avoid cliches like the plague

Once it was pointed out to me that “at the end of the day” was a phrase that should be avoided in scholarly and journalistic work, I had a really, really big problem with people using it when they meants “summing up” or “basically”. I think you’re crap if you say that, really unoriginal and jumping on the bandwagon. So for a few years now I have been obsessing over it and I ALWAYS hear it when someone says it, and I HATE IT!
And I NEVER use it myself.

Eschew obfuscation.

I tell ya, this one’s gonna be tough as nails, but I think I can do it if I put my nose to the grindstone.