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AMA Manual of Style Committee

Contents

Clichés

Chapter:
Grammar
Author(s):

Stacy Christiansen

7.5.4 Clichés

Clichés are worn-out expressions (sleep like a log, dead as a doornail, first and foremost, crystal clear). At one time they were clever metaphors, but overuse has left them lifeless, unable to conjure in the reader’s mind the original image. Avoid clichés like the plague.