Do you have Hapax Legomena?

[nice90sguy]

If so, no need to see a doctor, Zipfs Law shows that it's to be expected.

A Hapax Legomenon is a fancy term for a word that's been appears only once in a body of writing, or has only been used only once in a language.

Are there any words in your stories that you think you've only used ONCE?

Without checking thoroughly, I have quite a few, as will all other authors here (according to Zipf's Law).

Here's one, which appears in an SF story of mine: centrifugal

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hapax_legomenon

 

[ElectricBlue]

Someone thanked me for using "susurrus" once, saying they'd never see it before, but what a perfect word it is for what it describes.

But I've used it twice at least, so it doesn't count.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

Someone thanked me for using "susurrus" once, saying they'd never see it before, but what a perfect word it is for what it describes.

But I've used it twice at least, so it doesn't count.

Terry Pratchett used it quite often. Had a whole bit about it in The Wee Free Men. It's Tiffany Aching's favorite word.

https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/childrens-article/the-wee-free-men-extract-by-terry-pratchett

 

[Bramblethorn]

"heptatych"

 

[Smuttyandfun]

Clambered

 

[Britva415]

If so, no need to see a doctor, Zipfs Law shows that it's to be expected.

A Hapax Legomenon is a fancy term for a word that's been appears only once in a body of writing, or has only been used only once in a language.

Are there any words in your stories that you think you've only used ONCE?

Without checking thoroughly, I have quite a few, as will all other authors here (according to Zipf's Law).

Here's one, which appears in an SF story of mine: centrifugal

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hapax_legomenon

I actively try to use certain words only once.

I'm not trying to use obscure words, I'm just trying to not be repetitive. And there is some vocabulary that sounds repetitive if it's re-used even just once in a, say, 10,000 word story.

It's part of my editing process - replacing repetition with synonyms or with another statement entirely.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

I'll have lots of technical terms that have been scattered about - the gene names Smaug and Spaghetti-squash, for example.

I'd guess 'liver', from a character feeling they've been fucked so hard they feel it there. I doubt I've mentioned the word otherwise. Pre-prandial, probably.

 

[StillStunned]

"Kissleaf", if only because I invented it myself (what would nomadic people in a post-apocalyptic wasteland use to freshen their breath in the morning?).

 

[yowser]

I'm assuming non-English words don't count, otherwise I'd volunteer 'kalsarikännit.' So I'll have to go with 'allomorphic.'

 

[lovecraft68]

If we're talking made up words, I'm sure I've only used the name "Cuntligula" once ever.

Real words? Scaphism is a one off that I have no desire to use again because it makes me think about it.

 

[VallesMarineris]

Are there any words in your stories that you think you've only used ONCE?

Well, I don't think, I know. Scrivener includes statistical tools to help you analyze your writing. I took a look at my current WIP, now at 45K+ words and counting. Scrivener can list individual words by count. I see hundreds of words only used once. Some are rare, such as 'octonion' and 'calix', but almost all are everyday words such as 'rice', 'baby', 'leaf', etc. In fact, it looks like about half the list are words used only once.

Curiously, among the singletons are 'cunt', 'breast', and 'stud', which I thought I used more often.

Maybe more interesting is the other end of the list, the words most used. 'she' and 'her' top the list with more than 1600 instances each. Okay, I am writing in 3rd person from the POV of my FMC. But I should probably try to reduce those numbers.

FYI, 'cock' is used 109 times. 'come' 92, and 'pussy' 85.

VM

P.S. If you're interested, the WIP is partially published: https://literotica.com/s/ai-era-a-nerd-girls-story-ch-01

 

[MelissaBaby]

I just now used the word "geegaws" in my WIP.

 

[nice90sguy]

Well, I don't think, I know. Scrivener includes statistical tools to help you analyze your writing. I took a look at my current WIP, now at 45K+ words and counting. Scrivener can list individual words by count. I see hundreds of words only used once. Some are rare, such as 'octonion' and 'calix', but almost all are everyday words such as 'rice', 'baby', 'leaf', etc. In fact, it looks like about half the list are words used only once.

Curiously, among the singletons are 'cunt', 'breast', and 'stud', which I thought I used more often.

Maybe more interesting is the other end of the list, the words most used. 'she' and 'her' top the list with more than 1600 instances each. Okay, I am writing in 3rd person from the POV of my FMC. But I should probably try to reduce those numbers.

FYI, 'cock' is used 109 times. 'come' 92, and 'pussy' 85.

VM

P.S. If you're interested, the WIP is partially published: https://literotica.com/s/ai-era-a-nerd-girls-story-ch-01

I'm really suprised that "the" doesn't top your list!

 

[VallesMarineris]

I'm really suprised that "the" doesn't top your list!

'the' gets the bronze medal.

 

[THBGato]

Are there any words in your stories that you think you've only used ONCE?

Pretty sure I've only once used the word "konnakol" (a form a vocal percussion from Southern India).

 

[intim8]

If so, no need to see a doctor, Zipfs Law shows that it's to be expected.

A Hapax Legomenon is a fancy term for a word that's been appears only once in a body of writing, or has only been used only once in a language.

Are there any words in your stories that you think you've only used ONCE?

Without checking thoroughly, I have quite a few, as will all other authors here (according to Zipf's Law).

Here's one, which appears in an SF story of mine: centrifugal

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hapax_legomenon

I've probably used "centrifugal" more than once, and definitely used "orthogonal" at least twice.

But within the last hour on a WIP, I typed "carbuncle" for the first and certainly last time in my writing life. And now I have to keep it there, no matter how often my inner editor screams that that word has no place in erotica.

 

[Rob_Royale]

Yep, pretty frequently. Just recently, lepidoptery. I'm sure there's more like it in every story I've done.

 

[alohadave]

This came up in a podcast that I follow.

The show is good if you are a word nerd.

 

[Bamagan]

No, but I have haptic legomania.

 

[Lucy_Lastic]

Someone thanked me for using "susurrus" once, saying they'd never see it before, but what a perfect word it is for what it describes.

But I've used it twice at least, so it doesn't count.

That's one of my favourite words. And susurration.

 

[baffling8929]

If so, no need to see a doctor, Zipfs Law shows that it's to be expected.

A Hapax Legomenon is a fancy term for a word that's been appears only once in a body of writing, or has only been used only once in a language.

Are there any words in your stories that you think you've only used ONCE?

Without checking thoroughly, I have quite a few, as will all other authors here (according to Zipf's Law).

Here's one, which appears in an SF story of mine: centrifugal

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hapax_legomenon

Ironically, I also used centrifugal once. Mine was about making scrambled eggs.

 

[jehoram]

Here's one, which appears in an SF story of mine: centrifugal

I would probably use it more, but I keep getting "centrifugal" mixed up with "centripetal," and I'm never sure which is which.

 

[StillStunned]

I would probably use it more, but I keep getting "centrifugal" mixed up with "centripetal," and I'm never sure which is which.

Without going into the Greek roots ("fugein" being "to flee", as opposed to "peitein" being "to seek", if I remember correctly from a lifetime ago), the easy way to remember is this: when you open your washing machine, you'll find that your clothes are pressed against the outside - and that's because washing machines have a centrifuge function.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

'Satyress'. Yes, I know that's classically impossible. I had fun with it.

 

[M_K_Babalon]

No damn clue.