Clichés
W.S.U. Writing Center
Clichés are the old coins of language: phrases that once made a striking impression but have since been rubbed smooth by repeated handling. Clichés are tempting to use because they can quickly fill out a sentence, and because many of them are figures of speech that seem colorful, however faded their color may be.To spot a cliché, read the first half of the phrase and then ask yourself if you know how it ends. If you do, it is a cliché, and you should not use it.
| Pretty as a
beat around the selling like cool as a avoid like the |
picture bush hot cakes cucumber plague |
A cliché is an analogy characterized by its overuse. It has been overused to the point that its sole function is to mark its user as a lazy thinker.
Types of Clichés
Worn out phrases (including tired similes, metaphors, and idioms)
| black as night the depths of despair the crack of dawn to the bitter end gone but not forgotten |
wouldn't be caught dead broad daylight crystal clear on a silver platter under the weather |
Inflated phrases
| Inflated as a matter of fact along the lines of due to the fact that by means of in the final analysis |
Concise in fact like because by finally |
Overused ideas in writing
|
Dogs always know who the bad guy is and will
bark at him There will be an evil twin Bad guys always set their bomb with ample time for the good guy to defuse it |
The worst offense you can be guilty of is to use clichés in your writing. One cliché can make your artistic efforts all seem without value.
Links to more information on clichés: