In everyday language, cliches
are simply common expressions
that make it easy to get one's
point across. For example, "He
really put his foot in his
mouth" is a convenient way to
make the point that "He said
something that he should now
regret saying."
What is acceptable in spoken
language, however, often sounds
quite bad in writing. Good
writing must be original: Always
aim to state your ideas in
engaging language and from a
fresh perspective.
In addition to the general
cliches of the English language,
you have to watch out for those
that are more specific to the
application essay. The challenge
here is that these themes have
become cliches precisely because
they are valuable and
significant, so you do not want
to ignore them entirely. You
simply have to find fresh ways
to convey hackneyed ideas. The
best advice is to be as specific
and personal as possible,
thereby emphasizing your
uniqueness. The following is a
list of some of the most
egregious cliches, within the
context of a bland statement:
-
As I finished the race, I
realized I had learned
the value of hard work
and appreciated the fact
that I could accomplish
anything if I set my mind
to it.
-
Working in this atmosphere
made me appreciate the
value of diversity.
-
With each member
contributing something
valuable to our purpose, I
soon recognized the
importance of teamwork.
-
As the young child embraced
me in gratitude, I
discovered the true value
of making a difference in
people's lives.
-
That summer in
New York
truly broadened my
horizons.
There is no way to reword the
above sentences to make them
significantly stronger. The
problem lies in the very
approach their writers have
taken. A reliance on cliches is
usually indicative of
superficial ideas and telling
instead of showing. The
only way to improve upon the
above sentiments would be to
enrich them with concrete
details and add depth using a
more personal perspective.
