Replacing Cliches With More Formal Phrases

Front 1

A hot topic

Back 1

A controversial issue [negative meaning]
A much debated / discussed matter [neutral meaning]

Front 2

Every coin has two sides

Back 2

There are both advantages and disadvantages .

Front 3

X is a double-edged sword

Back 3

X presents both advantages and disadvantages. /
X may cause both positive and negative outcomes.

Front 4

Crystal clear

Back 4

Quite clear/ Very clear

Front 5

A golden opportunity

Back 5

A particularly good opportunity /
A unique opportunity

Front 6

First and foremost

Back 6

The first and most important point / reason is that

Front 7

Always

Back 7

Frequently/ Often/ Usually/ Generally/ In most cases

Front 8

Everybody knows

Back 8

Most people /
Many people /
A (large) majority of people think

Front 9

Everywhere

Back 9

In many places /
Commonly

Front 10

Never

Back 10

Rarely/ seldom/ Not often / Infrequently

Front 11

Obviously

Back 11

Apparently /
Seemingly/
It seems that /
It is likely that...

Front 12

As we all know

Back 12

According to Jones [1]... /
Some experts (Jones, 2009) believe that...

Front 13

Financial tsunami

Back 13

A very serious financial crisis

Front 14

It is a must

Back 14

It is essential / necessary / vital /crucial

Front 15

And (at the start of a sentence)

Back 15

Also / Additionally / In addition / Moreover

Front 16

But , (at the start of a sentence)

Back 16

However

Front 17

Or (at the start of a sentence)

Back 17

Alternatively / Otherwise

Front 18

So (at the start of a sentence)

Back 18

Therefore / Thus

Front 19

On the other hand

Back 19

(Don’t use this phrase! You don’t have just 1 hand!)

Front 20

Because , (at the start of a sentence)

Back 20

This is because…

Front 21

Besides

Back 21

The most important point is that /
The over-riding point is that

Front 22

Last but not least

Back 22

The final but very important point is that

Front 23

HKPU

Back 23

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Front 24

A bit (disappointing)

Back 24

Somewhat / rather /slightly ( disappointing)

Front 25

All in all

Back 25

After considering all points / Having considered all points

Front 26

In a nutshell

Back 26

In brief / To conclude / In conclusion …

Front 27

pros and cons

Back 27

advantages and disadvantages/
costs and benefits

Front 28

nowadays

Back 28

in recent times/
use the present continuous tense or the present perfect tense

Front 29

heated debate

Back 29

controversial discussion

Front 30

general public

Back 30

the public

Front 31

food for thought

Back 31

an idea

Front 32

foreseeable future

Back 32

the near future

Front 33

each and every

Back 33

all