Cliches and Gobbledygook

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.