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Scott Lax Blog

"Truth to Tell"...Worst Cliche Ever?

I'm not sure if this one is in Strunk & White's THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE as an overused phrase, but here's a phrase that I read again today in Cleveland's daily newspaper: "Truth to tell...."

It's a phrase that screams out many things, such as: "I love cliches," or "I'm afraid if I just write a declarative sentence you won't believe me unless I tell you I'm telling the truth," or "I am a lazy writer."

Don't ever use, "Truth to tell." It's amateurish, even if some columnists and other writers use it. If you're writing nonfiction, just tell the truth. No need to convince the reader beyond your own credibility. Read More