Overused words and phrases

[SydneyBlake]

Ok, her article could have used an editor. I would've replaced "adverbs" with "modifiers" (since the list also includes adjectives), and in one sentence, she says "noun" when she meant "verb." It still contains helpful advice.

Here's a link to the article:

Www.Theadventurouswriter.com/blogwriting/51-overused-adverbs-nouns-and-cliches-in-writing/

And here's the list lifted from the article:

Many
Pretty
Nice
Kind
Pleasant
Tall/short/fat/skinny
Big/little
Shimmering
Absolutely
Same exact
Truly unique
Quite
Funny
Incredible
A lot
Bad/good
Roaring
Interesting
Amazing
Any
Very
So
Kind of
Really
Totally
Actually
Seems
Suddenly
Probably
Could have
Hopefully
Just
Perfect
Viciously
Usually
Writing on the wall
Cry over spilled milk
Better late than never
Think outside the box
At the end of the day
The bottom line
It's not rocket science
Easy as pie
Smart as a whip
Taking candy from a baby
Love makes the world go 'round
Selling like hotcakes
In the nick of time
Go get 'em, tiger!
When life gives you lemons...

I've seen some of those, and have been guilty of some, as well. I'm also sure that, as smut writers, we can add our own set of overused words to the list. Here are a couple of mine:

Grabbed
Pounded
Exploded
was <-ing verb>

Go ye, therefore, search and (selectively) destroy....

 

[lovecraft68]

The quotes I could take or leave, but I would be interested in reading a novel length work that used all of the other words very sparingly.

Many (yup that's one) of them are very common words and when you get into dialogue characters are in love with similar expressions, meaning over the course of the story they would fall into repetitive habits.

Plus I for one don't feel like sending the reader to a thesaurus and those words are very "comfortable" and make for an easy read.

 

[sr71plt]

I agree with Lovecraft on this one.

 

[SydneyBlake]

True, when you're talking about dialogue, realistic characters have speech habits. But in exposition, you should avoid unnecessary words. When trying to conform to a publisher's word count limit, it helps to know where you can slash.

Also, I don't think your average reader would need a dictionary to recognize that pluck, snatch, and clutch can all sit in place of grab. Varying your word choice, as long as it doesn't disrupt flow, keeps your writing more interesting.

 

[sr71plt]

True, when you're talking about dialogue, realistic characters have speech habits. But in exposition, you should avoid unnecessary words.

All of those words are necessary and even the phrases are shortcuts to reader understanding. I think you'd be best to go back to "not overuse" rather than "avoid."

 

[SydneyBlake]

All of those words are necessary and even the phrases are shortcuts to reader understanding. I think you'd be best to go back to "not overuse" rather than "avoid."

Perhaps. I was thinking of the quote from Strunk, and I think he said "omit." (I'd have to look.) At any rate, you're arguing over an unimportant shade in meaning.

 

[lovecraft68]

I agree with Lovecraft on this one.

Wow, thanks.

Makes me feel like I made sense on something grammar related for once.

 

[sr71plt]

Perhaps. I was thinking of the quote from Strunk, and I think he said "omit." (I'd have to look.) At any rate, you're arguing over an unimportant shade in meaning.

It's been my experience that developing writers struggling for handles (most of which aren't there) don't think that "avoid" and "don't overuse" mean anything close to the same.

(And Strunk and White , as basically useful as it is, is for high school essays, not for adult fiction.)

 

[SydneyBlake]

(And Strunk and White , as basically useful as it is, is for high school essays, not for adult fiction.)

Is that why it's on every must-read list I've seen, from both professional editors and published novelists?

 

[sr71plt]

Is that why it's on every must-read list I've seen, from both professional editors and published novelists?

Bet it wasn't the only book on any of those lists--but it most certainly was the most basic and short, I'm sure. Sorry, but reliance on Strunk and White isn't my experience with the commercial publishing market. I can't even remember a publishing house I've worked in that had it on their editorial resource shelf. (I do have a copy, though--just now is the first time I can remember looking for it in several years.) It's still popular and quite useful in high school and undergraduate English classes, though. It's only 85 pages long and quite basic; it certainly can't be the detailed guide that a short story or novel writer needs.

On the question whether it says qualifiers should be omitted or avoided, by the way, it says they should be avoided (page 73 in my edition). And on dialogue tags, it says to make sure the reader knows who's talking (page 76). It doesn't go into much detail on either of these--and creative writing isn't a "one rule covers all" proposition.

Bottom line, though, I think where you started was much better for a discussion being seen by early-development writers. They seek the safety of "don't do this" rules. And they'll take "avoid" as "don't do." That list you gave comprises necessary words in writing. "Be judicious in use" is, I think, much more constructive advice than "avoid."

 

[SydneyBlake]

Which is why I used the word "selectively" in the OP, tho you stated the point with better clarity in this last post.

My experience on this site has been that many of the writers aren't aware of basic grammar and punctuation rules--rules that are introduced in elementary school. So I don't think it's irrelevant to talk about basic editing, even if the cited authority is "useful for only high school essays." If one struggles with the basics, how on earth will they ever produce a piece of adult fiction that anyone of any consequence--like a publisher--will pay attention to? That's why I posted the article in the first place.

 

[sr71plt]

Sure, that's fine. But just look, for instance, at cocoput's postings. Can't function without rules. And, dollars to donuts, "avoid" means "never ever use the word."

 

[_Lynn_]

Which is why I used the word "selectively" in the OP, tho you stated the point with better clarity in this last post.

My experience on this site has been that many of the writers aren't aware of basic grammar and punctuation rules--rules that are introduced in elementary school. So I don't think it's irrelevant to talk about basic editing, even if the cited authority is "useful for only high school essays." If one struggles with the basics, how on earth will they ever produce a piece of adult fiction that anyone of any consequence--like a publisher--will pay attention to? That's why I posted the article in the first place.

I think I know what you're saying. Learning the basics is better than not learning at all, right? However, why not use the CMS from the start? Learn the right way from the beginning and save time.

 

[SydneyBlake]

I think I know what you're saying. Learning the basics is better than not learning at all, right? However, why not use the CMS from the start? Learn the right way from the beginning and save time.

Sure, though I don't know what CMS says on this particular subject. Care to share?

Sure, that's fine. But just look, for instance, at cocoput's postings. Can't function without rules. And, dollars to donuts, "avoid" means "never ever use the word."

Maybe some people shouldn't write.

 

[lovecraft68]

Sure, that's fine. But just look, for instance, at cocoput's postings. Can't function without rules. And, dollars to donuts, "avoid" means "never ever use the word."

Cocput can't function without rules because English is not his first language so he is learning it and trying to learn it properly.

If you don't have a firm grasp of the language than you can't really 'interpret' things or read between the lines.

He's sent me a couple of different things and he seems to have already improved quite a bit. Not that I can edit worth a damn, but I can tell if something flows well and makes sense.

 

[_Lynn_]

Sure, though I don't know what CMS says on this particular subject. Care to share?




Maybe some people shouldn't write.

I haven't checked. My comment was more of a general statement.



You're right. Some people should stick to other activities.

 

[_Lynn_]

Cocput can't function without rules because English is not his first language so he is learning it and trying to learn it properly.

If you don't have a firm grasp of the language than you can't really 'interpret' things or read between the lines.

He's sent me a couple of different things and he seems to have already improved quite a bit. Not that I can edit worth a damn, but I can tell if something flows well and makes sense.

I give him credit for trying to learn even though English isn't his first language, but he has a long way to go before his stories make sense and flow well. And I can edit.

 

[lovecraft68]

Which is why I used the word "selectively" in the OP, tho you stated the point with better clarity in this last post.

My experience on this site has been that many of the writers aren't aware of basic grammar and punctuation rules--rules that are introduced in elementary school. So I don't think it's irrelevant to talk about basic editing, even if the cited authority is "useful for only high school essays." If one struggles with the basics, how on earth will they ever produce a piece of adult fiction that anyone of any consequence--like a publisher--will pay attention to? That's why I posted the article in the first place.

To me English and its rules are a lot like math. If you're not going to use it in your career than as time goes by you forget about it.

I've reached a point where I am done trying to learn the ins and outs and finer points. You reach a point where it's "Okay do I want to write or become an English major."

Pilot always says he has publisher so he does not have to worry about tedious shit like covers and formatting and whatever else he feels gets in the way of his writing.

I've reached that point with grammar. I'm a lot better than I was when I started, but I am done trying to beat my head against the wall with something that does not come naturally.

Since I started writing, I've learned how to design decent covers, do some formatting, improve somewhat with grammar and become a better writer in general.

I'll be damned if I'll start going back to school or buy a tome the size of War and Peace to figure out whether AM or PM should be capped or not.

I'm good at a lot of things, grammar is not one of them, and I have nothing to prove to attempt to master it. That's why I just cut a $600 check to the woman who is going to edit my 240k BDSM novel.

She can do what she went to school for and I can do something more creative.

 

[lovecraft68]

I give him credit for trying to learn even though English isn't his first language, but he has a long way to go before his stories make sense and flow well. And I can edit.

Yes, we know, you seem to stress that quite often.

Although apparently from personal experience not on a very reliable schedule.

 

[_Lynn_]

Yes, we know, you seem to stress that quite often.

Although apparently from personal experience not on a very reliable schedule.

Some things in life don't adhere to schedules, a fact I made you aware of at the time.

 

[sr71plt]

Sure, though I don't know what CMS says on this particular subject. Care to share?

Good question. As far as I can tell, CMS doesn't cover this. CMS didn't deal much with word usage and choice at all until adding a section on that in the newest, 16th edition. I haven't read into that before, and skimming it just now didn't come up with anything on the qualifiers such as you have listed. (There's no index listing for qualifiers at all, for instance). There a word list, but the types of words you listed aren't on it. For word usage, I've often turned to American Heritage's Book English Usage guide. Nothing here either. Where there's no smoke, maybe . . .

Maybe some people shouldn't write.

I think that's quite true. But it's the individual writer's decision. And there isn't really a writer asking a (or any) question in this thread.

 

[sr71plt]

Yes, we're aware that you're PMing cocput, Lovecraft. He said so, and he parroted some of what you PMed him about (to the length of repeating your signature typo. ). It wasn't about editing, though.

 

[mynameisben]

Here's a link to the article:

Www.Theadventurouswriter.com/blogwriting/51-overused-adverbs-nouns-and-cliches-in-writing/

I guess I'm late to the party. I clicked on the link and got a "Page Not Found" error. Oh, well.

 

[elfin_odalisque]

I guess I'm late to the party. I clicked on the link and got a "Page Not Found" error. Oh, well.

Me too!

Yes, a load of words like 'nice' have shrivelled with time and tautologous phrases like 'truly unique' and 'same exact' are just plain ignorant. Yet we need qualifiers.

I detest business gobbledydook and we play bingo games in conferences to see who can get their card filled first. How are you for, 'helicopter vision', 'pushing the envelope', 'overarching vision' and 'blue sky thinking'?

There is also a big difference between writing and dialogue. Apart from our frequent 'err', 'ums' we use those nonsensense words to give us time to collect our thoughts.

If you wrote dialogue without the first 30 citations you would never see a pink H.