Assistance vs Help

In writing, aim to be clear and concise. Help is simpler and more clear than assistance.

• Original: My brother needed my assistance on his homework.
• Rewrite: My brother needed my help on his homework.

Unless you are intentionally writing something formal or distant, use help instead of assistance. Complicated word choice will make your writing less engaging for your readers.

While complicated words might earn you tons of points in Scrabble, they’re typically a barrier of entry for your readers. You don’t need to make your vocabulary super complicated to prove that you’re an effective writer. Aim for simpler language in most instances.