Proper Business Communication: Avoiding Cliches

Cliches can cloud a written business document (including email) with overused expressions in the English language. Another hindrance to employing cliches is that it loses its effectivness, if not its complete meaning. This is especially true with a foreign reader who, through his or her training, will translate your document word for word. If you are composing any kind of communication on behalf of your company, steer clear of cliches.

The following list of select cliches have been adapted from the Administrative Assistant and Secretary's Handbook:

• Add insult to injury
• Agree to disagree
• Beat a dead horse (I never liked this one to begin with)
• Bite the bullet (can you imagine translating that one?)
• Clear as mud (one of my favorites)
• Draw the line
• Easier said than done (The most overused cliche in my opinion)
• Food for thought
• Get one's feet wet
• High and dry
• Let well enough alone
• Moment of truth (hey, isn't that a tv show?)
• Open and shut case
• Save for a rainy day (what's wrong with a rainy day?)
• Too little, too late

You get the idea here. These expressions have been used countless times all over the place. If you are trying to capture an audience or sell to a client, don't use these cliches or any cliches, for that matter!

Read more about cliches:

Proper Business Communication: Avoiding Cliches

A Dictionary of Cliches

Subscribe to Affordable Virtual Administrative, Editing and Proofreading Services-NYC's Premier Editing Service

EditNY would love to hear from you! Comments / questions welcome. Or send an email.