According to Tech PR Gems, the phrases "sets the standard" and "solutions" are widely overused, with research to back up their observation. I would be inclined to agree, and I’m sure I could think of a few of my own ("bleeding-edge" comes to mind).
I guess it’s easy to get comfortable with certain elements of language and therefore overuse certain terms. I know I’m guilty of it. (My oft-used cliched term is "state-of-the-art.") The challenge is to use easy-to-comprehend language without using cliches. Which cliched terms have you noticed in press releases, or have been guilty of using yourself?
The phrase I absolutely despise is “outside the box”. This phrase has become more “inside the box” than anything I can think of.
Anymore, when a manager wants an “outside the box” solution, it means “come up with something that doesn’t require any more people, money, support, or effort on my part…and do it in a way that I can take the credit for–if it’s successful–or completely blame you for–if it’s not successful.”
Outside the box…Another leadership failure…
kosovodad @ http://www.xanga.com/kosovodad