Plain English Word Swapper: swap formal words for plain ones
Find formal, wordy and vague words in a draft and swap in plain ones with one press.
- Free to use
- Runs in your browser
- No sign-up
Paste your draft to check it
You get every formal, wordy or vague word from our lists marked in your text, a plain word to swap in with one press, the reason for each, and a copy with the plain swaps made. Or press Try an example.
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About the Plain English Word Swapper
Paste a draft, an email or a page. The tool marks formal, wordy and vague words from a built-in list and suggests plain ones: "use" for "utilise", "to" for "in order to", "buy" for "purchase" and "before" for "prior to". The list is based on GOV.UK's style guide, which lists words to avoid and says to use short words when they will do, plus our own list of formal phrases and of Indian business English that may confuse readers outside India, such as "do the needful" and "prepone". Press a suggestion to swap one word, make all the plain swaps at once, or copy a fixed version. Quotes, web addresses and code are left alone, and the case of each word is kept. It runs in your browser, your text is not uploaded, and it does not rewrite sentences with AI.
How it works
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01
Paste your draft. Plain text, Markdown and HTML all work. Pick the word lists to use, and type any words that must stay as they are.
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02
Read the marked-up text. Amber words have a plain swap, blue words depend on how you use them, and purple phrases need rewriting by hand. Press a suggestion to swap it in.
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03
Make all the plain swaps at once if you like, read the text again, then copy it or download it. Undo puts back the last change.
Where the word list comes from
Entries marked GOV.UK come from GOV.UK's A to Z style guide (its "words to avoid" list and its advice on "eg, etc and ie") and from its clear language guidance, which says "Do not use formal or long words when easy or short ones will do" and gives "buy" for "purchase", "help" for "assist" and "about" for "approximately". GOV.UK says its list of words to avoid is not complete. The other entries are our own: formal words, wordy phrases and office jargon, and a list of Indian English.
Why some words are only marked to check
Many words on GOV.UK's list are fine in one use and vague in another. GOV.UK says you can drive vehicles but not schemes, "land" is for aircraft, and "key" is for things that unlock. The tool skips the common literal uses it can spot, such as "drive to the gym", "landing page" and "car key", and marks the rest to check. Indian English phrases such as "revert" for "reply" are not wrong; they are marked because readers outside India may read them differently (our suggestion).
What this tool cannot do
It only knows the words on its list, so it cannot tell whether a sentence is too long, a paragraph is hard to follow or a fact is right. It reads a few words around each match, not the meaning, so a suggestion can be wrong for your sentence: read each swap before you keep it. It does not write new sentences, and the phrases marked "rewrite" need your own words.
Frequently asked questions
What is plain English?
Writing that your reader understands the first time they read it: short, common words, short sentences and the main point first. GOV.UK, for example, says plain English is mandatory for all its content, and tells writers not to use formal or long words when easy or short ones will do.
Why should a business website use plain words?
Your customers may be reading on a phone, in a hurry or in their second language. Plain words help them understand your prices, timings and offers quickly. Words such as "utilise", "facilitate" or "leverage" make a page longer without saying more.
Is Indian English wrong?
No. Phrases such as "do the needful", "prepone" and "revert" for "reply" are common in India and clear to Indian readers. The tool marks them, as our suggestion, because readers in other countries may not know them or may read them differently. If all your readers are in India, untick that list.
Will it change words inside quotes or links?
No. Text inside quotation marks, web and e-mail addresses, code, HTML tags, hashtags and @handles are left alone, and so are the words you type in "Words to leave alone". Hindi and other scripts are not touched.
Does it use AI to rewrite my text?
No. It works with a fixed word list and simple rules in your browser. It swaps only the words you choose, and your text is not sent anywhere.
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