173 Crutch & Cliche

CRUTCH WORDS and CLICHES
Personal Listicles 

Actually, dear readers, I honestly just don’t know why we all seem to add words that are not necessary when writing or speaking. Are we using these words to have a bit of extra time to gather our thoughts or are they just bad habits we’ve picked up along the way? 

According to dictionary.com, crutch words often start out as words used for delaying tactics and then become “unconscious verbal tics” which add nothing to a statement. Look at my first sentence: crutch words are “actually,” “honestly,” and “just.” Easy to use - perhaps, too easy to use. 

After my usual non-scientific Google investigation, I looked at 20 sites that listed overused words, crutch words, and “why in the world did we ever use these” clichés. If you want to see these websites, Google “overused words. (Actually –you may roll eyes here – I almost typed “JUST” Google … and then, OOPS, I am putting in a filler word.) 

Look at this picture. Why not ask “How was your day?” Beginning the sentence with “so” diminishes the interest in how your friend’s day was. Both NPR and The New York Times have had podcasts addressing the now-acceptable use of “so” to begin a sentence. However, both see the little word as a replacement for “um” or “er.”

Here is an example from a wordly.com article. (Someone may have worked hard to have created this to make a point about concise and proper English. However, it could be “a for real” text message.)

Years ago when I was still teaching, I had this poster rolled up as I did not think it would be proper in the public school setting. I still find it pithy and worth remembering:

     “Substitute ‘damn’ every time you’re inclined to write ‘very’;

      your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.” 

Mark Twain 

And on to the promised listicles.

My CRUTCH LISTICLE includes the following words:

• Actually

• Seriously

• Well

• Literally
  

• So

• Honestly

• Obviously

• Basically

• Well

• Totally

• Like

• Just (and Just Saying)

• Plus the one that drives Dear Husband crazy 

Clichés, according to Merriam-Webster, are hackneyed, overused phrases or ideas that have lost their impact. Some are funny. You are correct--Here is “when the cows come home.”

And here’s another: With all due respect to whom? The audience? Is it necessary to say he respects you?

THE CLICHÉ LISTICLE

• At the end of the day (does this mean when everything has been considered or I am finished speaking now?)

• Let’s face it; Let’s face facts; Let’s be honest (these are interchangeable and all mean it is time for reality. Usually, the reality is not going to be positive.)

• 110% (Hyperbole and exaggeration are found in many clichés)

• I’m not trying to be funny, but…. (yes, I am trying to be funny or sarcastic or….)

• Take the bull by the horns (let’s face the problem now) 

• Fit as a fiddle (I looked up the background of this one – it’s hard work to keep a violin in good shape and tuned says oxford-royale.com)

• Every cloud has a silver lining 

I had fun with this blog. We have gotten relaxed about what is proper--in speech, in dress, in manners. In some ways, moving away from rigid standards is liberating. In other ways, standards help define our culture and what we respect. Ah, ‘tis a conundrum for another day.

Here’s hoping for no more heavy rain for a while. If it is rainy, I hope it is “water under the bridge!”

Savvy Glenne