A cliche is an expression that has been used for so long that it is no longer fresh. Examples are busy as a bee, cool as a cucumber, better late than never, wear and tear, easier said than done, and moving experience. Because they are so familiar, cliches come to mind easily. However, they give your reader the impression that you haven't given much thought to what you are writing. As you revise your papers, delete cliches when you can and state the ideas in plain language.

On rare occasions, a cliche may be the most efficient means of expressing an idea. For example, "If I can help further, please let me know" - a conventional statement in business letters - may better express your idea than any other choice of words. (See also figures of speech and jargon.)

Order a custom essay now!