because
9. inter alia = including (or, “for example”)
10. with a view to = to
11. a number of = some
12. notwithstanding = despite
13. necessitate = need
14. prior to = before
15. with regard to/ in regard to = concerning or about

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Author: Carol Waites

Presentation/editing by Christina O’Shaughnessy 
https://worldwidewriting.org/

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Carol Waites (PhD)
Email: carolswritingtips@gmail.com
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