Style: Clichés, Pleonasms and Verbosity
Page Contents:
Many stock phrases have become entrenched in the language and are not only unobjectionable but practically unavoidable. Expressions such as
on the one hand and other things being equal have stood the test of time. Others have a much shorter life and consequently a greater capacity to
bore. These are the clichés, and to encounter one is like hearing the same joke for the tenth time; what was once fresh or witty has become stale
from overuse.
Clichés are to some extent excusable in spontaneous conversation, but in formal scripts and prepared speeches, where there is more time to think,
they are less easily forgiven –
bow and scrape leaps and bounds
by and large odds and ends
chop and change part and parcel
each and every rack and ruin
fair and square rhyme nor reason
grace and favour rough and ready
heart and soul spick and span
hot and strong thick and fast
hum and haw this and that
if and when ways and means
kith and kin
explore every avenue light at the end of the tunnel
for want of a better word not to put too fine a point on it
grind to a halt on the whole
I always say taking all things onto consideration
in any shape or form to all intents and purposes
leave no stone unturned to cut a long story short
Particularly tiresome are the newcomers from the worlds of business, education and politics. They appear as if from nowhere and quickly reach
epidemic proportions –
at the end of the day the name of the game
between a rock and a hard place on a steep learning curve
the big picture a proven track record
the bottom line put on the back burner
customer-focused put this one to bed
the cutting edge quality-driven
an exciting new initiative take on board
the green shoots of recovery a whole new ball game
in the last (final) analysis a win-win situation
a level playing field
Like disposable nappies, such expressions are best used only once.
Clichés are especially conspicuous as the opening sentences of essays and articles. Few things are more discouraging to the reader than a trite
and lifeless beginning –
In recent times…
In the modern world…
In today’s society…
In this day and age…
It is a well-known fact that…
Ever since time began…
(See also expletive sentences.)
A pleonasm, often a cliché too, is a tautology (an expression that is necessarily true) or an expression that uses more words than are required to
convey the intended meaning. Like clichés, some pleonasms have become so firmly established that objections would be pointless (aid and abet,
null and void, peace and quiet, private and confidential). Most, however, are best avoided.
Some are word repetitions from abbreviations and acronyms –
DOS operating system
HIV virus
LCD display
OPEC countries
PAT tested
PIN number
RSVP requested
SALT talks
Other pleonasms are short phrases with needless adjectives or adverbs –
advanced warning free gift revert back
armed gunman future prospects root cause
basic fundamentals inadvertent error safe haven
close proximity individual person serious danger
close scrutiny join together skilled craftsman
combine together may possibly so therefore
completely unanimous merge together specific example
component parts mutual agreement sudden impulse
consensus of opinion new recruit sufficient enough
continue to remain no cause for undue alarm sum total
diametrically opposed often in the habit of surrounding circumstances
dreadful disaster opening gambit tiny speck
empty space over again total destruction
end result past experience true fact
entire universe personal friend ultimate goal
exact opposite plan ahead under active consideration
exact replica postpone until later underlying basis
exact same pre-book unexpected surprise
first conceived pre-plan unsolved mystery
forward planning quite unique usual custom
In everyday speech and informal writing, emphatic pleonasms are often acceptable. For example, a letter ending with Thanks for your help; I
really appreciate it, is entirely forgivable, just as we might legitimately stress that something is absolutely essential, completely unnecessary,
extremely urgent or very true. But in formal scripts, pleonasms generally give the impression of weak writing skills and serve only to fill valuable
space with dross.
(See also drafting.)
‘Emma, my love,’ said Mr. Micawber, clearing his throat in his magnificent
way, ‘my friend Mr. Thomas Traddles is so obliging as to solicit, in my ear,
that he should have the privilege of ordering the ingredients necessary to
the composition of a moderate portion of that Beverage which is peculiarly
associated, in our minds, with the Roast Beef of Old England. I allude to –
in short, Punch.’
(Charles Dickens, David Copperfield)
Dickens’s purpose, of course, is caricature, yet there are real-life Micawbers who have made a virtual art of obscurity and long-windedness. They
usually come from the worlds of business –
In the event of any failure or malfunctioning of any component of the
apparatus which renders the appliance inoperative and necessitates
repair before the appliance will work normally, the Board will, at the
request of the consumer within a reasonable period and during normal
working hours and subject to the conditions and exceptions set out in
paragraphs two and three below, repair or replace such components free
of charge (If it breaks, we’ll fix it)
If there are any points on which you require explanation or further
particulars we shall be glad to furnish such additional details as may be
required by telephone (If you have any questions, please phone)
and education–
High-quality learning environments are a necessary precondition for the
facilitation and enhancement of the ongoing learning process (Children
need good schools if they are to learn properly)1
The only purpose of this sort of flatulence is to give a commonplace the semblance of wisdom.
At its worst, verbosity can degenerate into barely intelligible bombast –
The candidate should know and understand…how to demonstrate
understanding of, and facilitate at the tactical and operational level,
continuous improvement and change management activities in the
context of the organisation, its culture and individual and team
activities.2
But these examples are exceptions. Most verbosity appears in short phrases such as the following, some of which are also listed above as clichés
and pleonasms –
afford an opportunity – allow, let
along the lines of – such as
as a consequence of – because
at an early date – soon (unless speaking of the past)
at this particular moment in time – now
by means of – by
due to the fact that – because
the fact of the matter is – in fact
for the duration of – for, while
for the purpose of – for, to
for the reason that – because
give consideration to – consider
in any shape or form – at all
in close proximity – near
in connection with – about
in excess of – more than
in receipt of – have, has
in relation to, with respect to – about
in spite of the fact that – even though
in terms of – in, as, by
in the absence of – without
in the course of – while, during
in the majority of cases – in most cases
in the near future – soon
in the region of – about, approximately
in this day and age – today
in view of the fact that – because
is of the opinion that – thinks that
it is my considered opinion that – I think that
knock-on effect – effect
look closely as – examine, explore, investigate
on a weekly basis – weekly, every week
prior to – before
the question as to whether – whether
there will shortly come a time when – soon
until such time as – until
with a view to – so that
____________
1 Examples and their simplifications quoted from Plain English Campaign. Accessed 23.12.11.
2 Personal Portfolio Manager, The Institute of Management, 1998, p. 8.