selection of words for executive communication seminar

Long, Unfamiliar Words Short, Familiar Words

Abbreviate Shorten

Accomplish Do

Approximately About

Ascertain Find out

Commence Begin

Considerable Much

Determine Decide

Detrimental Harmful

Long, Unfamiliar Words Short, Familiar Words

Duplicate Copy

Elevation Height

Equivalent Equal

Fabricate Build

Furnish Give

Indeterminate Vague

Indicate Show

Ineffectual Useless

Long, Unfamiliar Words Short, Familiar Words

Interrupt Hinder

Minimal Smallest

Modification Change

Proceed Go

Supersede Replace

Ultimate Last

Visualize Picture

Verification Proof

Abstract Language Concrete Language

The leading company First among 50 companies

The majority 68 percent

Substantial amount Take 10,000

A large number 50,000 student

Passive Active

It is believed that the bill was padded I believe they padded the bill

Your report was read by the president the president read your report

The profit and loss statement is

prepared by the treasurer each month

The treasurer prepares the profit and

loss statement each month

Faulty Idiom Correct Idiom

Comply to Comply with

In search for In search of

Superior than Superior to

Similar Words:

•Money, funds, cash, dough, bread, finances

•Thin, slender, skinny, lean, slight

Some Clichés:

• In today’s society

• Pros and cons

• Winds of change

• Long arm of the law

• All walks of life

Technical Language Improved Version

Has sufficient quarters of coverage to

acquire an insured status.

Has worked long enough (under

Social Security) to become insured.

Survivors’ benefits Family insurance payments

Covered employment A job covered by Social Security

Deceased wage earner Worker who has died

To file a claim To apply for insurance payments

Aged workers Workers past 65

Camouflaged Verb Strong Verb

Make a classification Classify

Make a computation Compute

Conduct an exploration Explore

Provide information Inform

Engage in negotiation Negotiate

Make an observation Observe

Provide representation represent

Sexist Nonsexist

A physician should treat his patients

with respect.

A physician should treat patients with

respect

When a customer needs service, it is

her right to ask for it.

When service is needed, one has the

right to ask for it.

When a customer needs service, it is

her right to ask for it.

When customer needs service, they

have the right to ask for it.

Sexist Nonsexist

Manmade Manufactured, of human origin

Manpower Personnel, workers

Congressman Representative

Businessman Business executive

Mailman Letter carrier

Policeman Police officer

Fireman Fire fighter

Fisherman Fisher

cameraman Camera operator

o Manufacture

o Management

o History

o Manipulate

o Mannequin

o Manicure

o Mandolin

o Histrionic

o histamine

Instead of Use

My girl My secretary

Lady doctor Doctor

Authoress Author

Actress Actor

Poetess Poet

Sculptress sculptor