Found 10 stronger alternatives to upgrade your writing.
In simple terms (phrase)
Nuance: Simplified
Clear for school writing.
Boring
You simply need to show your work on every step.
Better
In simple terms, you need to show your work on every step.
Only / merely
Nuance: Only
Very common; casual.
Boring
I simply pointed out the typo in the handout so we could fix it quickly.
Better
I just pointed out the typo in the handout so we could fix it quickly.
Only / no more than
Nuance: Only
Can change meaning if the focus is different; use carefully.
Boring
She simply needed five more minutes to finish the quiz, but the bell rang.
Better
She only needed five more minutes to finish the quiz, but the bell rang.
In simple terms (phrase)
Nuance: Easy wording
Clear and school-friendly.
Boring
Simply label every graph with a title and axis labels before you turn it in.
Better
In plain language, label every graph with a title and axis labels before you turn it in.
Only / no more than (formal-ish)
Nuance: Only
More formal than just.
Boring
I simply forgot my notebook today, so I borrowed paper from a classmate.
Better
I merely forgot my notebook today, so I borrowed paper from a classmate.
Only / no other reason (formal)
Nuance: Only reason
Best with “because” explanations.
Boring
We lost the debate simply because we forgot the supplies at school, not because our arguments were weak.
Better
We lost the debate solely because we forgot the supplies at school, not because our arguments were weak.
At the core (formal)
Nuance: Core idea
Means the main idea; not always “simple.”
Boring
The argument is simply about fairness in grading, not popularity.
Better
In essence, the argument is about fairness in grading, not popularity.
In very simple terms (formal-ish phrase)
Nuance: Very simple
A bit formal; very clear.
Boring
The assignment simply has three parts: research, writing, and presentation.
Better
In the simplest terms, the assignment has three parts: research, writing, and presentation.
Simply/clearly (careful)
Nuance: Clear
Can mean clearly; overlaps with “clearly.”
Boring
The sign on the door simply says the gym is closed today for maintenance.
Better
The sign plainly says the gym is closed today for maintenance.
Briefly/clearly (advanced)
Nuance: Brief
Means briefly; not always the same as simply.
Boring
Simply, combine like terms first, then solve for the variable.
Better
Succinctly, combine like terms first, then solve for the variable.