Getting Rid of Clichés

Overused Phrases are one of a Writer’s Worst Enemies

Jun 25, 2008

A Walk on the Beach can Provide Inspiration, Debbie Roome

Editors and readers alike are looking for fresh new work with exciting word pictures. It is time to dispense with the old and bring in the new.

A cliché is defined as an expression that has been used so much that the original power has been drained from it.

Examples of Common Clichés

She was fat as a cat
It was hot as hell in the boiler room
He was dead as a doornail
The house had gone to wrack and ruin
The teacher had the eyes of a hawk

Use a Thesaurus

A thesaurus can be very useful if stuck on a word or expression. Look up the options and play around with substitutions. They may come over as nonsensical, hilarious or stupid but will undoubtedly stir up ideas. Here are a couple of examples using the clichés above.

She was as chubby as a cub
It was scorching as Hades in the cooking room
He was as deceased as an entranceway spike
The home had gone to debris and shambles
The instructor had the perceptiveness of a bird of prey

Think of Original Expressions

There are endless possibilities in the English language for creating new descriptions. The above clichés could be rephrased as follows:

Her skin stretched unevenly across bulges and rolls of fat
The boiler room sucked moisture from her face, leaving it parched and taut
All signs of life had long since drained from his body
The house had collapsed on itself, a distorted shell of its former shape
The teacher searched the room with radar eyes

Look for the Unusual

A writer should always be looking for ideas and inspiration is everywhere. Carry a notebook and jot down ideas as they come. Even a ride on public transport or a walk on the beach can produce some different phrases. Consider these examples: The bus absorbed passengers at one stop and disgorged them at the next. The sand whipped her ankles like a thousand angry flea bites.

Practice Writing

Practice is by far the best way to improve writing skills. Write a couple of paragraphs and then go back and weed out anything that resembles a cliché. Then try and rewrite it three or four times, using different expressions in each version. Don’t reject anything that surfaces. Rather write it down and then refine or adapt it if necessary.

Read

Good writers tend to be prolific readers and this is reflected in their work. Although they may read for pleasure, they are subconsciously absorbing grammar, structure and the finer skills of writing. Make an effort to read more, especially authors renowned for breaking out of tired, repetitive language.

With a bit of effort, it is possible to transform writing styles by cutting out clichés. Make a decision to sift out all tired expressions and overdone phrases and search continually for new and fresh ideas.

The copyright of the article Getting Rid of Clichés in Writing Techniques is owned by Debbie Roome. Permission to republish Getting Rid of Clichés in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.