Ce synonyme est plus simple, mais l’autre mot est plus précis dans cette phrase.

Because synonyme is a masculine singular noun in French: un synonyme.

So:

• ce = this/that before a masculine singular noun
• cette = this/that before a feminine singular noun
• cet = this/that before a masculine singular noun starting with a vowel sound

Here, we say:

• ce synonyme not cette synonyme

This is the normal French way to form the comparative: plus + adjective.

So:

• plus simple = simpler / more simple
• plus précis = more precise

French usually does not change the adjective itself the way English sometimes does with -er. Instead, it often uses plus:

• grand → plus grand
• simple → plus simple
• précis → plus précis

Because le or la contracts before a vowel sound.

• le autre becomes l’autre
• la autre would also become l’autre

Since autre begins with a vowel, French uses elision:

• l’autre mot = the other word

This is very common in French:

• l’homme
• l’idée
• l’école

French often avoids repetition just like English does.

The sentence first says ce synonyme and then switches to l’autre mot to mean the other word. This is natural and stylistically smooth. It implies that the synonym and the other word are two different word choices being compared.

So the structure is roughly:

• This synonym is simpler
• but the other word is more precise in this sentence

Because mot is masculine: un mot.

Adjectives usually agree with the noun they describe:

• masculine singular: précis
• feminine singular: précise

Here:

• l’autre mot est plus précis

If the noun were feminine, you would use:

• la formulation est plus précise

Mais means but and introduces a contrast.

The sentence contrasts two ideas:

• one word choice is simpler
• the other is more precise

So mais connects those two competing qualities:

• simplicity
• precision

This is exactly how but works in English.

These are two different structures.

1. l’autre mot Here, autre directly modifies the noun mot, so it comes with the noun:

   • l’autre mot = the other word

2. est plus simple / est plus précis Here, the adjective comes after the verb être:

   • est plus simple = is simpler
   • est plus précis = is more precise

So:

• after a noun: un mot précis, l’autre mot
• after être: le mot est précis, le mot est plus précis

Because dans cette phrase is the natural way to say in this sentence in this context.

• dans often means in, inside, or within
• cette phrase = this sentence

So:

• dans cette phrase = in this sentence

Using en here would not sound natural in standard French for this meaning.

Because phrase is a feminine singular noun: une phrase.

So the demonstrative adjective must agree:

• ce for masculine singular
• cette for feminine singular

That gives:

• cette phrase = this sentence

It can mean either this or that, depending on context.

French ce / cette / cet does not always make the same clear distinction English does between this and that. Often, context tells you which one sounds best in translation.

So:

• ce synonyme could be this synonym
• or that synonym

In many learning examples, this is the most natural translation.

In plus simple and plus précis, the final s in plus is usually not pronounced.

So it sounds roughly like:

• plu simple
• plu précis

However, pronunciation of plus can vary depending on meaning and context, so learners often notice exceptions. In this sentence, with a comparative meaning (more), the final s is generally silent.

Here, précis means something like more precise, more exact, or more specific in wording.

It suggests that the other word fits the sentence better or expresses the idea more accurately.

So the contrast is:

• simple = easier, more straightforward
• précis = more exact, more nuanced, better chosen for this context

Yes, it is very normal.

The pattern is:

• Ce synonyme = subject
• est plus simple = verb + comparative adjective
• mais = but
• l’autre mot = second subject
• est plus précis = verb + comparative adjective
• dans cette phrase = prepositional phrase giving context

French often uses this straightforward order: subject + verb + adjective/complement

So the sentence is grammatically simple and natural.