Is There a Place for Cliches in Good Writing?

Welcome to the Grammar Minute, where we’re saving the English language sixty seconds at a time! I’m Lauren Smyth, and it’s raining cats and dogs in Hillsdale today. Actually, it’s not. It’s clear blue sky. I just said that to give you a taste of all the lovely cliches English has to offer. If anything about the previous sentences feels stale to you, that’s because I’ve used at least three cliches already. I’m defining cliches as any commonly used sequence of words that is not directly to the point. So, for example, “give you a taste” is a cliché. Don’t get me wrong: Cliches have a place in good writing. But you have to use them with caution, because if the reader has heard them often enough—or if they aren’t used in a fresh way—they can make it sound like you’re not expressing original ideas. Hackneyed cliches, like the “raining cats and dogs” phrase, were probably interesting when they were first invented. What’s stopping you from coming up with your own phrase—or just saying exactly what you mean? “It’s raining like the giant mushroom at a water park” is entertaining. “It’s raining” is concise. Take your pick. That’s your Grammar Minute. Visit thegrammarminute.com for more tips and tricks.