Overused/ Underused Words

[LadynStFreknBed]

I have been thinking about words that I use too often. Recently, I've come across some interesting words that I have never used. Does anyone else ever think about this?

What are some overused words that have practically lost their meaning due to the way they are scattered about? What are some words you prize or wish you used more? Is there a word you are itching to use? Why do you like it?

When shouldn't you use a new word? If you think a majority of people would have to look up the definition of the word, would you still use it if you thought it was the best word? If you have thought about using a word, but didn't because of its lack of familiarity, would you use it under different circumstances?

 

[CorinnaParr]

I have a standing challenge with someone to use the word "penis" in a classic form in such a way that it doesn't make me snicker. Not an easy thing to do, the payoff will be huge if he ever pulls it off.

On a serious note, I was thinking about this just yesterday. There are words I come back to regularly, for the feel and taste and texture they represent. Organic words, earthy phrases. I've only just started the search for unusual words that I haven't used yet, to place on my prompts list. No matter how unusual it might be, I would still use it if it felt right to me; I'm not concerned as much about whether readers might be put off by it and if a piece hooked them enough to actually dig out a dictionary, I'd consider that a victory.

Words that tend to make me shy away from a poem... soul. Variations on "dark". Darkness. Night. "Heart's desire".

 

[Rose_Rue]

Hmm...

Overused: It

Underused: Joy

 

[LadynStFreknBed]

You know what is absolutely hilarious?
The thing that started me thinking about this was when I was doing that damn double dactyl on Eleanor Roosevelt and finding some interesting double dactyl words. While working on that poem, I was thinking about words I use to much... namely "hope." I have used "hope" WAY too often. I think that's my worst overuse offense.

The funny part is that I just looked at the list of my works, and with Lit's new series format, they took 3 of my poems about hope and grouped them as a series. LOL

I think if Lit starts lumping your poems together in series, you might wanna look at the frequency you are using those words!

LMAO

 

[PublicAffection]

I was recently told that I use the word "quirky" too often. WTF am I supposed to do though, I'm surrounded by quirky things/people!!

 

[UnderYourSpell]

You know what is absolutely hilarious?
The thing that started me thinking about this was when I was doing that damn double dactyl on Eleanor Roosevelt and finding some interesting double dactyl words. While working on that poem, I was thinking about words I use to much... namely "hope." I have used "hope" WAY too often. I think that's my worst overuse offense.

The funny part is that I just looked at the list of my works, and with Lit's new series format, they took 3 of my poems about hope and grouped them as a series. LOL

I think if Lit starts lumping your poems together in series, you might wanna look at the frequency you are using those words!

LMAO

I found out the other day that I have a 'series' too ....... a 'Who' series!
Way back there was a thread challenge about going to an online dictionary and writing a poem using outlandish words. As I recall I got accused of making mine up but it was real lol

 

[LadynStFreknBed]

I found out the other day that I have a 'series' too ....... a 'Who' series!

As in "Horton hears a"?

oops, my bad... I think that's "Hoo"
not sure

I really must try that thing called sleep that is so popular these days

 

[UnderYourSpell]

As in "Horton hears a"?

oops, my bad... I think that's "Hoo"
not sure

I really must try that thing called sleep that is so popular these days

Afraid that's something from your side of the pond that has just gone right over my head lol are you up very early or very late?

 

[LadynStFreknBed]

Oh, come on. I can't believe u don't have Dr. Seuss

I'm up late... as usual

 

[UnderYourSpell]

Oh, come on. I can't believe u don't have Dr. Seuss

I'm up late... as usual

Dr. Seuss is still more of an American thing than an English as far as I'm concerned anyway, not something I've been brought up on

 

[PandoraGlitters]

From new poets, I often hear an overuse of abstract words or expressions. Of course it's all in the placement and context, so no words are unusable entirely, but I'd have caution with words like soul, heart, pride, love, lust,etc.

ETA: Underused words? Hmmm this is an interesting list.

 

[UnderYourSpell]

Dora ma petite where is Miss Kitty? there's never enough!

 

[PandoraGlitters]

Aw UYS. I do need to return to that. I'm in the final stages of editing a new online poetry journal with two other Literoticans. It's gonna be pretty. After I finish that and my Spanish class, I'll get back to the kitty 100s.

 

[UnderYourSpell]

Fug is on that list I used fug only yesterday in conversation and oxter crops up all the time in my quizzes!

 

[EroticOrogeny]

I definitely have some overused words (desire, delight, passion, pleasure ... and their variants). Unless a form requires repeated lines I do try to use a word only once in a poem (not counting articles, conjunctions and the like). Sometimes a thesaurus serves to remind me of words I know but didn't come to mind. I need to own a word before I use it - a new find might work, it depends. Looked at the underused list - most wouldn't apply. I'm never sure what vocabulary my reader has, so I can't be too concerned about that, but wouldn't generally use obscure words for that sake.

 

[LadynStFreknBed]

one word i am itching to use is:

phantasmagoria: a constantly changing medley of real or imagined images (as in a dream)

isn't that just delicious?

 

[hmmnmm]

Good discussion topic. What I find, uh, somewhat, uh, disconcerting, is if I think of a word that sounds really good, something catchy but not too scratchy, and I stick the word in there, do the head nod, only to discover that I'd thought of, and used, the same word a few months before. Ouch.

Maybe there's two ends: the more catch-value a word carries, the more tempting it is to use it, but you really must apply it only on a rare occasion. The other end would be the too general, as some have listed; because we speak or think them so often it's easy to throw them out without a second thought.

I know I'm guilty of both, but can't think of specifics right offhand. I'm sure a little research could produce a nice little list... I do tend to tense up and shy away at various forms of Trace and Graze. Don't know why. Graze is a fine word. Z words. The power of the Z. But power that must be handled with care.

There's nothing easy about any of this, which is better than if it was easy. Work. Work's good. Effort. Extra effort. Extra thrust. Then an extra extra... I do tend to skim, which is really only preliminary to real work. Dig, work, and sweat: timeless qualities. Shall seek to cultivate the ethic beginning the day after tomorrow.

 

[GuiltyPleasure]

Dr. Seuss is still more of an American thing than an English as far as I'm concerned anyway, not something I've been brought up on

Hoo killed cock robin?

 

[UnderYourSpell]

I found out the other day that I have a 'series' too ....... a 'Who' series!
Way back there was a thread challenge about going to an online dictionary and writing a poem using outlandish words. As I recall I got accused of making mine up but it was real lol

Tarradiddle I think it was!

Hoo killed cock robin?

I said the Sparrow with my bow and arrow
I live near what used to be a massive private estate (now a very expensive hotel and golf course) called Luton Hoo where Ron used to go shooting many years ago before I met him which of course has nothing to do with this but a fact that just wandered across my brain!

 

[jayce1066]

Generally I go through a "death to articles" phase during the editing of each poem.

 

[GuiltyPleasure]

I said the Sparrow with my bow and arrow

Who saw him die? (no cookie if you get it.)

I live near what used to be a massive private estate (now a very expensive hotel and golf course) called Luton Hoo where Ron used to go shooting many years ago before I met him which of course has nothing to do with this but a fact that just wandered across my brain!

Being a Bedford girl I'm familiar with Luton Hoo, not personally acquainted of course, too rich for my purse.

 

[EroticOrogeny]

You know what is absolutely hilarious?
The thing that started me thinking about this was when I was doing that damn double dactyl on Eleanor Roosevelt and finding some interesting double dactyl words. While working on that poem, I was thinking about words I use to much... namely "hope." I have used "hope" WAY too often. I think that's my worst overuse offense.

The funny part is that I just looked at the list of my works, and with Lit's new series format, they took 3 of my poems about hope and grouped them as a series. LOL

I think if Lit starts lumping your poems together in series, you might wanna look at the frequency you are using those words!

LMAO

They seem to have had series linkage before, but just on the side by the poem. My two valentine poems had such a link. There were a couple of poems which I wanted to link, as they tie together. I made sure I put in the same keywords when I submitted each, but no linkage. I think title plays a key role, and there was no connection there (no words in common). Now the list also shows the grouping, but indicates that title is also key, unless breakdown the alphabetic sequence.

 

[UnderYourSpell]

Who saw him die? (no cookie if you get it.)



Being a Bedford girl I'm familiar with Luton Hoo, not personally acquainted of course, too rich for my purse.

buzzzzz splat!

over a fiver for a cup of coffee at the restaurant there now so I hear from more affluent friends

 

[annaswirls]

Generally I go through a "death to articles" phase during the editing of each poem.

good plan~ much agreed, it is usually an enjoyable process. snip snap crack

 

[EroticOrogeny]

good plan~ much agreed, it is usually an enjoyable process. snip snap crack

Finishing up is more difficult when you're trying for metrical feet. Sometimes long, sometimes short - can be hard either way. The articles often lead to a pyrrhic foot.