• a.m. in the morning: delete in the morning (redundancy) [I went to school at 8 a.m. Not: I went to school at 8 a.m. in the morning.]
• abject apology: cliché (avoid)
• about: not in relation to (wordiness) [I know a little bit about this matter. Not: I know a little bit in relation to this matter.]
• about: not in connection with (wordiness) [I want to know what you have learned about the situation. Not: I want to know what you have leaned in connection with the situation.]
• about: not in regard to (wordiness) [I know something about this story. Not: I know something in regard {or regards} to this story.]
• about: not with reference to (wordiness) [We can do much about this this claim. Not: We can do much with reference to this claim.]
• abreast of the times: cliché (avoid)
• absolute rubbish: cliché (avoid)
• accidents will happen: cliché (avoid)
• achievement: not successful achievement (redundancy) [Making the goal was an achievement. Not: Making the goal was a successful achievement.]
• acid test: cliché (avoid)
• act: not take action on (wordiness) [Act now to get results. Not: Take action now to get results.]
• active consideration: cliché (avoid)
• adage: not old adage (redundancy) [It is an adage that applies to my life. Not: It is an old addage that applies to my life.]
• add insult to injury: cliché (avoid)
• adds a note of: cliché (avoid)
• adequate: not adequate enough (redundancy) [The answer was adequate. Not: The answer was adequate enough.]
• advance planning: delete advance (redundancy) [The mission required planning. Not: The mission required advance planning.]
• advance warning: delete advance (redundancy) [The foghorn provided adequate warning. Not: The foghorn provided adequate advance warning.]
• after all has been said and done: cliché (avoid)
• age before beauty: cliché (avoid)
• agree to disagree: cliché (avoid)
• ahead of schedule, change to: early (wordiness) [I finished the project early. Not: I finished the project ahead of schedule.]
• aired their grievances: cliché (avoid)
• all in a day’s work: cliché (avoid)
• all over but the shouting: cliché (avoid)
• all things considered: cliché (avoid)
• all things to all men: cliché (avoid)
• all too soon: cliché (avoid)
• all walks of life: cliché (avoid)
• all work and no play: cliché (avoid)
• along the line of: leave out; rewrite (superfluous) [Let’s do something about this. Not: Let’s do something along the line of this.]
• along these lines: cliché (avoid)
• am/is in possession of, change to: have/has (wordiness) I have some money. Not: I am in possession of some money.]
• among those present: cliché (avoid)
• ample opportunity: cliché (avoid)
• and moreover: delete and (redundancy) [I want to work for you; moreover I will charge a very reasonable rate. Not: I want to work for you, and moreover I will charge a very reasonable rate.]
• so as a result: delete so (redundancy) [I finished on time and, as a result, we could meet the deadline. Not: I finished on time, and so as a result, we could meet the deadline.]
• so as a result: delete as a result (redundancy) [I finished on time so we could meet the deadline. Not: I finished on time so we could meet the deadline
• Angkor Wat temple: delete temple (redundancy) [She visited Angkor Wat. Not: She visited Angkor Wat temple.]
• angry clash: delete angry (redundancy) [They had a clash. Not: They had an angry clash.]
• annihilation: not total annihilation (redundancy) [The result was annihilation. Not: The result was total annihilation. {Annihilation is total
• anthracite: not anthracite coal (redundancy)
• any and all: delete and all (redundancy)
• appear to be: delete to be (redundancy)
• appear: not put in an appearance (wordiness)
• apple of the eye: cliché (avoid)
• appointed to the post of: delete to the post of (redundancy)
• appreciated in value: delete in value ((redundancy)
• approached: not made an approach to (wordiness)
• armed to the teeth: cliché (avoid)
• arrested: not placed under arrest (wordiness)
• as a matter of fact: cliché (avoid)
• as far as I am concerned, change to: as for me (wordiness)
• as long as, change to: if (wordiness)
• as luck would have it: cliché (avoid)
• as the crow flies: cliché (avoid)
• as to whether: delete as to (redundancy)
• as yet: delete as (redundancy)
• ascend: not ascend up (redundancy)
• assemble: not assemble together (redundancy)
• at a loss for words: cliché (avoid)
• at a tender age: cliché (avoid)
• at an early date, change to: soon (wordiness)
• at first blush: cliché (avoid)
• at long last: cliché (avoid)
• at some time to come: delete to come (redundancy)
• at the present time, change to: now (wordiness)
• at this juncture, change to: now (wordiness)
• atop of: delete of (redundancy)
• attach: not attach together (redundancy)
• auspicious event/moment: cliché (avoid)
• awaiting further orders: cliché (avoid)
• awkward predicament: delete awkward (redundancy)