Cliché vs. Clichéd

How to use "cliché" and "clichéd" correctly

This is an entry on my list of Common Errors in English Usage. Visit the main page for direct links to additional entries.

Cliché is a noun; if you want to use the word as an adjective, use clichéd (even though cliché isn’t a verb, clichéd is an accepted adjective form).

love song with cliché lyrics

love song with clichéd lyrics
lyrics filled with clichés

You might also consider using a good synonym such as trite, banal, or hackneyed.

Related Resources

Common Errors in English Usage: Errors in diction and idiom commonly made by native speakers of English

List of Common Errors in English Usage (PDF): Printable version of the complete list

Common Grammar Errors: A list of common errors in grammar (topics like subject-verb agreement and parallelism) as distinct from usage

List of Common Errors in English Usage: PDF version