Years ago, I made a pact with myself never to use the word ‘delighted’ when drafting new appointment press releases for clients. It’s not that businesses are not always delighted to be getting a new ‘head of something’, but the word felt overused and inauthentic. Likewise, you could add ‘thrilled’ and ‘excited’ to that list.

Since then, I’ve kept my eye on all the other overused words and phrases that pop up regularly in press releases, LinkedIn posts and the like, that should probably also be banished to the back of a dusty cupboard in Hackneyed Hall.

Here are some that I’ve banned myself from using:

• ‘That’s a wrap’ – please, no more LinkedIn posts that announce the end of a successful show or event by announcing ‘that’s a wrap’. Unless you’re Ridley Scott or JJ Abrams, best left alone.
• ‘Chilling effect’ – again, why does every attack on press freedoms resort to ‘chilling effect’? Fine if you’re writing copy for a refrigeration firm or Iceland, but otherwise, give it the cold shoulder.
• ‘Synergy’ – I get it, you two businesses working together are bringing more to the party, but this falls firmly in the realm of corporate waffle (might as well throw in ‘leverage’ too).
• ‘Turnkey’ – sounds dangerously like a turkey, which in slang terms, is an altogether different outcome for a project.
• ‘Solution’ – makes me think of a lab experiment (and something soluble). Often used when it’s difficult to describe what a product or service actually does.

Your additional word/phrase nominations for banishment are very welcome.