Even if patients know difficult words, it takes them less effort to understand if you speak and write in plain language. This word list provides simple substitutes to complex words and phrases. It is adapted from a list developed by Beccah Rothschild, MPA, Principal of Health Engagement Strategies, for Health Research for Action.
You can look up alternatives to medical terminology in the . Another resource is , which gives you examples of how to rewrite public health jargon.
Instead of | Try |
absence, absence of |
no, none, not here, not present, without |
accessible |
open, ready, within reach, can be used by |
accommodate |
meet, agree to |
accompany |
go with, show up with, go along with |
accomplish |
carry out, do |
accordance (with) |
agree with, follows |
accordingly |
so |
accurate |
correct, exact, right |
achieve |
do, make |
acknowledge |
thank you for, accepted, recognized, approved |
acquire |
get, buy |
activate |
begin, start, turn on, act |
active role |
taking part in |
activity |
something you do (often) |
actual |
real |
acute |
sudden, happen without warning, sickness that lasts a short time and goes away |
additional |
more, added, extra, other |
address |
discuss, talk about |
adhere and adherence: |
sticks to |
administer |
run, handle, direct, manage, to give out |
advanced (stages) |
late stages, far along |
advantageous |
helpful, better, useful |
adverse |
bad |
adverse event |
injury or hurt |
adversely affect/impact |
hurt, set back, make worse |
advise |
recommend, tell |
affix |
stick, join, attach, add, fasten |
afford an opportunity |
allow, let |
affordable |
low cost, at a good price, at a price you can pay |
aggregate |
total |
ailment |
sickness, illness, problem with your health |
alleviate your symptoms |
help you feel better |
allergen |
something that causes an allergy |
allocate |
divide, give, share |
alternative |
choice, option, other |
ameliorate |
improve, make better |
amend |
change |
analgesic |
pain killer |
anticipate |
expect |
apparent |
clear, plain, easy to see |
apparently |
it seems, we think, it looks like |
appreciable |
many, much, large |
appropriate |
right, correct, useful |
approximately |
about |
are requested to |
please |
are required to |
must |
as a consequence of |
because |
as a means of |
to |
ascertain |
decide, find out, learn, tell, confirm |
assist, assistance |
aid, help |
associated with |
goes along with, is part of, linked to, related to, happens with |
attain |
meet a goal, get, reach, receive |
attempt |
try |
at the present time |
at present, now |
authorization |
permission, your written permission, your written approval |
authorize |
let, allow, approve, permit |
authorizing disclosures |
allowing us to share information |
avoid |
stay away from, do not use |
be advised |
know |
before any costs are incurred |
before we do anything that will cost you |
be in the position to |
can |
beneficial |
helpful |
benign |
is not cancer |
burdensome |
difficult, hard, tough |
capable of, capability |
able to, ability, can |
caveat |
warning |
cease |
end, stop |
chronic |
happens again and again, does not end, goes on for a long time |
clinical |
indicators signs or symptoms of your health problem |
collaborate |
work together, work with |
collect and maintain |
get and keep |
communicate |
tell, let you know |
compensate |
pay |
competent |
able to make choices, decisions |
complications (flu-caused) |
health problems caused by (the flu) |
comply with |
follow, obey |
comprehensive |
total, all, the whole, complete, full, major, large |
comprise |
make, form, include, made up of, gives, is |
concept |
idea |
concerning |
about, on |
condition |
health problem, how you feel |
consent |
accept, permit, let |
consequently |
so |
consider |
think about |
constitutes |
is, forms, makes up, gives |
consult |
ask, check with, refer to, look at, talk to, meet |
contact |
touch, get close to, be near, in the same area as, get in touch with |
contagious disease |
sickness that you can get from or give to another person |
contains |
has |
contaminated |
dirty, unsafe, not clean |
contributes to |
also causes |
currently |
now |
deceased |
dead, someone who died |
deductible |
the amount you pay before your insurance starts to pay |
demographics |
personal statistics, personal information |
designate |
choose, name, select, pick |
desire |
want, wish |
detailed |
complete, with all the facts, covers everything |
detect |
find |
determine |
decide, figure, find out |
detrimental |
bad, harmful |
develop |
make, write, form, create, learn |
diagnosis |
cause of your illness, what your illness is called |
diet |
what you eat, your meals |
difficulties |
problems |
disclose |
show, share, give, tell |
discontinue |
drop, stop, end, quit, cancel |
disturbance |
problem, change, something unusual |
documents |
records, papers, proof |
dosage, dose |
amount, how much medicine to take |
due to the fact that |
since, because |
dysfunction |
problem |
economical |
low cost |
educate |
teach, tell, show |
effect, effectiveness |
make, result, success, consequence, how something works |
effective date |
takes effect on, starts on |
e.g. |
for example |
elect |
choose, pick |
eliminate |
cut, drop, end, quit, stop |
employ |
use |
enable |
allow, make possible |
enclosed |
inside, with this ____, included |
enlarge |
get bigger, make bigger |
ensure |
make sure |
equitable |
fair |
equivalent |
equal, the same |
establish |
set up, prove, show, start |
evaluate |
test, check, rate, decide, think about, work out, study |
evidence-based |
shown to work, proven to work, tested |
evident |
clear, plain, easy to see |
exacerbate |
make worse |
examination |
exam, test |
examine |
look at, check, test |
exceeds |
out does, passes, tops, goes beyond, is above |
excessive |
too many |
exclusions |
services not covered by the plan, services your insurance does not pay for |
exclusively |
only |
explain |
tell, show |
extensive |
complete, full, goes on for a long time, large, long, major |
facilitate |
ease, make easier, help, move along, guide |
facilities |
clinics, offices, buildings |
factor |
other thing |
failed to |
did not |
feasible |
can be done, workable, will work, possible, can do, doable |
febrile |
feverish |
finalize |
complete, finish, end |
for further instructions |
to find out what to do next |
formulary drugs |
a list of the prescriptions covered by your insurance company |
forward |
send, give |
frequently |
often |
function |
act, role, work, do, serve |
fundamental |
basic |
grant |
give |
grievance |
complaint, problem, you do not agree |
guidelines |
rules, steps to follow, directions, recommendations |
hazardous |
not safe, dangerous, harmful, bad, risky |
identical |
same |
identifiable information |
personal information that can identify you |
identify |
find, name, show |
i.e. |
that is |
immediately |
at once, now, right now, right away, very soon |
impact |
affect, change, result |
implement |
start, put in place, get started, do, follow, carry out, set up |
in accordance with |
by, following, under |
in addition |
also, besides, too |
incapable |
unable, unfit, helpless, cannot do |
inception |
start, beginning |
incomplete |
lacking |
incorporate |
join, put together, combine, bring into |
incorrect |
wrong |
increasingly |
more often, more and more |
indicate |
show, tell, say, list, write down, mark, check off |
inform |
tell |
indicate |
show, write down |
indication |
sign |
inflammation |
redness, swelling |
influenza |
flu |
inform |
tell, share, show, give information |
initial |
first |
initially |
at first, first, to start with |
initiate |
start, begin |
injections |
shots |
in lieu of |
instead of, or, in place of |
inquiries |
questions |
in regard to |
about, concerning, on |
insult |
injury, harm |
interfere |
get in the way of, keep from, cause problems, prevent |
intermittent |
off and on |
intervention |
action, treatment, program |
irregular |
uneven, not usual, not normal |
irreversible |
cannot be changed, cannot be fixed |
lesion |
wound |
localized |
in a small area, in one place, spot |
locate |
find, put |
lucid |
clear |
magnitude |
size |
maintain |
keep, keep up, care for, look after, save, support, take care of |
majority |
most, greatest |
manage |
control, direct, be in charge of, take care of, watch, pay attention to |
material change |
significant change |
maximum |
greatest, largest, most |
medications |
medicines, drugs, pills, syrups |
mentioned |
told, said, listed |
minimize |
decrease, lessen, reduce |
minimum |
least, smallest |
modify |
change, fix |
monitor |
check on, watch, keep an eye on |
morbidity |
sick, sickness |
necessitate |
cause, make, have to, need to, must |
negligible |
very small, tiny |
non-prescription |
not ordered by a doctor, can be bought without a doctor鈥檚 order, over the counter |
notify |
let us know, tell, call |
numerous |
many, [list a specific number] |
observe |
watch, see |
obtain |
get |
optimal |
best, greatest, most, ideal |
optional |
by choice |
oral |
by mouth, swallow |
partially |
partly |
participate |
take part in, join, go into, do |
perform |
do, carry out, end, finish, take |
permit |
let |
permissible |
allowed, you can |
pertaining to |
about, of, on |
physician |
doctor, provider |
portion |
part |
possess |
have, own |
precaution |
safety measure, care |
preclude |
prevent, stop, get in the way of |
predominant |
main |
preference |
choice, wish, desire, option |
prevalent |
common, happens often |
previous |
before, earlier, past, the time before |
previously |
before |
primary |
main, key, first |
prioritize |
rank, put in the right order, put first things first, put things in order of how important they are |
prior to |
before, earlier |
proceed |
do, go ahead, try |
prohibit |
forbid, ban, prevent, don鈥檛 |
prolonged |
stays, lasts, carries on, goes on for a long time, continues |
promptly |
right away, soon |
provide |
give, offer, say, supply, list |
proximity (to) |
close to, near |
receive |
use, get |
recognize |
come to see, be aware of |
recover |
get well, get better, heal |
recur |
come back |
reduce |
cut, use less, lower |
refer |
send to |
refrain |
stop, stay away |
regarding |
about, of, on |
regardless |
no matter what |
reject |
turn down, deny, refuse |
relating to |
about, on |
remain |
stay |
remainder |
rest, left over |
require |
must, need, want, lack |
requirement |
need, rule |
reside |
live at, live with |
resolve |
decide, settle, agree, finish, go away, work out |
responsible for |
in charge of, handles |
restriction |
limit, rule against |
resume |
go back to, begin again, go on with, come back |
retain |
keep |
review |
check, go over, look at again |
revised |
new, changed |
safeguard |
protect, keep safe, save |
settle your account |
pay your bill |
severe |
strong, serious, harmful, dangerous, very bad |
significant |
important, major |
similar to |
like |
solely |
only |
solicit |
ask for, request |
specialist |
an expert in the field, a doctor who has special training |
state |
say, tell, write down |
statement |
bill, charge |
state-of-the-art |
latest |
submit |
give, send, mail, bring |
subsequent |
later, next, following |
substantially |
largely |
sufficient |
enough |
supplement |
add to |
supplementary |
extra, more |
symptoms |
problems, signs, or warnings of illness |
tablet |
pill, dose |
thereafter |
then, from the on, afterwards |
therefore |
so, then, for, since |
this office |
we |
timely |
prompt |
time period |
from _____ to _____ |
toxic |
poisonous, unsafe |
transmit |
send, give to others, pass to others, spread |
ultimately |
in the end, finally |
unforeseen |
unplanned, not expected, sudden |
urgent |
cannot wait long, needs attention very soon |
utilize, utilization |
use, make use of |
warrant |
call for, permit |
with regard to, with respect to |
about |
with the exception of |
except for |
withdraw |
take away, remove, take out |
witness |
see |