Bad English, as George Orwell argued so eloquently over 60 years ago, is a sign of laziness, sloppy thought or insincerity. Yet why is it then that so many of us remain in thrall to clichés, stale idioms and empty phrases when it comes to expressing ourselves? Jargon and clichés are undoubtedly alluring: they are quick, easy and (we like to think) they make us look like we know what we're talking about. They help us fit in with others who use the same language. The trouble is that all too often they become a short-cut for saying nothing very much – concealing meaning rather than communicating it.