WRITING CENTER "INFORMATION PICK-UP"  (S.S.C.C.)

 

(AVOIDING)   CLICHΙS:

 

•   WHY DON'T PEOPLE LIKE TO READ CLICHΙS?

•   HOW DO YOU AVOID THEM?

•   WHAT CAN YOU USE IN PLACE OF THESE?

•   WHAT ARE CLICHΙS? (in alphabetical order) and EXPRESSIONS TO AVOID IN BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL WRITING

 

 

 

•   WHY DON'T PEOPLE LIKE TO READ CLICHΙS?

 

            Clichιs weaken a piece of writing because they lack originality and the spark of individuality which light up a piece of writing.  People do not enjoy reading the same ideas or hackneyed phrases again and again.  They prefer to explore new ways of thinking, experiencing, feeling, and reading.

 

 

•   HOW DO YOU AVOID THEM?

 

            Read more quality writing which reflects the author's character, energy and personality.  It helps to read to broaden one's sense of what is common or uncommon.

 

 

•   WHAT CAN YOU USE IN PLACE OF THESE?

 

            Try to see a situation or experience in a new way.  Do not repeat what you've heard elsewhere.  Don't reach for the "easy" solution.  Rather, put the ideas or descriptions in your own words.  Strive to show your character, personality, past, taste, experiences, and other aspects of YOU in your work.  Find unique comparisons, metaphors, similes and examples, and use them!

 

 

•   WHAT ARE CLICHΙS? and EXPRESSIONS TO AVOID IN BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL WRITING

 

            Clichιs are words or phrases used so commonly that their original meanings have become worn and useless.  They are "trite or stereotyped" expressions, which may irritate readers rather than provide any insights or pleasure.

 

SOME EXAMPLES OF CLICHΙS   (in alphabetical order)

 

                                                                                 A

 

•     after all is said and done

•     aim high

•     angry as a hornet

•     around the bend

•     around the corner

•     ---- as all get-out

•     at cock's crow

•     at a crossroads

•     at his throat

•     at the front of the pack

•     at the roll of the dice

•     avoid ... like the plague

 

                                                                                 B

 

•     babe in the woods

•     ball is in your court

•     beat around the bush

•     beat ... over the head with this

•     bell the cat

•     bend over backwards

•     best foot forward

•     better late than never

•     black as coal

•     bold as brass

•     book worm

•     bowled over

•     break the cycle

•     bright as a penny

•     by a long stretch

•     by and by

•     by the seat of my pants

•     by the skin of my teeth

 

                                                                                 C

 

•     call of the wild

•     calm before a storm

•     can't see the forest for the trees

•     cart before the horse

•     chalk up a victory

•     chew on this idea

•     close the chapter on it

•     come through with flying colors

•     count your blessings

•     crying shame

•     cute as a bug

 

                                                                                 D

 

•     dead as a doornail

•     delicate as porcelain

•     dire straits

•     drag through the mud

•     drive home the point

•     drop in the bucket

 

                                                                                 E

 

•     easier said than done

•     easy as pie

•     eat like a horse

•     eat my words

•     eye of the storm

 

                                                                                 F

 

•     face the music

•     fall to pieces

•     fat as a pig

•     first things first

•     fish out of water

•     flash in the pan

•     flat as a pancake

•     friendly as a puppy

•     full of hot air

•     full of guff

 

                                                                                 G

 

•     go the distance

•     good as gold

 

                                                                                 H

 

•     harvest what you sow

•     has a knack for

•     has his/her plate full

•     have your cake and eat it too

•     head full of rocks

•     hit a bull's eye

•     hit a home run

•     hit the spot

•     hit the nail on the head

•     home sweet home

•     hook up with

•     holier than thou

 

                                                                                 I

 

•     in a flash

•     in a jiffy

•     in a new light

•     in a nutshell

•     in good time

•     in one ear and out the other

•     in the long run

•     in the nick of time

 

                                                                                 J

 

•     jump from the frying pan into the fire

 

                                                                                 K

 

•     keep tabs on

•     kick in the pants

•     kill two birds with one stone

 

                                                                                 L

 

•     larger than life

•     last but not least

•     leave on the back burner

•     leave well enough alone

•     lesser of two evils

•     let sleeping dogs lie

•     lick his boots

•     life's final chapter

•     like a bull in a china shop

•     like clockwork

•     lock horns with

•     look before you leap

•     lose his head

•     lurk around the corner

 

                                                                                 M

 

•     make lemonade out of lemons

•     meaner than a crocodile

•     meek as a lamb

•     mom's apron strings

•     more than meets the eye

 

                                                                                 N

 

•     no time like the present

•     nose in the air

•     nothing ventured, nothing gained

 

                                                                                 O

 

•     on the mend

•     out for the count

•     out for the count

•     out of the blue

 

                                                                                 P

 

•     part and parcel of

•     pass the buck

•     play second fiddle to someone

•     poke your head in

•     polish his/her apple

•     pot call the kettle black

•     pretty as a penny (or peach)

•     punch the time clock

•     put a new spin on

•     put it on ice

•     put on the back burner

•     put your foot in your mouth

•     put your heart into it

 

                                                                                 Q

 

•     quick as a wink

•     quiet enough to hear a pin drop

 

                                                                                 R

 

•     raining cats and dogs

•     red as a beet

•     right at your fingertips

•     rock the boat

•     run like the wind

•     run the race

•     run with the fast crowd

 

                                                                                 S

 

•     sadder but wiser

•     see eye to eye

•     sharper than a tack

•     shoot for the moon

•     shot in the arm

•     sink or swim

•     sit on the fence

•     slow as an ox

•     sly as a fox

•     so far, so good

•     sow what you reap

•     squeeze blood out of a tomato

•     step by step

•     stiff-necked

•     stone deaf

•     strong as an ox

•     sweet as sassafras

 

                                                                                 T

 

•     tackle the problem

•     tail wags the dog

•     take it to the limit

•     take the bull by its horns

•     take the fall

•     take to the cleaners

•     tan his hide

•     that wasn't much to look at

•     the road not taken

•     tickle me pink

•     timid as a mouse

•     thin as a stick

•     throw a monkey wrench into it

•     throw one's hat in the ring

•     throwing stones in a glass house

•     tougher than leather

•     try my luck

•     turn a new page

•     turn over a new leaf

•     twisting like a leaf in the wind

 

                                                                                 U

 

•     uglier than sin

 

                                                                                 W

 

•     weigh the options

•     weight of the world on one's shoulders

•     what goes around comes around

•     when in Rome, do as the Romans do

•     wilier than a fox

•     wise as an owl

•     wolf in sheep's clothing

 

 

 

The following chart of "Expressions to Avoid in Business Writing" has been excerpted from Writer's Inc.

 

EXPRESSIONS TO AVOID IN BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL WRITING:

 

FORMAL AND AWKWARD PHRASING:  Replace this with simpler, more direct and contemporary language.

 

AWKWARD:                                                  POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS:

 

at the present writing                                         presently, right now, currently, for

                                                                        now

you are hereby advised                                     I'm writing to let you know

                                                                        I'm writing to inform you

indisposed                                                        busy, unavailable at present

ceased functioning                                             quit working, stopped working

 

WORDY AND REPETITIVE PHRASING:  Replace these with concise (brief) wording.

 

in the near future                                               soon

due to the fact that                                            because, since

on a daily basis                                                 daily

absolutely essential                                            essential, important, central to

be in agreement with                                         agree

over and done with                                           finished, completed

bring together                                                   join, unite

 

OTHER CLICHΙS TO BE AVOIDED IN BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL WRITING:

 

at this point in time                                            in view of the fact

as a matter of fact                                             better late than never

token of our appreciation                                  it has come to my attention

I regret to inform you                                        par for the course

 

*  Your language should not show any bias against anyone for race, religion, gender, age, or any other factor.  Each individual should be shown due respect.  Any language which shows judgment or negative connotations should be avoided.

 

Sources: 

Patrick Sebranek, Verne Meyer and Dave Kemper's Writer's INC, A Student Handbook for Writing and Learning (1996), published by D.C. Heath & Company, and others.

(Revised 1998)