There are entire phrases I could live without. One that especially bugs me is “I would like to/ We would like to” as in “We would like to thank you for your participation.” If your intention is to thank the reader or listener, then just do it: “Thank you for your participation.” Telling what you would like to do is not the same as doing it. After all, the “I would like to” clause can always be followed by one starting with “but.”

I would like to give you a raise . . . but you don’t deserve one.

I would like to thank you for your participation . . . but it was pathetic.

I would like to give you an example . . . but I can’t think of one.