def simplify_record(record_comps):
    """
    Replace the names of some standard record by shorter names

    Parameter
    ---------
    record_comps: a list of strings
        A list of available particle record components

    Returns
    -------
    A list with shorter names, where applicable
    """
    if 'position/x' in record_comps and 'positionOffset/x' in record_comps:
        record_comps.remove('position/x')
        record_comps.remove('positionOffset/x')
        record_comps.append('x')
    if 'position/y' in record_comps and 'positionOffset/y' in record_comps:
        record_comps.remove('position/y')
        record_comps.remove('positionOffset/y')
        record_comps.append('y')
    if 'position/z' in record_comps and 'positionOffset/z' in record_comps:
        record_comps.remove('position/z')
        record_comps.remove('positionOffset/z')
        record_comps.append('z')
    if 'momentum/x' in record_comps:
        record_comps.remove('momentum/x')
        record_comps.append('ux')
    if 'momentum/y' in record_comps:
        record_comps.remove('momentum/y')
        record_comps.append('uy')
    if 'momentum/z' in record_comps:
        record_comps.remove('momentum/z')
        record_comps.append('uz')
    if 'weighting' in record_comps:
        record_comps.remove('weighting')
        record_comps.append('w')
    return record_comps
