Clichés
Cliché is
drawn from French language. In printing, "cliché" was the
sound a printing plate cast from the movable type when
it was used.
Today, clichés are phrases or
expressions
that
are
used so
often that it is no longer original or interesting.
Something that
is so commonly used in books, stories, etc., that it is no longer effective.
In describing time, the following
expressions have turned into cliché:
•Only
time will tell
(to
become clear at some time in the future)
•At
the end of the day
(everything
is taken into consideration)
•Lost
track of time
(to
stop paying attention to time)
In describing people,
the
following expressions have turned into cliché:
•A
diamond in the rough
(a
person who has exceptional qualities but lacks refinement)
•As
meek as a lamb
(someone
who is shy or quiet)
•As
brave as a lion
(to
describe a very brave person)
In describing sentiments,
the
following expressions have turned into cliché:
•Every
cloud has a silver lining
(every
difficult situation still has a hopeful aspect)
•All
is fair in love and war
(both
of which have disastrous results)
•Hastes
makes waste
(people
make mistakes when in rush)
Typical expressions that are used
almost at all times in formal ceremonies, festivals, courts etc. are not
considered cliché examples; rather they befit such occasions and are regarded
as more appropriate.
Examples:
I now pronounce you husband and
wife.
(wedding
ceremony)
Happy Birthday!
More cliché phrases:
•They all lived happily ever after.
•Read between the lines
•Fall head over heals
•Waking up on the wrong side of the bed
GOBBLEDYGOOK
Gobbledygook(sometimes
shortened to gobbledegoo) is
inflated, jargon-cluttered prose that fails to communicate clearly or
pretentious verbiage. Contrast with clarity and plain English. Also spelled gobbledegook.
Examples:
•It’s important to effect the
verbalization of concepts through the utilization of unsophisticated
terminology.
Simpler form: Speak simply.
•Precipitation entails negation of
economy.
Simpler form: It never rains but it pours.
•He who expresses merriment
subsequent to everyone else expresses merriment of most superior quality
Simpler form: He who laughs last laughs best.
•Pulchritude is not evinced below
the dermal surface
Simpler form: Beauty is only skin deep.
•Exclusive dedication to necessitous
chores without interlude of hedonist diversion renders John an unresponsive
fellow
Simpler
form: All
work and no play makes John a dull boy.
Avoid gobbledygook by doing the
following:
1.
Using specific, concrete words. We want our writing to be as clear as possible.
Below are a few commonly used words we should replace with more concrete words.
Common Word Concrete
Word Common Word Concrete
Word
Assistance Help Modification Change
Advised Told Necessity Need
Additional More Perspective View
Correspondence Letter, inquiry Prior Before
Concur Agree Proceed Go
Determine Decide Purchase Buy
Demonstrate Show Pursuant According
Encounter Meet Ramification Result
Feasible Likely, possible Render Give
Indicated Said Request Ask
Inform Tell State Say
Poor:
During the telephone
conversation, Mr. Doe identified himself and requested
the realtor provide
him information concerning
the assets for sale.
Better: During the call, Mr.
Doe identified himself and asked
the realtor to
give
him information on
the assets for sale.
Poor: I
am responding to your correspondence
of November 29, 2002.
Better: I am responding to your letter of
November 29, 2002.
2. Using strong verbs. The more we
use verbs in place of noun phrases, the clearer and less wordy our writing
becomes.
Not this This
Make an assessment Assess
Have a meeting with Meet with
Make a decision Decide
Come to an agreement Agree
Make an announcement Announce
Weak: The General Accounting Office made
a recommendation that
we take the program
under review.
Stronger: The General Accounting Office recommended
that we review
the program.
Weak: Ms. Doe made
a suggestion that we require her employer to provide for catch—up
contributions in its
401(k) plan.
Stronger: Ms. Doe suggested
that we require her employer to provide
for catch—up
contributions in its 401(k) plan.
3. Avoiding
false subjects. False subjects are words like it is, it was, there is, there
are, and there was. They usually occur at the beginning of a sentence and often
displace the real subject.
False
subject It
is possible that the taxpayer may not qualify for the earned income tax credit.
Real subject The taxpayer may
not qualify for the earned income tax
credit.
False
subject There
is a door leading out to the public reception area directly behind the place the interviewee
sits.
Real subject A door
leads out to the public reception area directly
behind the place the interviewee sits.
4. Eliminating
or shortening wordy phrases. Wordy phrases use too many words to express an
idea. Make your sentences short, direct, and clear.
Don't Use Use
At this
time Now
At
which time Then
Based
on the fact that Due to/because
If at
all possible If possible
In a
number of cases Many/some
It is
obvious that Obviously
Wordy As a
matter of fact, any change to the law requires legislative action.
Shorter In
fact,
any change to the law requires legislative action.
Wordy Based
on the fact that Mr. Doe is no longer a plan participant, he cannot make catch—up
contributions.
Shorter Because
Mr. Doe is no longer a plan participant, he cannot make catch—up contributions.
5. Avoiding
redundancies. Redundant expressions needlessly repeat ideas when fewer words
clearly communicate the meaning. They add no value to your documents. For
example, in the expression final outcome, the word final is redundant because
outcome implies finality.
Redundant Expression Possible Substitute
Absolutely essential Essential
Reason why Reason
Specific example Example
True facts Facts
Are now currently Are
Advance plan/Preplan Plan
Redundant We completed the review of your program and will give you our final conclusion within two weeks.
Better We completed the review of your program and
will give you our conclusion within two weeks.
Redundant A balance of $200.00 still
remains on your credit card.
Better A
balance of $200.00 rema
7.
Eliminating
legal or technical terms.
Studies have shown that not only
non—technical readers, but also professionals in the technical field you are
writing about appreciate plain language documents that are free from technical
terms. People are busy and documents written in a plain language style help
them understand the information more quickly. We don't need to impress our
readers with big words.
Good organization, a logical flow of
information, and clear, understandable language are much more like to impress.
If we need to cite legal code or court cases, we should put that information in
parenthesis at the end of the sentence or paragraph it applies to or in
footnotes at the bottom of the page. That way, the information is available if
readers need it but does not distract from the information you are trying to
communicate.
