She went as white as a sheet.
I can see it in my mind’s eye. (Shakespeare)
All that glitters (glisters) is not gold. (Shakespeare)
There’s nothing new under the sun. (The Bible)
Don’t hide your light under a bushel. (The Bible)It is very easy to use clichés because they are so well known
and often seem exactly right. But it is better to create your
own original expression.
Avoid clichés. Create your own expressions.Dispensing with colloquial language
Colloquial languageis language that is used in speech or
when writing informally. It should be avoided in formal
writing. It is not always easy to distinguish between colloqui-
alisms and slang. One dictionary may classify a word as
colloquial while another may regard it as slang. Slang is the
most extreme type of informal language.
When writing formally, avoid colloquialisms and slang
although they are permissible in your dialogue. Occasionally
you may wish to use a colloquial word in your formal work
to create a particular effect. In this case enclose it in inverted
commas.
Choosing your words
As well as making sure your grammar and punctuation are
accurate, you should think carefully about your choice of
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