Kick out the clichés

12 cliches to avoid: Source: Writers digest

 A Cliché is a phrase or opinion that has been repeatedly used over the years.

A writer should edit out clichés as much as possible.

Why should we not use Clichés?

The reasons are:

1. Clichés are attributed to lazy writing, hesitation, and inconsistency.

2. Their presence make writing boring, the readers might have read these very lines many times before.

3. Clichés leave nothing new to remember for the readers. They are often familiar with these phrases.

4. The readers will label the writer as insincere and lazy.

How to Avoid Clichés:

1. Try to rephrase a cliché.

Example:

Instead of saying avoid it like plague; use a phrase of your own like: avoid it like a hot shower in the peak of summer.

2. Find another sentence that means the same

Example:

Dead as a doornail

Instead use: Dead as a fish in the frying pan? Use your imagination and give something new that the reader is familiar with.

Microsoft word has options that you can turn on that identifies clichés in a document. This helps you eliminate them easily.

Happy writing folks.

This post is a part of the APRIL A-Z Challenge