Keep Your Readers’ Attention by Minimizing Clichés
November 26, 2008 · Print This Article
The occasional cliché (especially if used ironically) is okay, but in general, it’s wise to minimize your usage of clichés if you want to keep your readers’ attention. In fact, I try to never write a cliché.
Ever since reading George Orwell’s Politics and the English Language in college, I’ve refused to write a cliché unless I absolutely can’t find any other way to make my point.
You know what I’m talking about. Phrases like “calm before the storm,” “everything but the kitchen sink,” “stuff that dreams are made of,” “whole nine yards,” and “it remains to be seen.”
In other words, any phrase that you hear used a lot. Here’s an excellent list of clichés.
There are at least two significant reasons you might lose your readers’ attention if you use a lot of clichés.
Clichés Can Create Vague Understanding
One, your readers might not clearly understand your message. Thus, they’ll give up and move on if you force them to analyze your meaning too much because you packed it down with clichés that could be applied to just about anything. Orwell wrote:
“If you use ready-made phrases, you not only don’t have to hunt about for words; you also don’t have to bother with the rhythms of your sentences, since these phrases are generally so arranged as to be more or less euphonious….By using stale metaphors, similes and idioms, you save much mental effort, at the cost of leaving your meaning vague, not only for your reader but for yourself.” [Emphasis mine]
Clichés Can Cause Disinterest
Two, your readers may quickly lose interest in your message. If you’re using the same outdated and standard clichés lots of other people are using, your readers may assume there’s nothing unique about your message–they’ve already heard it in one form or another. Author and entrepreneur Michael Masterson writes:
“When a prospective customer reads your copy, you want to get him excited about your product or service. You want to say something fresh and tantalizing to engage him. But when you use clichés, something else happens to your prospect. A little switch inside turns him off. He says to himself, ‘I know this already… I don’t need to give it any more attention.’” [Emphasis mine]
Some clichés are good if they’re especially colorful and still call up vivid images. But, most clichés just don’t have that impact (even if they once did). If you really want to keep your readers’ attention, try to use words in a fresh way that reflects your unique personality, rather than repeating the phrases you hear everyday from professional journalists on cable TV, for example.
A cliche’ is a metaphor. Thus - I’m not certain it will always make the meaning vague. Metaphors, on the contrary, often make the meaning vivid and compelling.
Though - I totally am in alignment with almost always not using cliche’s that are not of my own making. They have been used so often that they don’t have any impact anymore.
But I do think there comes a time when even an old cliche’ simply fits the bill better than anything else in conveying the exact meaning one has in mind.
Bamboo Forest’s last blog post..7 Things I Am Thankful For This Thanksgiving
A pedant might argue that clichés don’t cause “disinterest”, but rather a lack of interest.
A disinterested reader is one that is impartial rather than bored.
Clare Lynch’s last blog post..Words that should be banned: Decline
Bamboo,
Good points. I noted that cliches sometimes have a place:
“Some clichés are good if they’re especially colorful and still call up vivid images. But, most clichés just don’t have that impact.”
My point was that to use them indiscriminately creates lackluster and unoriginal copy.
Clare,
Upon further reflection, I ‘d probably argue the same thing.
I suppose, though, that a bored reader could become incredibly impartial–because they simply don’t care enough to continue reading and engage the argument.
It’s all been said before, Jesse, and the results remain to be seen.
We’ll have to try thinking outside the box more often, because if at first you don’t succeed…you can get right back up on the horse again. -grin-
My favorite crusher of cliches, George Carlin (”Brain Droppings”) died earlier this year. Let’s hope his disdain for the mundane lives on in posts like this one. It’s been a long time since my elderly English teacher drove this message home (oops, that’s a cliche, too).
One of the reasons we all have trouble avoiding hackneyed phrases is that we actually “think” using them, too. If you actively listen to yourself and a friend in conversation it’s almost incredible how often we are merely quoting deeply-embedded phrases to each other.
Have a nice day, and thanks for a great reminder! ~Jim
Jim Bessey’s last blog post..Our Thanksgiving deer return for dessert
Jim,
You’re welcome and you’re right–we often do use these deeply embedded phrases.
Some of that is fine, but too much just doesn’t work well.
Enjoy your Thanksgiving.
For me, whenever I hear cliches used in speech, it turns me off! I become disinterested, actually, I refuse to follow along. A MAJOR TURN OFF.
The funny thing about cliches, people recognize them but don’t really understand cliches, many assume or accept them but know little or close to nothing about them.
Miguel Wickert’s last blog post..New Pages At Simply Blog
Now that I think about it, I’m pretty bad with cliches. I probably write at least one in each blog post. Like I mentioned in a comment on a previous post here, I write how I speak. I guess that means I use cliches in my every day conversations.
I didn’t realize I did it that often, but sometimes it’s hard to find other ways to express yourself.
Definitely something to keep in the front of your mind while writing.
Cassie’s last blog post..Easy way to come up with new content during blogger’s block
I just took a look at the list. The scary this is, one might write a cliche and be totally unaware of it.
That just sucks.
Some cliches are obvious, but others seem like they are just ways of saying things… But they aren’t: they’re bonafide cliches.
I almost want to go back into all my past articles and slave away looking for those vile things. Which brings up a really good question… Do you think it’s prudent to go back into old articles and improve upon them?
My thoughts are no. Because it just seems like ones energy should always be channeled to current projects.
I’m going to make an affirmation… Cliches are vile. Cliches are vile. Cliches are vile. If I say this enough times and make this association deeply enough - perhaps I’ll never write another cliche.
CLICHES ARE VILE.
Bamboo Forest’s last blog post..Being Selfish Can Be Deadly
Just took the time to follow your link to the list of cliches, Jesse.
As Bamboo pointed out, far more phrases there than we might have thought. This brought to mind the topic of “botched cliches.”
I worked for a guy some years ago who always managed to mangle his oft-repeated cliches. My favorite:
“You’ve got to nip it in the butt” for a problem we had to tackle quickly.
He had plenty of others, but that one sticks with me and still makes me smile.
~Jim
Jim Bessey’s last blog post..Our Thanksgiving deer return for dessert
I’m working on a blog article right now. Now that I’ve examined that list of cliches you provided - I have a much better feel of what they truly are.
To really know what a cliche is, you really have to look at a list of them. A definition will *not* create the necessary resonance.
As I’m writing this article, I feel like a new radar has been installed in my mind. It is the cliche radar. I’m finding this really helpful. I’m also beginning to comprehend why exactly cliches take away from your article. When you read a cliche in ones prose, it’s as if you’re not reading something new. You’ve already read it before, thousands of times. Only this time - it’s finding its way into another article.
In short a cliche is this: Another article, but identical content.
That isn’t going to excite anyone.
I am now fully resigned to be vigilant in keeping cliches OUT of my writing.
I’ve come to realize it’s not the big things that make writing sparkle. It’s not because anyone and everyone can write - and they can all more or less do the big things…
It’s really the small little things that make a piece of writing go from average to explosive. All the small little things adding up.
Bamboo Forest’s last blog post..Being Selfish Can Be Deadly
Miguel,
I’m with you on that. It’s true–you hear someone drop a couple of cliches and you often know what’s coming next, whether it’s an athlete or a politician. Boring.
Cassie,
Yeah, we all use them. Sometimes they work–it’s really a matter of discernment and taste. Now and then, a cliche that’s still colorful and meaningful really adds to the writing.
Problem is, most cliches are probably just stale, outdated, and vague. The trick is distinguishing the good from the bad.
Bamboo,
Great question and worthy of a blog post:
“Do you think it’s prudent to go back into old articles and improve upon them?”
In general, no. Like you say, energy is usually best channeled toward the future. I will go back and correct a misspelling or insert a word that I had left out–small details like that.
But to rewrite and so forth–let it stand so you (and the world) can see your progression as you gradually become a better writer.
Also:
“I am now fully resigned to be vigilant in keeping cliches OUT of my writing.”
So am I. Again, occasionally, some cliches are worthwhile. But, I think you “gotta know the rules before you can break the rules.” IOW, vow to never use a cliche unless absolutely necessary (and stick to that vow), and then, when you do use one, it will be used legitimately.
Jim,
“You’ve got to nip it in the butt”
That’s funny.
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[...] A superior way to raise your awareness of these vile concoctions is to read a good sampling; I found this list via an article by Robust Writing. [...]
Hi, I hope you don’t mind the plug but I think this is relevant to you. I have written a WordPress plugin that uses a list of cliches to highlight any it finds in a post. It doesn’t remove them, or change them, just highlights them when you preview the post so you can make informed decisions.
I’ve released it here: http://www.wp-fun.co.uk/2008/12/06/fun-without-cliches/
Andrew’s last blog post..Fun without Cliches
Andrew,
No problem. That is an awesome idea. Really awesome.
I’ll let my followers on Twitter know about it.
[...] A superior way to raise your awareness of these vile concoctions is to read a good sampling; I found this list via an article by Robust Writing. [...]