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W
- wait and see attitude: cliché (avoid)
- waitperson: ugly (forget it) use: server
- walking a tightrope: cliché (avoid)
- wake-up call: cliché (avoid)
- warning: not advance warning (redundancy) [We had plenty of warning. Not: We had plenty of advance warning.]
- was of the opinion, change to: believed or thought or said (wordiness) [She believed it was true. Not: She was of the opinion that is was true.]
- was witness to, change to saw or witnessed (wordiness) [I witnessed the crash. Not: I was witness to the crash.]
- was: not had occasion to (wordiness) [He was there. Not: He had occasion to be there.]
- water heater: not hot-water heater (redundancy) [The water heater works well. Not: The hot-water heater works well.]
- watery grave: cliché (avoid)
- wax poetic: cliché (avoid)
- wear and tear: cliché (avoid)
- weather conditions: delete conditions (wordiness) [The weather was pleasant. Not: The weather conditions were pleasant.]
- wee small hours: cliché (avoid)
- weighty matter: cliché (avoid)
- well: not in best of health (wordiness) [I am well. Not: I am in the best of health.]
- well-chosen words: cliché (avoid)
- wend one’s way: cliché (avoid)
- went full circle: cliché (avoid)
- what goes around comes around: cliché (avoid)
- when and if: delete and if (wordiness) [When I am ready, we will leave. Not: When and if I am ready, we will leave.]
- when the chips are down: cliché (avoid)
- whether: not as to whether (wordiness) [Whether we are going depends on the budget. Not: As to whether we are going depends on the budget.]
- where are you: not where are you at? or where you are not where you are at (wordiness)
- while: not during the time that (wordiness) [While you were out, the vote was taken. Not: During the time that you were out, the vote was taken.]
- whirlwind tour: cliché (avoid)
- wide open spaces: cliché (avoid)
- widow of the late. . . .: delete the late (redundancy) [She is the widow of the president. Not: She is the widow of the late president.]
- willing and able: cliché (avoid)
- wine, women, and song: cliché (avoid)
- winning combination: cliché (avoid)
- winning ways: cliché (avoid)
- with reference to, change to: about (wordiness) [I am happy about the outcome. Not: I am happy with reference to the outcome.]
- witnessed: not was witness to (wordiness) [I witnessed the event. Not: I was witness to the event.]
- word to the wise: cliché (avoid)
- words fail: cliché (avoid)
- words of wisdom: cliché (avoid)
- work into a lather: cliché (avoid)
- work like a dog: cliché (avoid)
- work one’s wiles: cliché (avoid)
- world-class: cliché (avoid)
- worried to death: cliché (avoid)
- worse for wear: cliché (avoid)
- wreak havoc: cliché (avoid)
- writing on the wall: cliché (avoid)
- wrong side of the law: cliché (avoid)
- wrote: not penned (pompous overwriting) [She wrote her autobiography. Not: She penned her autobiography.]
- wrought havoc: cliché (avoid)
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