When is a phrase considered a cliché

Unfortunately, this can be a tedious and unsatisfying experience for the reader, unless the reader is a child or the story is a rehearsed fairy tale. This can also form a connection with certain readers. Even worse, they generally reflect poorly on the writer and make them appear unoriginal, without imagination, lazy, or unskilled.

Grammarly's app will help with: 1 Avoiding spelling errors 2 Correcting grammar errors 3 Finding better words This free browser extension works with webmail, social media, and texting apps as well as online forms and Microsoft Office documents, like Word and Teams. Download the app. We have two books: 1 "Smashing Grammar" Written by the founder of Grammar Monster , "Smashing Grammar" has an A-Z glossary of grammar terms, a punctuation section, and a chapter on easily confused words.

Each entry starts with a simple explanation and some basic examples before giving real-life, entertaining examples.

Every entry ends with a summary explaining why the grammar point matters to a writer. If you like Grammar Monster, you'll love this book. Practical rather than academic, this best seller is packed with real-life examples and great quotations from Homer the Greek to Homer the Simpson. You may find our page on Deciphering Jargon helpful in identifying some more. They really are a sign of your brain being lazy. Try to concentrate on what you are writing, and make sure that you are phrasing it as clearly and succinctly as possible.

Think about your intended audience, and what they need to know, and you are likely to write more effectively. It is therefore good practice to put your writing aside for 24 hours, before coming back to it and reading it over again. One very good question to ask at that point is whether your brain is skipping over any phrases. You may therefore find that you have used them subconsciously if you are worried about reaching a required word count.

However, they have no real meaning—even to you. It will also check whether your work is as clear as possible, or if any sentences are over-complex. Finally, it can help to identify whether you have inadvertently included any typos or grammatical errors. The best way to do this is to be aware of your writing, and particularly to think about your audience and their needs.