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Alternatives for facilitate

Question:

What plain language alternatives can I use for the word facilitate in the following sentence?

  • I help the water managers by facilitating the transformation of their organizational structure into a results-oriented structure?

Answer:

Plain language involves more than just replacing complex words with simpler ones. Using an active verb instead of a noun construction is often the best way to simplify a sentence.

For example, in your sentence, you could use the verb transform instead of the longish phrase facilitate the transformation of:

  • I help the water managers transform their organizational structure into a results-oriented structure.

Other options:

  • I help the water managers move from an organizational structure to a results-oriented structure.
  • I make it easier for the water managers to transform their organizational structure into a results-oriented structure.