Death by Verbal Clichés

January 5, 2005 -  The difference between a "B" script and an "A" script very often comes down to how many trite platitudes or euphemisms the writer allows into his work. Most of these are so hackneyed that they elicit laughter from readers. Save your work the disdain and take the pledge never to use any of these.

1. "Look, [anything]"
   
2. "You mean…" (the fearfully asked, half-spoken question that sets us up for a character to rephrase what is always a bad situation so that we understand just how really bad things are.)
   
3. "You look as if you've seen a ghost."
   
4. "This is not about [whatever]. It's about [whatever]."
   
5. "That's our song they're playing."
   
6. "I'm only gonna say this one time…" (said for the gazillionth time in history)
   
7. "Why you're…you're trembling." (spoken by a swane just about to kiss a girl)
   
8. "That can mean only one thing…." (which the viewers have already figured out)
   
9. "She's been living a lie." (which is obvious to everybody)
   
10. "Don't blame yourself." (to someone who is doing just that)
    
11. "Oh, you shouldn't have!" (said by a girl who has just gotten a gift)
    
12. "Everybody has their price." (said by someone trying to buy somebody else off)
    
13. "You have to move on with your life."
    
14. "Don't ever let me go!" (spoken by one who is just about to be let go of for some reason)
    
15. "I want you out of my life."
    
16. "Once I'm back on my feet…"
    
17. "Who do you think you are?" (said usually by a threatened insecure person to the hero)
    
18. "Who do you think you're talking to?" (said by an insecure threatened person)
    
19. "I just want to be loved." (from one who probably has no clue about what that may mean)
    
20. "I'll show you." (said by an angry down on his luck person to someone better off)
    
21. "I care about you."
    
22. "Can you ever forgive me?"
    
23. "What is it? You can tell me."
    
24. "How could you do this to me?"
    
25. "Don't let your dreams die."
    
26. "I can't go on without…[whatever]"
    
27. "I can't believe this is happening."
    
28. "I don't wanna know."
    
29. "If I said it once, I've said it a hundred times…" (yeah, we've heard it too)
    
30. "I thought you were my friend."
    
31. "Nothing can change the way I feel about you." (except maybe your use of trite phrases)
    
32. "Why do I feel like I've known you my whole life?" (because I talk with platitudes)
    
33. "No matter what tomorrow may bring…"
    
34. "Forget me. I'm no good for you."
    
35. "How many times do I have to say it?" (never again would be fine.)
    
36. "I believe in you."