The main difference between platitude and cliche lies in their insightfulness. Clichés are phrases that were once insightful and original but have become overused. Platitudes, on the other hand, are phrases that oversimplify complex subjects and are not very insightful or original.
Platitudes and clichés are expressions we sometimes use in everyday language. However, there is often a warning against using them in formal speech and writing. It is because they can add a sense of unoriginality and dullness to your speech or writing. Platitudes and clichés are often considered as synonyms since both of them are overused expressions. However, there is a slight difference between platitude and cliche.
Key Areas Covered
1. What is a Platitude
– Definition, Features, Examples
2. What is a Cliche
– Definition, Features, Examples
3. What are the Similarities Between Platitude and Cliche
– Outline of Common Features
4. What is the Difference Between Platitude and Cliche
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
Cliche, Phrase, Platitude
What is a Platitude?
A platitude is a statement that is considered boring and meaningless because it has been repeated many times before in similar situations. Platitudes are simple statements, and they often tend to oversimplify complex subjects and situations. However, platitudes can sometimes help us to deal with difficult situations. For example, hearing a platitude like “life goes on” or “this too shall pass”, may be encouraging when you are dealing with pain.
Some Examples of Platitudes
- Nobody’s perfect.
- Better late than never.
- Time will tell.
- Forgive and forget.
- Tomorrow is another day.
- What’s done is done.
- What does not kill me makes me stronger.
- We all die someday
Most writers avoid platitudes in their work as they can make writing feel unoriginal and boring. Also, generally, writers consider them to have little emotional weight and meaning. Moreover, it is possible to replace platitudes with more meaningful and creative phrases.
What is a Cliché?
A cliché is basically a phrase or expression that is overused. Due to this overuse, they are considered to be unoriginal. In other words, all clichés were once fresh and innovative ideas and thoughts, but due to their extensive use they have lost their freshness and originality. Thus, clichés have become boring and repetitive because of their overuse.
Let’s now look at some examples of clichés.
- Beauty is only skin deep
- Every cloud has a silver lining
- All that glitters is not gold
- All for one, and one for all
- Laughter is the best medicine
Similarities Between Platitude and Cliché
- Both clichés and platitudes are overused phrases.
- We often use the terms cliché and platitude interchangeably due to their similarities.
- Importantly, we should avoid these two types of expressions in formal writing and speech.
Difference Between Platitude and Cliche
Definition
A platitude is a statement that is considered boring and meaningless because it has been repeated many times before in similar situations. A cliché, on the other hand, is an overused-expression.
Meaning over Time
Platitudes tend to oversimplify complex subjects, so they are not very insightful or original, even at their creation. In contrast, clichés are phrases that were once insightful and original.
Conclusion
Both clichés and platitudes are overused phrases. Clichés are phrases that were once insightful and original but have become overused. Platitudes, on the other hand, are phrases that oversimplify complex subjects and are not very insightful or original. Therefore, this is the main difference between platitude and cliche.
Reference:
1. “Platitude: Definition and Examples.” Literary Terms, 16 Sept. 2017, Available here.
2. “Platitude.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 11 Feb. 2019, Available here.
3.“Cliché.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 20 Oct. 2019, Available here.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Cliche” By Tom Newby (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr
2. “Better late than never” By Sean MacEntee (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr
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