What are the online dating cliches you should avoid at all costs?

Any of you who have read more than a handful of online dating profiles will be well aware that there are a number of phrases and claims that seem to come up with alarming regularity.

The BBC has put together a guide to all of these cliches and advised people who are thinking of using the web to find their next date to avoid repeating them at all costs.

It started by advising against the use of the opening phrase, "I'm new to this, so here goes…". According to William Doherty, a professor of family social sciences at the University of Minnesota, these words convey a sense of feeling as though there is still a stigma attached to online dating.

Another saying to avoid is "I like going out and staying in", as this tells a prospective partner absolutely nothing. Indeed, serial online dater Willard Foxton joked: "In other words, you like existing."

You should avoid claiming to love laughing, with dating coach Laurie Davis explaining this is a generic assertion.

"Doesn't everyone love laughing? They are trying to show that they are fun and that they have a light-hearted side, but it means nothing," she stated.

You should never write in a profile that you are "looking for some good banter", as this phrase simply reveals you are not looking for anything deep and meaningful. Instead, it suggests you are up for only a bit of fun.

And people who claim to be looking for a "partner in crime" must also be aware that this phrase marks them out as someone who is low key and predictable.

Avoid using sentences like "My friends say I'm…" followed by a list of adjectives, while naming your favourite things as walks in the park, watching films and eating roast dinners is too much like a romantic comedy.

Finally, do not go on about your friends and family meaning the world to you, as this should be the case for almost everyone.