To write plainly and concisely, use must instead of the roundabout phrases have no choice but to and have no option but to. Other possibilities include be compelled to, be forced to and have to.
- Wordy: Often, when there are forest fires, people in nearby towns have no choice but to evacuate.
- Concise: Often, when there are forest fires, people in nearby towns must evacuate.
- Wordy: The Department had no option but to reject the offer.
- Concise: The Department was forced to (or had to) reject the offer.
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