UNM Valencia


English 100
Maggie Griffin

One really broad category of writing errors is know as "usage." Included in this category are things like cliches, wordiness, confused words, and informal language. Linking to the following sites might help you work out any of the usage problems you see in your own writing.

Cliches Cliches are words or phrases that are so over used that they have become predictable. We want to avoid these in writing because they cause the reader to "tune out" what we are saying. Cliches come in many shapes and sizes, and the following sites will entertain you and make you think about cliches in a whole new light.    (Did you catch any cliches in the passage you just read?)

Cliches from Movies
The Book of Cliches
More Cliches
Cliches from a Random Generator
List of Cliches
Sports Cliches

Political Cliches
Wordiness
Wordiness
Wordy Phrases List (check out the cool image!)

Jargon and Inflated Language
Buzz Generator