Out, damn'd cliché
November 20th 2008 00:08
Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
Orwell's edict, a fundamental rule of good writing, is about clichés. The word is taken from the French word for stereotype. In English, we use it to denote words, phrases or ideas which have been overused to the point where they lose their force.
To say something should be avoided like the plague would have been clever, amusing and memorable back whenever that expression was fresh. With overuse, it has become dull.
Use of clichés is lazy communication. In text, they denote an impoverished writer. They are a sin, and every time you use one the ghost of George Orwell writes your name in a large black book.
What follows is a writing exercise. The five sentences below contain clichés. Identify the infected area, spray with a mixture of one part red ink and three parts editorial zeal, and rewrite with words kissed by freshness.
Post your efforts as a comment so we can all see how you did. For each good effort, George's ghost will remove one mention of your name in that black book.
My darling, you look pretty as a picture.
I'm warning you, don't tempt fate.
It looks impossible, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.
She's not the sort to judge a book by its cover.
Do that and you open a can of worms.
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Comment by Janet Collins
Acceptable Etiquette
The Social Critic
Janet Collins Blog
You're taking all the fun out of it!
Comment by Chris Champion
Vyoos
Zoomies
Bloggercises
The Blog of Lists
Newly Old
Money Whither
Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
My darling, you look pretty as a picture.
Yo spud, smurfette aint got nothing on you.
I'm warning you, don't tempt fate.
Im warning you, flaunting is easily mistaken for taunting.
It looks impossible, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.
It looks impossible, but if you dont buy your raffle ticket you will never win your meat tray.
She's not the sort to judge a book by its cover.
She's not the sort to judge a fish by his coral.
Do that and you open a can of worms.
Do that and a kettle of fish will fly out of pandoras box!
Comment by Chris Champion
Vyoos
Zoomies
Bloggercises
The Blog of Lists
Newly Old
Money Whither
I suppose, having challenged the world, I should have the courage to try it myself. Here goes:
------
My darling, you look prettier than any picture.
I'm warning you, fate is in no mood to be tempted.
It looks impossible, as David might have said when he realised he had left his best sling shot at home.
She's more a content than a cover kind of judge.
Do that and you'll open a flood of clichés.
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A little more staid, buy hey I've just woken and haven't even had any Vegemite yet.
Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
is it just me or does reading a cliche beget more cliches?
i should stop by more often and get the creative side of my brain working!