Plain English Manual

Appendix 2 - Examples of planning diagrams

Appendix 3 - Words and phrases

Traditional
Simple
Time, age, etc

6 o'clock in the morning/forenoon
6 am
6 o'clock in the afternoon
6 pm
the day preceding
the day before
at the time when, at the time that, at the time
when [unless it is necessary to refer later on in the provision to "that time"]
attained the age of 65 years
at least 65/65 or over/at least 65 years old
commence [not the commencement of an Act or provision]
begin/start
expiration, termination
end
for the duration of
during

not attained the age of 65 years

under 65/under 65 years old

per annum, per month, etc

a year, a month, etc

prior to

before

subsequent to

after

subsequent, subsequently

later

the day next/immediately preceding

the day before

the day next/immediately succeeding

the day after

Amounts, calculations, etc

aggregate

total/sum

amounts that in the aggregate amount to

amounts adding up to

ascertained in accordance with the formula

worked out/calculated/determined

exceeds

is more than/is over

in excess of/exceeding

more than/over

not less than, not fewer than

at least

Actions

afford [evidence, etc]

give/supply

allocate

give/divide

alter, amend

change

any act or thing done, step taken, or decision made

anything done

apprehend/apprehension

arrest

assist

help

attain

reach

cease

stop

determine

fix/work out

expend

spend

forward

send/give

indicate

show/state

initiate

begin/start

institute proceedings

begin/start/bring proceedings

issue

give

maintain

keep/continue

of its own motion

on its own initiative

procure

get

provide, furnish

give/supply

reduced to writing

put in writing/written down

render

make/give

request, require

ask

reside

live [but "residence" is sometimes useful]

retain

keep

submit

send/give

terminate

end/finish

Persons

any other person, another person

anyone else/someone else

legal practitioner

lawyer [defined if necessary]

medical practitioner

doctor [defined if necessary]

Powers, obligations, etc

has no power to, is not entitled to

cannot

has power to, is empowered to, is entitled to, has the option of

may

is not required to

does not have to

is required to

has to/must

Relationships, conditions, effects, etc

[laws, discussions, etc] in respect of, in relation to, in connection with, with respect to, as to, concerning

about

[payments, etc] in respect of [the year, etc]

[payments, etc] for [the year, etc]

applicable

that applies

but for this subsection

apart from this subsection

by, or in accordance with the provisions of, [this Act, etc]

by or under [this Act, etc]

does not have any force or effect

has no force/has no effect

effectuate, implement

carry out

has full force and effect

has effect

in accordance with

under

in the event that

if

in or in connection with, for or in connection with

in connection with/about

in like manner as

as/in the same way as

in consequence of, as a result of

because of

is void and of no effect

has no effect

is constituted by

consists of

like [circumstances, etc]

the same, similar [circumstances, etc]

notwithstanding the fact that

even if/although

notwithstanding

despite/in spite of

on behalf of, for and on behalf of

for

otherwise than

except

pursuant to, in pursuance of, by virtue of

under/because of

shall be deemed to be

is taken to be/is treated as/is regarded as

sufficient, adequate

enough

to and in relation to, to or in relation to

to [in most cases]/in relation to [where very wide meaning needed]

without limiting the generality of the foregoing, ... include

include, but are not limited to/include, in particular

Miscellaneous

any act, matter or thing

anything

bona fide

in good faith, genuine

exclusively

only

expenditure

spending

mutatis mutandis

with appropriate changes

necessitate

require

notice published in the Gazette

Gazette notice/notice in the Gazette

the provisions of this Act, the provisions of this section

this Act, this section