Identify a list of 20 potentially weak words, phrases, clichés, buzzwords and jargon, and develop stronger, more meaningful alternatives for each

What will be an ideal response?

Answer: These are options identified in the text but many other options can be used as well.

Potentially Weak Words and Phrases Stronger Alternatives (effective usage depends on the situation)
Increase (as a verb) Accelerate, amplify, augment, enlarge, escalate, expand, extend, magnify, multiply, soar, swell
Decrease (as a verb) Curb, cut back, depreciate, dwindle, shrink, slacken
Large, small (use a specific number, such as $100 million)
Good Admirable, beneficial, desirable, flawless, pleasant, sound, superior, worthy
Bad Abysmal, corrupt, deficient, flawed, inadequate, inferior, poor, substandard, worthless
We are committed to providing . . . We provide . . .
It is in our best interest to . . . We should . . .
Unfamiliar Words Familiar Words
Ascertain Find out, learn
Consummate Close, bring about
Peruse Read, study
Circumvent Avoid
Unequivocal Certain
Clichés and Buzzwords Plain Language
An uphill battle A challenge
Writing on the wall Prediction
Call the shots Lead
Take by storm Attack
Costs an arm and a leg Expensive
A new ballgame Fresh start
Fall through the cracks Be overlooked
Think outside the box Be creative
Run it up the flagpole Find out what people think about it
Eat our own dog food Use our own products
Mission-critical Vital
Disintermediate Get rid of
Green light (as a verb) Approve
Architect (as a verb) Design
Space (as in, "we compete in the XYZ space") Market or industry
Blocking and tackling Basic skills
Trying to boil the ocean Working frantically but without focus
Human capital People, employees, workforce
Low-hanging fruit Tasks that are easy to complete or sales that are easy to close
Pushback Resistance