Concise Language Substitutions Rule

This rule promotes clearer, more direct writing by identifying and suggesting replacements for wordy or unnecessarily complex phrases. It's designed to help writers follow the Microsoft Style Guide's recommendation to use simple words and concise sentences. The rule targets common circumlocutions, redundancies, and verbose expressions that can make text harder to read and understand.

Using concise language isn't just about brevity - it's about clarity and impact. When writers use simpler, more direct expressions, their message becomes more accessible and their writing becomes more professional. This rule helps eliminate the kind of bureaucratic or inflated language that often creeps into technical writing.

Examples:

  • "prior to" → "before"
  • "a large number of" → "many"
  • "in order to" → "to"
  • "due to the fact that" → "because"
  • "in the event that" → "if"
  • "conduct an investigation" → "investigate"
  • "at the present time" → "now"
  • "in spite of the fact that" → "although"

In each case, the rule flags the wordier phrase on the left and suggests the more concise alternative on the right. The rule is case-insensitive and provides clear replacement suggestions through its warning messages.

Rule Source

This rule comes from: https://github.com/mesosphere/dcos-docs-site

Rule Definition

extends: substitution
message: "Consider using '%s' instead of '%s'."
link: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/style-guide/word-choice/use-simple-words-concise-sentences
ignorecase: true
level: warning
action:
  name: replace
swap:
  (?:give|gave) rise to: lead to
  (?:previous|prior) to: before
  a (?:large)? majority of: most
  a (?:large)? number of: many
  a myriad of: myriad
  adversely impact: hurt
  all across: across
  all of a sudden: suddenly
  all of these: these
  all of: all
  all-time record: record
  almost all: most
  almost never: seldom
  along the lines of: similar to
  an adequate number of: enough
  an appreciable number of: many
  an estimated: about
  any and all: all
  are in agreement: agree
  as a matter of fact: in fact
  as a means of: to
  as a result of: because of
  as of yet: yet
  as per: per
  at a later date: later
  at all times: always
  at the present time: now
  at this point in time: at this point
  based in large part on: based on
  based on the fact that: because
  basic necessity: necessity
  because of the fact that: because
  came to a realization: realized
  came to an abrupt end: ended abruptly
  carry out an evaluation of: evaluate
  close down: close
  closed down: closed
  complete stranger: stranger
  completely separate: separate
  concerning the matter of: regarding
  conduct a review of: review
  conduct an investigation: investigate
  conduct experiments: experiment
  continue on: continue
  despite the fact that: although
  disappear from sight: disappear
  drag and drop: drag
  drag-and-drop: drag
  doomed to fail: doomed
  due to the fact that: because
  during the period of: during
  during the time that: while
  emergency situation: emergency
  except when: unless
  excessive number: too many
  extend an invitation: invite
  fall down: fall
  fell down: fell
  for the duration of: during
  gather together: gather
  has the ability to: can
  has the capacity to: can
  has the opportunity to: could
  hold a meeting: meet
  if this is not the case: if not
  in a careful manner: carefully
  in a thoughtful manner: thoughtfully
  in a timely manner: timely
  in an effort to: to
  in between: between
  in lieu of: instead of
  in many cases: often
  in most cases: usually
  in order to: to
  in some cases: sometimes
  in spite of the fact that: although
  in spite of: despite
  in the (?:very)? near future: soon
  in the event that: if
  in the neighborhood of: roughly
  in the vicinity of: close to
  it would appear that: apparently
  lift up: lift
  made reference to: referred to
  make reference to: refer to
  mix together: mix
  none at all: none
  not in a position to: unable
  not possible: impossible
  of major importance: important
  perform an assessment of: assess
  pertaining to: about
  place an order: order
  plays a key role in: is essential to
  present time: now
  readily apparent: apparent
  some of the: some
  span across: span
  subsequent to: after
  successfully complete: complete
  sufficient number (?:of)?: enough
  take action: act
  take into account: consider
  the question as to whether: whether
  there is no doubt but that: doubtless
  this day and age: this age
  this is a subject that: this subject
  time (?:frame|period): time
  under the provisions of: under
  until such time as: until
  used for fuel purposes: used for fuel
  whether or not: whether
  with regard to: regarding
  with the exception of: except for