20 cliches to avoid: The Bleacher Report blacklist

Thanks to the efforts of the intrepid Bleacher Report cliché-killing team—that’s you people—we have put together a blacklist of words and phrases that must be avoided.

Will B/R writers drink the Kool-Aid and step up, taking their writing to the next level by staying away from these 20 clichés when push comes to shove? That’s easier said than done, so time will tell. At the end of the day, we’ll take it one game at a time, live and learn. First and foremost, it’s important that we’re all on the same page. If we fail, we’ll go back to the drawing board.

So without further ado, are you ready for some clichés? Here’s the blacklist:

• Easier said than done
• Time will tell
• When push comes to shove
• Drink the Kool-Aid
• Jump on the bandwagon
• Back to the drawing board
• Mail it in
• One game at a time
• Do or die
• Back against the wall
• Live and learn
• On the same page
• First and foremost
• Are you ready for some X
• It is what it is
• At the end of the day
• To the next level
• Tis the season
• Step up
• Without further ado

So how are we going to use this blacklist?

As part of our ongoing efforts to improve the quality of writing on the site, we’re stepping up our feedback efforts for Bleacher Report writers. Avoiding clichés is just one small part of what we’ll look for, but it’s an important part. Cliché-filled writing is a sign that the writer is—if I may—mailing it in, though clichés can have their place if used consciously for effect. See what I did there?

We came up with this list by asking readers of this blog and our copy editing staff for help in identifying the worst offenders. There was then spirited debate among the Quality Control team as we pared the list down to these 20. And, full disclosure, there was not a single email or instant message in that debate that did not include at least one cliché used for humorous effect.

We’ll be looking for the 20 clichés on this blacklist as we evaluate the writing on Bleacher Report, but it’s best to think of the list as a guide. It’s really just a beginning. You should always be on the lookout for any clichés, hackneyed phrases and other instances of lazy, “auto-pilot” writing in your own work.

Look for more information about our beefed up feedback and evaluation system in the next few weeks.