The phrase “including but not limited to” is a staple in professional, legal, and business writing. It’s used to introduce examples while making clear that the list is not exhaustive. While accurate, this expression can sound overly formal or repetitive in everyday communication.
Finding natural and effective alternatives helps your writing sound more polished, human, and versatile — especially in contracts, reports, policies, and professional emails. Whether you’re drafting a business proposal, writing an academic paper, or communicating with clients, using the right synonym can add variety and clarity to your tone.
In this guide, you’ll discover 32+ smart alternatives to “including but not limited to”, complete with meanings, tone notes, and practical examples for both formal and casual contexts.
What Does “Including but Not Limited To” Mean?
The phrase “including but not limited to” means that the items listed are examples, not a complete list. It protects against limiting interpretation to only the mentioned elements.
Example:
The benefits include, but are not limited to, paid vacation, health insurance, and performance bonuses.
Its tone is formal and legalistic, making it common in contracts, policies, and business documentation.
When to Use It
You use this phrase when:
- Giving examples but want to clarify that the list is open-ended.
- Writing legal, policy, or business documents where precision matters.
- Communicating flexibility in professional writing.
Examples:
- Our services include, but are not limited to, web design and SEO.
- The team handles multiple tasks, including but not limited to customer outreach.
It’s accurate but can sound stiff — which is where varied alternatives can improve tone and readability.
Is It Polite or Professional?
Yes — “including but not limited to” is perfectly professional, but it often feels too technical for conversational or creative writing. Replacing it with smoother alternatives makes your text sound natural yet precise, without losing meaning.
In professional settings, choose substitutes that match your tone — formal for contracts, or conversational for general communication.
32+ Other Ways to Say “Including but Not Limited To”
Here are creative and precise alternatives grouped by tone and context:
🔹 Formal & Legal Alternatives
- Among Other Things
Meaning: Indicates there are additional, unspecified items.
Example: The policy covers, among other things, data privacy and user protection.
Use: Ideal for legal or business writing.
- Including, Without Limitation
Meaning: Common legal phrase ensuring examples don’t restrict interpretation.
Example: The agreement covers all deliverables, including, without limitation, software updates.
Use: Excellent for contracts or terms.
- Such As (But Not Limited To)
Meaning: Lists examples while implying openness.
Example: The role involves tasks such as (but not limited to) managing clients and preparing reports.
Use: Balanced between formal and readable.
- Comprising, Without Restriction To
Meaning: Lists items but maintains flexibility.
Example: The system supports functions comprising, without restriction to, reporting and analytics.
Use: Formal technical or legal contexts.
- Including Examples Like
Meaning: Signals illustration rather than limitation.
Example: The course covers various topics, including examples like data analysis and AI.
Use: Professional but more conversational.
- Including, Among Others
Meaning: Adds a mild, professional tone to list examples.
Example: The organization offers support programs, including, among others, mentorship and funding.
- Including but Without Limitation To
Meaning: Strong legal safeguard against restrictive interpretation.
Example: The warranty applies to products including but without limitation to electronics and accessories.
Use: Contracts and policies.
- Including the Following, as Examples
Meaning: Formal but clearer and softer in tone.
Example: The report considers several factors, including the following, as examples: market growth and consumer trends.
- Including, Though Not Limited To
Meaning: A gentler variation of the original.
Example: Your responsibilities include, though not limited to, scheduling and documentation.
- Such Examples Include
Meaning: Clear and direct listing phrase.
Example: Such examples include user onboarding, feedback analysis, and testing.
🔹 Professional & Business Alternatives
- Including
Meaning: Simple and clean — often enough without extra words.
Example: Our services include content writing, SEO, and design.
Use: Works in all professional emails or copy.
- Such As
Meaning: Lists examples without implying limitation.
Example: We specialize in digital solutions, such as app development and branding.
- Like
Meaning: Informal alternative for conversational writing.
Example: We work with industries like healthcare, education, and retail.
- For Example
Meaning: Gives clear illustrations.
Example: We focus on user-centric design — for example, through accessibility testing.
- For Instance
Meaning: Polished, flexible way to introduce examples.
Example: We offer tailored plans — for instance, enterprise and startup packages.
- Including Areas Such As
Meaning: Expands on scope naturally.
Example: Our expertise extends to areas such as marketing and UX strategy.
- Covering
Meaning: Professional, succinct alternative.
Example: Our services cover development, maintenance, and deployment.
- Encompassing
Meaning: Suggests broad inclusion.
Example: The project plan is encompassing strategy, execution, and review.
- Consisting of, Among Other Things
Meaning: Polite and formal.
Example: The proposal consists of, among other things, timelines and deliverables.
- Spanning
Meaning: Suggests wide range or variety.
Example: Our portfolio spans education, finance, and entertainment.
🔹 Academic & Technical Alternatives
- Comprising
Meaning: Denotes composition without limitation.
Example: The dataset comprises variables such as age, income, and education level.
- Involving
Meaning: Expresses inclusion naturally.
Example: The process involves testing, validation, and documentation.
- Encompassing but Not Limited To
Meaning: Precise for academic writing.
Example: The research explores fields encompassing but not limited to linguistics and psychology.
- In Areas Including
Meaning: Smooth and formal.
Example: We conducted analysis in areas including user behavior and market response.
- Among the Topics Covered Are
Meaning: Structured and clear for reports.
Example: Among the topics covered are automation, AI, and digital ethics.
- Comprising Elements Such As
Meaning: Useful in formal descriptions.
Example: The framework comprises elements such as data modeling and evaluation.
- Incorporating
Meaning: Suggests integration or inclusion.
Example: The system incorporates features for security and scalability.
- Referring to Examples Like
Meaning: Introduces clarification or elaboration.
Example: The analysis refers to examples like consumer engagement and loyalty models.
- Covering Areas Such As
Meaning: Expansive yet clear.
Example: The report covers areas such as marketing, logistics, and finance.
- Touching on Topics Such As
Meaning: Slightly less formal but academic-friendly.
Example: The lecture touches on topics such as globalization and sustainability.
🔹 Conversational or Light-Tone Alternatives
- Including Things Like
Meaning: Friendly, natural expression.
Example: The workshop covers topics including things like teamwork and leadership.
- Among Many Others
Meaning: Adds variety and a conversational tone.
Example: Our clients include major brands like Nike and Apple, among many others.
- Including but Not Limited To the Following Examples
Meaning: Balanced between formal and clear.
Example: Our services include but are not limited to the following examples: SEO, branding, and content.
- And More
Meaning: Short, simple, and flexible.
Example: We design websites, apps, logos, and more.
- Plus Others
Meaning: Friendly, concise way to suggest more items.
Example: Our offerings include training, consulting, plus others as requested.
Conclusion
While “including but not limited to” is accurate and professional, using varied synonyms can make your writing more natural, engaging, and tailored to context. Whether you need legal precision, business professionalism, or conversational clarity, these alternatives help you communicate inclusively without sounding repetitive.
Choose the version that best suits your tone — from “among other things” for formal documents to “and more” for friendly messages — and watch your writing instantly sound smoother and more authentic.
