Opinions on the use of trite phrases

(A discussion thread excerpted from here.)

I'm currently enrolled in an introductory Business Communication/Writing class (pretty cool I might say) and the instructor cautioned us to avoid 'trite expressions' in our writing/speaking/etc. Phrases like "thank you for your time" and so on; generic throwaways. I'm curious to see what other people think of these kinds of expressions, and if anyone would like to share particular phrases that they find to be trite and/or meaningless.

• It seems to me that it just depends on your intent. Are you trying to be professional, get your point across, etc.? Then yeah, canned expressions have a lower information density than intelligent prose, and they can be annoying. I'm a bit more cordial, for example, with my contacts in China where I am trying to establish a relationship.
  
  

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• If the lack of the trite business expressions would come off as rude, then we recommend using them.
  
  

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• There's nothing wrong with being polite. Thanking someone for their time or for helping you with some task is just good manners, IMO.
  
  

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• You're right. Thanking someone is not trite, however, the expression "Thank you for your time" seems to be a bit overused. Why not thank the person for a specific action? Thank them for listening to your ideas, for showing you around, for coming in for a meeting, etc. It also makes it sound a bit more personal.
  
  

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• In writing, I can understand the need to be terse, and its often appreciated in email for faster skimming.
  However, in person, "meaningless" phrases such as, "Thank you" or "It's been a pleasure" are quite appropriate. There's a fine line between terse and impolite.
  
  

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• Trite expressions can come off making you sound like a dimwit droid when used too frequently. Overused business expressions can do the same thing.
  
  When a new business concept comes out it can become very popular for a while. And using it in the correct context is a way of letting your business peers know that you are "in the know". But over-reliance on last year's old, tired business concept is a subtle way of telling people that you are "not in the know" and not worth spending time with or on. I think it's better to avoid the trite expressions myself. If lets you move amoung larger social circles without having to repeat yourself for them to understand.
  
  I should also mention that trite expressions don't often translate well across cultural boundaries.
  Just my humble opinion.
  
  

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• Avoid:
  - "At the end of the day"
  - "Your mileage may vary"
  - anything using the words paradigm or synergy unless you're really sure you understand what they mean
  
  Use: Bulleted lists. All I learned in college about business is use bulleted lists. Why?
  - faster communication
  - easy to skim
  - punctuation unnecessary
  - speak to business people on their own terms
  
  On a somewhat serious note, I had a manager a few years back who was a real cold fish and signed all his emails:
  
  Best Regards,
  $manager$
  
  I liked that cold, calculating response so much that I use it on most of my formal business missives. It's heartless and impersonal, yet it wishes you not only "regards" but nothing but the best regards.
  
  

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• I think Trite responses allow for a more synergistic assembly of liason phrases.
  
  

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• I think the problem is that many people in the corporate world have tried to cover up their lack of imagination, intelligence and especially preparedness thought by using stock phrases that sound somewhat intelligent. Not only that but lots of people are afraid of looking like that are not part of the culture so they stick to safe language that they hear everyone else around the office using.
  
  When that happens, you have some people who wind up using a lot of flowery language but not actually telling you anything interesting or new. Nothing wrong with canned phrases, but make sure that there is some thought behind what you're writing.
  
  

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