rewrite the language

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rewrite the language" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when asking someone to change or modify the wording or style of a text to improve clarity or adapt it for a different audience. Example: "Please rewrite the language in this document to make it more accessible for a general audience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

More than a dozen House and Senate committees with jurisdiction over the various government components designated to become part of the department will have their chance to rewrite the language, often in ways that may differ sharply from the administration's vision.

The New York Times

In New York, a Democratic assemblyman from Manhattan, Dan Quart, has introduced a bill to rewrite the language of a law against a switchblade-type weapon known as a gravity knife; it would make prosecutors prove an intent to commit a crime before people can be prosecuted for mere possession of the knives.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Drawing on her lessons from the 1994 debate, Ms. Feinstein wrote and rewrote the language in her proposal in the days after Newtown to try to assuage concerns that it would ban weapons favored by hunters and target shooters.

The New York Times

And they did this, not by speaking the apologetic language of toleration and progress, but by rewriting the language of Christian political theology and demanding that Christians be faithful to it.

The New York Times - Magazine

Yet if Edwaard Liang's Vicissitude is slightly bland in its response to Schubert, the pas de deux from William Forsythe's Slingerland brilliantly rewrites the language of classical partnering.

The Guardian

But, he said, neither side wanted to be shut out of Final Four weekend in 2014 or '15, so they rewrote the language of the option to let TBS have the semifinal games both years and CBS carry the championship game.

The New York Times - Sports

A recent Financial Times article described it as one of a few "lenders who are rewriting the language of debt for the Instagram era".

Vice

These claims ignore the fact that it wasn't until last year that the Supreme Court effectively rewrote the language in RFRA so that it was transformed from a shield for religious liberty into a sword against anti-discrimination protections.

Huffington Post

"I still need to go into the production log and see what kinds of mistakes its making and keep rewriting the natural language processor to improve results with every mistake that's made.

TechCrunch

One must be able to reuse pre-existing compiled, operational code libraries, even those created elsewhere, without having to rewrite the logic in the guideline/expression language.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Its 10th anniversary is turning into one of the media obsessions of the year, yet just as the past is rewritten in the language of the present, then so is a series of complex and contradictory signs (about which no one can agree) reduced into a sludge of nostalgia and style recycling.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, "rewrite the language" to suit your target audience's understanding. Simplify complex terms and avoid jargon to make the text more accessible.

Common error

Avoid introducing unnecessary complexity when you "rewrite the language". Keep the revised text concise and focused on the core message to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rewrite the language" functions as a verb phrase, indicating an action of modifying or revising written or spoken communication. As noted by Ludwig, this phrase is commonly used to suggest improvements in clarity or accuracy. It often implies a need to adapt existing text for a specific purpose or audience.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

35%

Wiki

22%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rewrite the language" is a phrase that is grammatically correct and requests modifying existing text. According to Ludwig, the phrase aims to improve clarity, accuracy, or suitability for a particular context. While its frequency is rare, it's found across various domains, most notably news and media, and science. When using this phrase, ensure the revisions enhance clarity without overcomplicating the message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

revise the wording

Focuses specifically on changing the choice of words used.

rephrase the text

Suggests expressing the same content in a different manner.

recast the expression

Implies altering the form of communication.

reformulate the phrasing

Emphasizes reshaping the way something is said.

rework the text

Suggests a thorough revision and improvement of a written piece.

amend the wording

Implies making small changes or corrections to the existing text.

modify the text

Suggests making alterations to the original text, not necessarily a complete overhaul.

change the language

A broader term that may include altering the style and structure.

alter the text

Suggests a more general change, which could be minor or significant.

remodel the language

Implies a significant change to the text or way of expressing something.

FAQs

How can I use "rewrite the language" in a sentence?

You can use "rewrite the language" when you want to improve clarity, correct errors, or adapt the text for a different audience. For example, "Please "rewrite the language" in this document to make it more accessible for a general audience".

What is a suitable alternative to "rewrite the language"?

You can use alternatives like "revise the wording", "rephrase the text", or "recast the expression", depending on the context.

What does it mean to "rewrite the language" in a legal context?

In a legal context, to "rewrite the language" often means to amend or revise legal documents, laws, or regulations to clarify their meaning, address loopholes, or adapt them to new circumstances. For example, "Congress may need to "rewrite the language" of the statute to address the court's concerns".

Is it better to "rewrite the language" or revise the content?

Whether to "rewrite the language" or revise the content depends on your goal. If the content is accurate but unclear, focus on "rewriting the language". If the content itself is flawed, then revise the content. Sometimes, both may be necessary.