There is a set of phrases that authors recycle from text to text, as long as I can remember. They carry no meaning, add no arguments—they just take up space and create the impression that the writer is padding the volume and has nothing to say.

Examples from beginner writers:

– “Keeps you on the edge of your seat until the last second” — okay, how exactly? Through what?

– “Makes you think about important things” — what specifically?

– “The actors fully inhabited their roles” — what does that mean?

– “The film will leave no one indifferent” — this applies to any film, including bad ones.

– “The atmosphere is literally tangible” — nice, but what’s the point?

– “A worthy sequel” / “no worse than the original” — comparison without criteria.

For example, instead of “the atmosphere is literally tangible” in Jarmusch’s Only Lovers Left Alive, you could write:

“Jarmusch shoots Tangier as if light is an uninvited guest: the streets are barely discernible in the darkness, and it’s not disturbing but soothing. A good environment for those who haven’t slept since the 13th century.”

How to get rid of stupid templates?

Take the questionable phrase out of your text and insert it into any other review. Does it fit? Then it’s a cliché—cut it.

Clichés most often appear where the author themselves haven’t fully understood what they wanted to say. If you’re stuck, don’t write beautifully—first formulate the thought in your own words, then polish it.

Keep your personal “stop list” handy. After each text, add phrases you wanted to write but held back. Over time, “killing” them will become a reflex.

#EditorTips@the_rrated