Reasons Why and Why NOT to Use Cliches in Your Writing

by Tim Suddeth @TimSuddeth

I love those rare occasions when I can enjoy a lazy day. Nothing major calling from the to-do list. No emergency popping up. Just a day, or even an hour, to enjoy in my recliner or in my backyard. Or maybe on a lazy river. Aah.

But when it comes to lazy writing, no one wants to be accused of that. And a major way for writers to get into trouble it by using clichés.

In The Associated Press Guide to News Writing by Rene J. Cappon, he identifies three types of expressions. There’s the idiom, which is a group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words (e.g. rain cats and dogs, see the light). There are the phrases between idiom and clichés. And then there are the obvious clichés.

A cliché is an expression that has been used so much it has lost its original meaning and appeal. When using clichés, the devil is in the details.

A cliché is like beauty, it’s easier to recognize than to define. What may be a cliché to one person, another may think it’s colorful. But we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.

Have you ever heard a ball coach’s interview? It’s often a smorgasbord of clichés. They have made an art of saying nothing in a maximum number of words. But you have to give them credit. They are what they are.

Why Clichés Should Be Avoided

1. They Inhibit Originality

In most cases, writers should avoid clichés like the plague. Using them is like picking low-hanging fruit. Because it’s easier to get to, the picker doesn’t bother reaching the better fruit on the higher limbs. Clichés often keep the writer from being more specific and concise.

She might have gotten a bee in her bonnet, but how did she act? What did she say? The cliché prevented the writer from telling her readers the real story and allowing her unique writing style to shine.

2. They Hide the Real Meaning

Many clichés have been used so much, they have lost their original meanings and are now vague. They make the reader read between the lines.

Really? Do your readers understand what lines you’re talking about? Is it clear what is being hidden?

Many writers think clichés aren’t worth a plugged nickel. How many readers do you think know what a plugged nickel is? Of course, the way we are becoming accustomed to using a credit card or app, many readers may not know what a nickel is. (Answer: What my allowance used to be.)

3. They May Prevent Your Reader’s Understanding

Clichés are often like jargon: only a small group may understand them. Academia and business are well known for having their own pet phrases. While getting back to the drawing board could help with much of their writing, they usually just run it up the flagpole and wait to see what happens.

I must admit, I love using clichés. But I need to be careful and use them wisely. I don’t want to be thought of as lazy, now do I?

How To Use Clichés Effectively

1. Sparingly

Clichés can be used to spice up your writing. But like salt, a little can go a long way. Make sure the cliché you use makes sense in the situation. The saying every rose has a thorn may be older than Methuselah, but most readers would get the point.

And only use one at a time. A string of them can leave your reader with whiplash, trying to untangle each of their meanings.

2. To Relate to Your Reader

Clichés of idiomatic phrases and slang words can help you connect with your audience. If you use the right words and phrases writing for millennials, you might be slap. But if you miss, you could be stuck with an L. (Shout out to Dictionary.com and Parade.com for these Gen Z phrases. If you look at my bio picture, you can tell I didn’t come up with them.)

3. For Characterization

Clichés are great for showing a character’s background or profession. A policeman and a professor would have very different ways to refer to others or to describe a situation. 

The important thing about clichés is to use them intentionally. Think about what you are trying to say. If the phrase doesn’t give you a clear mental picture, either reword it or take it out entirely.

I hope you have enjoyed my abuse of some of these clichés and that you didn’t think they were like fingernails on a blackboard. (Would you now use a whiteboard? Monitor doesn’t have the same effect, does it?)

I would love to hear your thoughts. What are some of your favorite cliches? And which clichés should be eternally sent to trash?

But there is one thing that is not a cliché. Thank you for stopping in and reading.

TWEETABLE

Reasons Why and Why NOT to Use Cliches in Your Writing, insight from @TimSuddeth on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Tim Suddeth is a stay-at-home dad and butler for his wonderful, adult son with autism. He has written numerous blogs posts, short stories, and three novels waiting for publication. He is a frequent attendee at writers’ conferences, including the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference and a member of Word Weavers and ACFW. He lives near Greenville, SC where he shares a house with a bossy Shorky and three too-curious Persians. You can find him on Facebook and Twitter, as well as at www.timingreenville.com and www.openingamystery.com.

Featured Image: Photo by Good Faces on Unsplash