If you are annoyed by people who begin declarative statements with “At the end of the day,” you are not alone. Oxford University, which publishes the Oxford English Dictionary, puts the phrase at the top of its list of most irritating expressions.

Researchers at Oxford use a huge database to monitor the use of words and phrases in books, periodicals, in broadcast media and online so they know what to include in the dictionary. Along with new useful words, however, the database also identifies words and phrases that are overused, abused and just plain annoying.

Here are the worst offenders, according to Oxford:

1. At the end of the day
2. Fairly unique
3. I personally
4. At this moment in time
5. With all due respect
6. Absolutely
7. It’s a nightmare
8. Shouldn’t of
9. 24/7
10. It’s not rocket science

I would add a few of my own, some of which grew out of perhaps the most protracted and exhausting presidential campaign in U.S. history:

• Joe the anything
• Look
• Maverick
• Literally
• OK?
• Über- anything
• Exactly
• My friend
• Impact
• Leverage

When we overuse words, we diminish their meaning and, well, impact. You see? I can’t use that good word in an entirely appropriate manner because it has been so overused.

How do we avoid the use of cliché words and phrases and still convey what we mean? It’s not easy because when someone discovers a phrase that works beautifully, it is certain to be adopted by many others until it ends up on an Oxford list.

There are some things we can do. Avoid using words and phrases that make you or somebody else wince. Avoid using expressions simply because you believe they make you sound smart or hip. And perhaps the best strategy of all is to read good writing.

What are some of your choices for most irritating phrases? Share them with us so we all can avoid them.

Robert J. Holland owns Holland Communication Solutions LLC in Mechanicsville. He works with Fortune 500 companies and small businesses to help them develop communication programs that support business goals. He is also available to speak to business groups about workplace communication. You can reach him at robert@hollandcomm.com, at www.hollandcomm.com, or by calling (804) 368-0312.