Writing using plain English

Suggestions on writing: use plain English, avoid clichè.

Plain English supporters around the world have voted “At the end of the day” as the most irritating phrase in the language.

Second place in the vote was shared by “At this moment in time” and the constant use of “like” as if it were a form of punctuation. “With all due respect” came fourth.

people should follow the 1946 advice of writer George Orwell: “Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.”

The following terms also received multiple nominations:

• 24/7
• absolutely
• address the issue
• around (in place of “about”)
• awesome
• ballpark figure
• basically
• basis (”on a weekly basis” in place of “weekly” and so on)
• bear with me
• between a rock and a hard place
• blue sky (thinking)
• boggles the mind
• bottom line
• crack troops
• diamond geezer
• epicentre (used incorrectly)
• glass half full (or half empty)
• going forward
• I hear what you’re saying..
• in terms of…
• it’s not rocket science
• literally
• move the goal-posts
• ongoing
• prioritise
• pushing the envelope
• singing from the same hymn sheet
• the fact of the matter is
• thinking outside the box
• to be honest/to be honest with you/to be perfectly honest
• touch base
• up to (in place of “about”)
• value-added (in general use)

Clichè-related websites (Yahoo! Directory)

From Plain English Campaign: Press releases (2004)

(via: Yahoo News)