10 Most Overused Expressions

In Damp Squid: The English Language Laid Bare, author Jeremy Butterfield says that many annoyingly over-used expressions begin as office lingo, like 24/7 and synergy. Researchers monitor the use of phrases in a database, compiled from books, papers, magazines, broadcast, the internet and other sources.

It seems that most people just get tired of a phrase when it becomes too popular and is overused. Review your resume and cover letters to make sure you aren’t overusing or misusing the following:

  1. “At the end of the day”
  2. “Fairly unique”
  3. “I personally think”
  4. “At this moment in time”
  5. “With all due respect”
  6. “Absolutely”
  7. “It’s a nightmare”
  8. “Shouldn’t of”
  9. “24/7”
  10. “It’s not rocket science”

I know I’m guilty of a few of these…I’ll be working on that. Absolutely.