Style Guide Tip: Phrasal Verbs and Idioms

Word count: 94

Do you still need to do your holiday shopping? You should drop by a few stores before they run
out of the best toys! And if you receive a holiday gift that misses the mark, just remember that old
saying: “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth!” These are some examples of phrasal verbs and
idiomatic expressions, and they should be avoided if you want all your readers, including English
learners, to understand your intended meaning. If you can read your writing literally and still
understand your meaning, you’re on the right track!