Introduction: Understanding Clichés
Clichés are overused expressions, phrases, or ideas that have lost their original impact through repetition. While they may seem convenient, they can make your writing seem lazy, unoriginal, and disconnected from your audience. Recognizing and replacing clichés helps your writing stand out, engages readers more effectively, and demonstrates your creativity and thoughtfulness.
Core Concepts About Clichés
- Definition: Phrases or ideas that have become predictable through overuse
- Origins: Many began as fresh, impactful expressions that became victims of their own success
- Psychology: We use clichés as mental shortcuts when we’re not thinking critically or creatively
- Impact: Diminishes writing quality, signals lazy thinking, and creates distance with readers
- Recognition: The feeling of “I’ve heard this a thousand times before”
Common Clichés by Category
General Writing Clichés
| Cliché | Alternative Approaches |
|---|---|
| At the end of the day | Ultimately; In conclusion; When everything is considered |
| Think outside the box | Generate unconventional ideas; Challenge established thinking |
| It’s not rocket science | It’s straightforward; It’s relatively simple |
| The fact of the matter is | In reality; Truthfully; Simply put |
| Needless to say | [Often best omitted entirely] |
| Each and every | Each; Every; All |
Narrative and Creative Writing Clichés
Character Types:
- The chosen one
- The wise old mentor
- The villain who explains their entire plan
- The bumbling sidekick
Plot Devices:
- It was all just a dream
- Love at first sight
- Conveniently timed revelations
- Deus ex machina (unexpected power/solution appears)
Description Clichés:
- Crystal blue eyes
- Heart pounding like a drum
- Deafening silence
- Time stood still
- Bitter cold
Business Communication Clichés
Phrases to Avoid:
- Circle back
- Touch base
- Low-hanging fruit
- Synergy
- Hit the ground running
- Paradigm shift
- Think outside the box
- At the end of the day
Email Clichés:
- Hope this email finds you well
- Per our conversation
- Please do not hesitate to contact me
- Looking forward to hearing from you
Step-by-Step Process for Eliminating Clichés
- Identify potential clichés in your first draft
- Question each phrase: “Is this expressing something in a fresh way?”
- Replace with more specific, concrete, and original language
- Personalize expressions to reflect your unique voice and perspective
- Test by reading aloud to catch remaining clichés that your eyes might miss
Comparison: Clichés vs. Fresh Alternatives
| Topic | Cliché | Fresh Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Easier said than done | This requires more effort than planning suggests |
| Importance | At the end of the day | Ultimately; When essential factors are considered |
| Obvious | It goes without saying | [Simply state the point directly] |
| Success | Knock it out of the park | Exceeded even our ambitious expectations |
| Teamwork | On the same page | Share a common understanding |
| Opportunity | Open a can of worms | Raise complicated issues with unpredictable consequences |
| Change | Paradigm shift | Fundamental reconceptualization |
| Effort | Give 110% | Commit extraordinary effort |
Common Challenges and Solutions
| Challenge | Solution |
|---|---|
| Recognizing subtle clichés | Build awareness by reading widely and studying style guides |
| Finding fresh alternatives | Focus on specificity and sensory details; describe exactly what you mean |
| Balancing originality and clarity | Replace clichés with clear language, not obscure phrases |
| Cultural expressions | Consider audience familiarity with expressions from different backgrounds |
| Industry jargon vs. clichés | Use technical terms when precise, avoid when they’re just buzzwords |
Best Practices for Original Expression
- Be specific: Replace vague clichés with concrete details
- Use sensory language: Describe with vivid, uncommon sensory details
- Embrace simplicity: Sometimes a direct statement is better than any figurative language
- Draw from personal experience: Your unique observations make writing fresh
- Test with an audience: Ask others if any phrases feel tired or predictable
- Read aloud: Your ear will often catch clichés your eyes miss
- Revise deliberately: Set aside time specifically to hunt for and replace clichés
Resources for Developing Original Expression
Books:
- “Sin and Syntax” by Constance Hale
- “On Writing Well” by William Zinsser
- “Bird by Bird” by Anne Lamott
Online Resources:
- Thesaurus.com for finding alternative words
- Hemingway Editor for identifying overwrought phrases
- Writers Digest articles on fresh language
Practices:
- Keep a personal “cliché journal” to track your common defaults
- Practice describing everyday objects in unusual ways
- Challenge yourself to replace at least three clichés in each writing session
Quick Reference: The Most Overused Clichés to Avoid
- Time-related: “Time flies,” “in this day and age”
- Weather: “Calm before the storm,” “under the weather”
- Animal-based: “Busy as a bee,” “let the cat out of the bag”
- Relationship: “Love is blind,” “opposites attract”
- Business: “Think outside the box,” “circle back”
- Life lessons: “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”
- Physical reactions: “Heart skipped a beat,” “stomach in knots”
- Visual descriptions: “Dead as a doornail,” “white as a sheet”
By avoiding these common clichés and developing your own original expressions, your writing will become more engaging, authentic, and impactful for your readers.