A recent Facebook post by one of my former coworkers inspired this rant. Dan wrote that he hoped "the 'end of the day' gets here soon so that people will stop saying 'at the end of the day.'"
There are a number of trite, useless expressions like "at the end of the day," and I could go on for hours. But I won't. Watch, though, for future posts on other favorites, such as "in the end," "that said," "having said that," and of course, "at the end of the day."
I'll devote this space to one of the meaningless phrases people -- especially students -- use to "tie it all up" when they can't think of anything else to say (or write). I'm referring, of course, to the closing phrase, "In conclusion," and I admit that using it was one of my favorite bad habits during my college days.
Evidently, that practice is still alive and well in the writing of college essays. I just found a Web site, MegaEssays.com, where you can purchase "high quality term papers and essays." (Isn't that called "cheating?") Anyway, here are some examples of that high-quality prose:
"In conclusion, William Shakespeare evidently possessed a feminist mindset when creating his plays."
"In conclusion Shakespeare shows that evilness can bring down the most
heroic and strongest of men, by attacking what is weak within them."
"In conclusion, Shakespeare uses this poem to show us what true love really is."
"In conclusion Shakespeare presented such insightful philosophy and ideas within the play, that the text is still being applied in present time."I'm pretty sure Shakespeare is rolling in his grave over this type of meaningless construction. Word up.
