Be Wary of Clichés · Elite Writing Academy

Be Wary of Clichés

I’ve used them before.

I'm sure you have too.

Often they slip through unnoticed.

Yes, they are clichés, those tired, ready-made expressions that are one of the fastest ways to drain your writing of originality and impact.

They're words and phrases that might once have had bite but, through endless repetition, have been stripped of freshness.

Here's what George Orwell had to say about clichés:

Clichés replace thought. Orwell observed that when writers use ready-made phrases, they aren’t really choosing words to express fresh meaning — the phrases do the “thinking” for them.
Dying metaphors. He listed examples like ring the changes, leave no stone unturned, toe the line, which once had vivid force but had become so overused they no longer evoked images or clarity.
Padding and vagueness. Clichés allow writers to fill space without saying anything precise. They blur meaning instead of sharpening it.
Politics and deception. In political writing especially, Orwell saw clichés as a way to obscure ugly truths or manipulate readers — what he called “sheer cloudy vagueness.”
His rule: “Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.”

In short, for Orwell, clichés weren't just stylistic weaknesses but intellectual evasions, evidence of writers abdicating the responsibility to think clearly and originally.

Readers tend to skim past clichés without feeling a thing. And as writers, that is the last thing we want.

Great writing shines when the phrasing feels alive rather than recycled, and when the language is vivid enough to make someone pause, reflect, and awaken.

Here are some categories of clichés worth watching out for:

Overused Openers

At the end of the day
In today’s fast-paced world
It goes without saying

Tired Metaphors

Think outside the box
A win-win situation
The tip of the iceberg
A race against time

Business & Tech Buzzwords

Synergy
Leverage
Paradigm shift
Cutting-edge

Emotional Shortcuts

Rollercoaster of emotions
Light at the end of the tunnel
Time heals all wounds

Inspirational Fluff

Everything happens for a reason
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger
Follow your dreams

AI Tell-Tales (creeping into the language now)

Let’s dive in
Unlock the power of…
Harness the potential of…

Practice spotting clichés and then rewriting them. For example:

Instead of “at the end of the day” -- “ultimately.”
Instead of “light at the end of the tunnel,” try describing the actual felt relief more concretely.

The goal isn’t to ban these phrases altogether. Sometimes they slot in naturally. But if you lean on them too much, your writing risks sounding lazy or generic.

Originality begins when you resist the automatic thought or phrase and begin searching for the truer, fresher one.

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Be Wary of Clichés