Avoiding Cliches
If there was ever a year that created cliches, it was 2020.
A cliche is a phrase, word or opinion that is considered overused and as a result, sometimes is dismissed or considered a stereotype or thought that lacks originality. It lacks clever creativity because it is just, well, too familiar.
Consider the pandemic cliches that were new words to us at the beginning.
Self-isolate
Social distancing
“New normal.”
Unprecedented
Quarantine
I didn’t even know what self-isolate meant when someone suggested I do it after my trip to Cuba last winter! Now my reaction is, “Ugh… when can we stop saying that?!”
Writing is such a powerful communication tool, and writing content that is flooding into our inboxes and computer screens is competing for attention. Cliches are tiresome and get stale quickly to the reader.
Creative writing is always better.
Words we used to capture the lack of “normal” during unprecedented times have become pretty commonplace. The pandemic that has lasted longer than anyone could ever have imagined has escalated the terms and words.
And quite frankly. We are just as tired of the cliches as we are of COVID.
You can tell if you are using cliches too much with these simple tests.
Search for a cliche you would like to stop using in your search bar and see how many emails or documents use the word or phrase. It may surprise you.
Ask a trusted friend you consider one of your best supporters or listeners. They read everything you produce because they are fiercely loyal to you and one of your key cheerleaders. Ask them honestly to tell you if and what you say written or verbally over and over. Believe me, they know. They either dislike it, or they are beginning to sound like you!
Use a virtual assistant to help you! I love my Grammarly premium! When I am overusing a word or phrase, this app tells me, picks out a created cliche like “maskne” or “Covidiot” and challenges me whether I really want to use it. It provides other alternatives to be creative and original in my writing.
Continually using Cliches is not the way I want to be described as a writer. Using these ideas as a guide, I already know I have some writing words I would like to omit or use far less often. And I will be thrilled to one day say that these cliche pandemic words were “remember when we said this” terms only.
Cheers to that!
Hmmmm… Is that cliche? 🙄
Love your view,