Over used words...

[gentledemands]

I keep finding myself using again again. <----SEE!!!

[PayDay]

Originally Posted by lovecraft68

Sigh.

Guilty. I use it to describe a woman's chest size rather than a cup size.

Yeah, me too.

I've been trying to use 'balanced' instead; it's not working...

[SandraMustard]

Really? Is there really no one else who recognizes what the OP really asked about? Listing a word that appears once in every story is perhaps a favorite but not really over used now, is it? I think this discussion should really be limited to words we use so often, we really don't even see that we used it. It's really a blessing that I don't have that problem.

[LettersFromTatyana]

Originally Posted by SandraMustard

Really? Is there really no one else who recognizes what the OP really asked about? Listing a word that appears once in every story is perhaps a favorite but not really over used now, is it? I think this discussion should really be limited to words we use so often, we really don't even see that we used it. It's really a blessing that I don't have that problem.

The OP asked about overused words, but then proceeded to use what I consider tired and overused figures of speech as examples. Kind of the same thing, but kind of not.

It's understandable that this has caused some confusion.

[TxRad]

Originally Posted by LettersFromTatyana

The OP asked about overused words, but then proceeded to use what I consider tired and overused figures of speech as examples. Kind of the same thing, but kind of not.

It's understandable that this has caused some confusion.

Oh, really?

[SandraMustard]

For sure!

[LettersFromTatyana]

Originally Posted by TxRad

Oh, really?

Really! Really really really!

But this thread did make me go and dig up an old thread, with this post from PennLady:

Avoid the use of very, really, finally, actually, suddenly and literally
These words are not necessary; they are redundant. Part of my aversion stems from a high school English teacher who despised the word "very," and when you think about it, with good reason. It's a crutch, allowing you to avoid using better words. But you're a writer -- stretch out, if only to get the thesaurus.

If something is "very important," it is "vital." (better word)
If something is "very sad," it is "tragic." (or perhaps, sorrowful)
If something is "very big," it is "huge."

The same goes for really, finally, etc. Be decisive. If something costs a lot of money, it is expensive. "Really expensive" adds nothing to the description. If you need more than "expensive," find another word, don’t just add these weak qualifiers.

If you have a character who has been waiting for something, you don't need "finally" to tell the reader it's happened. We know -- we've been following as the character as they have waited, and so once the action occurs, we know it's "finally" occurred.

"Literally" is another weak addition (worse is: quite literally). If something happens, say so -- again, be decisive and sure in your writing.

And then this post from PacoFear on the same thread:

Nice point, PennLady.

In my book, the same holds true going the other way with wussy equivocations like slightly, lightly, almost, mostly, rather, and nearly.

Folks, the love of your life doesn't have "almost perfect blue eyes." S/he has "perfect blue eyes." The same goes for his "rather deep voice" or her "nearly flawless legs."

Writing is our chance to be bold, gang. Lose the weasel words.

[TeslaRose]

i've noticed "obscure" receiving some mild abuse lately.

hands off my lovely words, ye cretins!

[Lia Monde]

A little off topic: perhaps a sign of the times, but "political scandal" is annoying me. Not just the frequency of these affairs, but the fact that the overused description implies a sort of free pass. As though, the egregious activity is only a violation of political concerns, rather than a hypocritical ethical failure.

[sr71plt]

Originally Posted by Lia Monde

A little off topic: perhaps a sign of the times, but "political scandal" is annoying me. Not just the frequency of these affairs, but the fact that the overused description implies a sort of free pass. As though, the egregious activity is only a violation of political concerns, rather than a hypocritical ethical failure.

I don't see it in those terms at all. I see it as describing a scandal that has political issues involved--thus involving not just personal matters but matters of public trust and effect. So I don't see the term as any sort of free pass. Just the opposite.

[AllardChardon]

Awesome. Not only over-used, but improperly used most of the time.