---
title: "prefer-short-words"
description: "Flags long words that have a short everyday equivalent."
sidebar:
  label: "prefer-short-words"
  badge: "Hard"
search:
  tags: [rule, static, style]
---

| Property | Value |
| -------- | ----- |
| Kind | Hard rule |
| Engine | `phrase` |
| Tier | `static` |
| Severity | `suggestion` |
| Intent | `style` |
| Scope | `text` |

:::note
This is a style rule. It reports findings and participates in `--fix`, but never moves the [human-likeness score](/docs/concepts/scoring).
:::

## Why

Orwell's second rule: never use a long word where a short one will do. Swap the long word only where the plain word carries the same meaning; keep terms of art.

## Examples

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Column>
    **Flagged**

    The parties will utilize the platform to facilitate discovery.
  </Column>
  <Column>
    **Better**

    The parties will use the platform to help discovery.
  </Column>
</Columns>

## Turning it off

```sh
lawlint --disable prefer-short-words draft.md
```

Or durably, in `.lawlint/config.json` — see [Configuration](/docs/reference/configuration).