Guide 196 / 200 5 swaps Formal register
Professional words for “limit”
Five verbs for "limit."
i · When it mattersTwo lines, no filler
"Limit" is plain and often right. Alternatives: "cap" is a top-end number; "restrict" is to narrow permission; "constrain" is to hold within bounds; "curb" is to rein in; "circumscribe" is formal.
ii · The swaps5 ways
- 01Cap neutral
top-end number
Cap travel per head at £2,000.
- 02Restrict neutral
narrow permission
Restrict write access to the billing service.
- 03Constrain neutral
hold within bounds
Constrain the job to a single pod.
- 04Curb neutral
rein in a trend
Curb non-essential hiring through Q2.
- 05Circumscribe formal
formally delimit
Circumscribe the scope of the investigation.