Cliché Finder
Highlight clichés and jargon in your writing, with plainer alternatives.
About this tool
Paste your text and every cliché is highlighted. Hover a highlight, or check the table below it, for a plainer alternative or a nudge to cut the phrase. The count shows clichés per 100 words. The list covers about 110 phrases: everyday clichés, office jargon and phrases common in AI-generated text. Nothing is stored.
Why clichés weaken writing
A cliché is a phrase used so often that it has stopped meaning much. Readers skim past "at the end of the day", "think outside the box" or "the tip of the iceberg" without picturing anything, and a page full of them sounds generic. Corporate jargon such as leverage, synergy, circle back, move the needle and low-hanging fruit has the same effect in business writing, and it can make simple ideas sound evasive. More recently, phrases like "delve into", "a testament to", "navigate the complexities" and "in today's ever-evolving landscape" have become so common in AI-written text that readers treat them as a warning sign. The fix is rarely another stock phrase. Instead, say the specific thing: replace "a game changer" with what changes and by how much, or "world-class" with the evidence. Often the best edit is simply to delete the phrase. In the example, a 40-word paragraph contains 10 clichés. Honest limits: no list catches every cliché, a well-chosen idiom can be lively in speech, fiction or headlines, and some flagged words (robust, seamless, bandwidth) are normal in technical writing. The filler word remover, the readability checker and the word counter are related.
Frequently asked questions
What is a cliché in writing?
An overused phrase that has lost its impact, such as 'at the end of the day' or 'think outside the box'.
How do I avoid clichés?
Say the specific thing instead: give the fact, number or example the cliché was standing in for, or cut it.
Does it detect AI-sounding phrases?
It flags several common ones, such as 'delve into' and 'a testament to', but it isn't an AI detector.
Is my text stored?
No. It's checked in your browser and never saved or sent.