Clichés

One of Orwell's rules is avoid using clichés in your writing. Here are the top clichés, in rank order, from the Oxford English Corpus :


 * 1) at the end of the day
 * 2) back on track
 * 3) the fact of the matter
 * 4) few and far between
 * 5) a level playing field
 * 6) in this day and age
 * 7) to all intents and purposes
 * 8) when all's said and done
 * 9) in the final analysis
 * 10) come full circle
 * 11) par for the course
 * 12) avoid someone or something like the plague
 * 13) think outside the box
 * 14) in the current climate
 * 15) mass exodus
 * 16) at this moment in time
 * 17) the path of least resistance
 * 18) a baptism of fire
 * 19) in any way, shape, or form
 * 20) not fit for purpose