🌟 Word of the Day — 17 Rabiʿ Al-Awwal 1447 AH, September 10, 2025 ‘Process of Elimination’ 🌟

Coach Ward

Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Estimated read time: 4–5 min read

👋 Introduction

Welcome back to the Business English Word of the Day series! Today’s term is more than just a test-taking trick, it’s a decision-making powerhouse: Process of Elimination. Think about it: how often do we get paralyzed by too many options? What if the smartest move isn’t to know the right choice immediately, but to skillfully remove the wrong ones?

📖 What Does “Process of Elimination” Mean?

The process of elimination is a method used to reach the correct answer or best decision by systematically removing options that are clearly incorrect or less suitable. It’s a strategy rooted in logic: by eliminating what doesn’t work, you reveal what does.

In business and life, this method helps clarify complex choices when certainty feels out of reach.

🧬 Word Origin: Where Does It Come From?

The word elimination comes from the Latin eliminare, meaning “to turn out of doors” or “expel.” Over time, it evolved into the English usage of “removing” or “getting rid of.” Pair it with process (from the Latin processus, “to go forward”), and you get a structured path forward through removal.

🧠 Why It Matters in Business (and Beyond)

The process of elimination is not just for exams, it’s a critical decision-making skill. It helps:

• 🗂 Simplify complexity by narrowing choices.

• 🚧 Prevent decision paralysis when faced with uncertainty.

• 🎯 Increase accuracy by focusing on viable options.

• 🤝 Improve teamwork when groups must converge on one solution.

🙋 Who Uses It (and Why)?

• Managers: To screen candidates by removing those who don’t fit before selecting the best hire.

• Negotiators: To discard unfavorable deal terms and hone in on win-win solutions.

• Students/Professionals: To answer multiple-choice questions or solve problems under pressure.

• Entrepreneurs: To filter out weak business models and choose the most viable opportunity.

❤️ The Coach Ward Way

I’ve learned that success often comes less from instantly knowing the right move, and more from eliminating the wrong ones. In consulting, I sometimes advise clients to cut through the noise: remove what doesn’t align with their vision, and suddenly the right path becomes obvious. The process of elimination reminds us that clarity doesn’t always start with answers, it often starts with subtraction.

📌 Examples in Action

• “By using the process of elimination, the hiring manager narrowed the list from 50 candidates to 3 strong finalists.”

• “The engineer solved the technical problem by eliminating unlikely causes one by one.”

• “During the debate, she used the process of elimination to dismantle weaker arguments and strengthen her case.”

🚀 Your Turn

What decision are you struggling with right now, big or small? Try applying the process of elimination: write down your options, cross out what clearly doesn’t fit, and see what’s left. You might be surprised at how obvious the right choice becomes once you remove the clutter.

👉 Let’s keep growing, one word at a time!