Avoid+These+in+Your+Writing

The phrases in bold are the ones to be removed and the regular font is an explanation of why it shouldn't be used.

PHRASES TO REMOVE FROM YOUR WRITING There are precious few things that have been consistently true since the beginning of time. Unless you’re following that phrase with “…man has needed air to breathe,” you should just not use it.  **“A perfect example is…”** There is no perfect example of anything.  **“Throughout society/In today’s society…”** Which society? We live in a rather large country on a rather large planet; society is not the same anywhere at any given time.  **“back in the day(s)”** What days? Medieval times? Last Tuesday?  **“these days/nowadays/in modern times”** What counts as “these days/nowadays/modern times?” This week? This year? This decade? Given the length of human history, everything since 1900 could be considered “modern times.” <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 9pt;"> **“In my opinion…”** <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 9pt;">I know it’s your opinion; you’re writing the paper. <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 9pt;"> **“In conclusion/to conclude…”** <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 9pt;">Again, I know it’s the conclusion; it’s the end. <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 9pt;"> **“This article/book says…”** <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 9pt;">Articles and books don’t say anything; their authors do. Furthermore, authors don’t “say” <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 9pt;">in a written text; they write. <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 9pt;"> **“This paper will prove…”** <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 9pt;">“This paper” is what your essay is printed on. You are proving things (hopefully) <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 9pt;"> **“A & B share many differences and similarities”** <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 9pt;">You can say that about virtually anything. I share many differences and similarities with <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 9pt;">Genghis Khan, so why should we be discussed together? <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 9pt;"> **“Everyone knows/everyone can agree…”** <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 9pt;">I doubt that. Seriously, try to think of one thing that “everyone” knows or agrees upon. <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 9pt;"> **“The dictionary defines…”** <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 9pt;">Just please don’t. Even if you’re concerned that I may not be familiar with a word, I have <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 9pt;">access to a dictionary.
 * <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 9pt;">“Since the beginning of time…” **

<span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 9pt;">This is the same problem as previously stated. Which society/culture? It’s entirely too <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 9pt;">general to say that society or culture teach us anything.
 * <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 9pt;">“Society/culture teaches us…” **

<span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 9pt;">Which people? College students? Armenians? <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 9pt;"> **“In life, people have many choices”** <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 9pt;">Well, obviously. <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 9pt;">You are not writing a movie trailer. <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 9pt;"> **“It has been said that…”** <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 9pt;">By whom, exactly? <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 9pt;"> **“This issue has many pros and cons”** <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 9pt;">All issues have many pros and cons.
 * <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 9pt;">“They say/People say/people believe” **
 * <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 9pt;"> “In a world…” **

<span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 9pt;"> **“This issue will continue to be debated for generations to come/a long time”** <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 9pt;">Well, that’s just too easy. If we can’t contribute anything worthwhile to the conversation, <span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 9pt;">then why are we writing about it?

<span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: 9pt;"> The phrases in bold are the ones to be removed and the regular font is an explanation of why it shouldn't be used.