Over used words...

[nakdsub]

Do any of you have a word or words that just makes you cringe because it seems to be used over and over and over?

I have two...(awakening) "His awakening," "Her awakening," "The awakening," "Their awakening." This word seems to be in at least 70% of every title known to man.

The other...(betrayed) "her body betrayed her," his cock betrayed him,"...Eeek, sometimes I want to scream.

Any others?

 

[lovecraft68]

The expression "slut wife" appears a lot in titles and stories, most LW of course, but because that category is so popular on and commented on constantly you see it all the time.

 

[soflabbwlvr]

"throbbing," which is followed a sentence or two later by "dripping"

 

[MatthewVett]

Are these words I use or words I read? I use "confessed," unusually often, I think. I need to make word clouds of all my stories to check for stuff like that.

 

[lovecraft68]

The word "member" just does me in, just terrible to me.

 

[sun_sea_sky]

The word "member" just does me in, just terrible to me.

I 'member the days when a member of Literotica used "member" too often. He was dis-member-ed.

 

[TxRad]

And, or, the, was, all used way to much.

 

[sun_sea_sky]

The other...(betrayed) "her body betrayed her," his cock betrayed him,"...Eeek, sometimes I want to scream.

Uh oh. I just wrote this yesterday in a new story:

His body had betrayed him, again.

Ah well, off to the thesaurus I guess. Or just bop myself on the head until something more creative pops up.

 

[Brunne]

I need to make word clouds of all my stories to check for stuff like that.

Oh now that's a rather clever idea...never thought of that! Off to google it now...

 

[MatthewVett]

Oh now that's a rather clever idea...never thought of that! Off to google it now...

www.wordle.net Maybe we should make a thread to share word clouds...

 

[oggbashan]

Then I use 'then' far too much.

Sometimes I remember to do a word search for 'then' and remove unnecessary ones. Then sometimes I don't.

At least I know I do it.

 

[lovecraft68]

I 'member the days when a member of Literotica used "member" too often. He was dis-member-ed.

But apparently he is still re-member-ed around these parts.

 

[PayDay]

"throbbing," which is followed a sentence or two later by "dripping"

The word "member" just does me in, just terrible to me.

Guilty There are only so many ways to say a thing, so used once or twice per story is ok, maybe

Then I use 'then' far too much.
...
At least I know I do it.

then as an adverb =
then as a noun =

The only thing that really makes me cringe is the story description where it tells 'you' what you are doing. The 'in the character's shoes bit' :

"You take me from behind..."
"You and I go out together"

Crap like that. I dislike it, very much so. A well written story does that anyway.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Do any of you have a word or words that just makes you cringe because it seems to be used over and over and over?

"In one fluid motion". Overused in action scenes, and stretches credibility when used for things that involve several different movements. ("In one fluid motion he dove for the gun, snatched it up, flipped off the safety, and fired" - does a gunfight REALLY need to look like a Tai Chi workout? Just shoot the guy instead of nancing about fluidly.)

I suspect it happens when the writer realises they're using a long convoluted sentence to describe an action that's supposed to happen really quickly; instead of altering the prose style to match the pace of the action, they slap on IOFM somewhere.

 

[Quantified]

"That."

Used far too often, turns good sentences into bad ones so quickly.

 

[nakdsub]

Now that's funny...

"In one fluid motion". Overused in action scenes, and stretches credibility when used for things that involve several different movements. ("In one fluid motion he dove for the gun, snatched it up, flipped off the safety, and fired" - does a gunfight REALLY need to look like a Tai Chi workout? Just shoot the guy instead of nancing about fluidly.)

I can't remember seeing that a lot, but I'll have to look for it; you're right, I would think that takes a few more than, "one fluid motion." :[

I think, as we write more and more, we tend to fall into the trap of using certain words and phrases with which we are familiar. Unfortunately I believe we all get a little lazy from time to time and will use a single adjective instead of describing the scene.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

She motioned with her finger for him to approach her, and said, "Come get me." He didn't need to be told twice.

And yet he just was told twice...

 

[DustOnDaBotl]

Over used words are bad, but over used lines are even worse. The one that really urks me is "that being said". I guess it makes a person sound like an intellectual.

 

[lovecraft68]

"In one fluid motion". Overused in action scenes, and stretches credibility when used for things that involve several different movements. ("In one fluid motion he dove for the gun, snatched it up, flipped off the safety, and fired" - does a gunfight REALLY need to look like a Tai Chi workout? Just shoot the guy instead of nancing about fluidly.)

I suspect it happens when the writer realises they're using a long convoluted sentence to describe an action that's supposed to happen really quickly; instead of altering the prose style to match the pace of the action, they slap on IOFM somewhere.

Guilty. Don't feel I over use it, but it appears at least once in every fight scene I've done.

I do feel that it fits in martial arts, but can be easily over done.

 

[TxRad]

Laughed, chuckled, grinned.

What can I say, I have happy stories.

 

[lovecraft68]

Laughed, chuckled, grinned.

What can I say, I have happy stories.

I'll add smiled to that.

When I write I just go with the flow, I don't stop and really lokk back until I;m done.

That's when I see how often I use the same wording then go through the process of replacing the over used words.

he or she nodded is one I'm bad with. Apparently my characters are very agreeable.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

Back to words, "literally" is way overused, and mostly used incorrectly at that.

 

[nakdsub]

I had to laugh...

Some one is asking for comments to his new story in another thread, guess what word appears in the title...yup..."awakening." Eeeek, now it's 71%.

 

[green117]

ample

Please, dear God, let "ample" as a description die a cold and lonely death.

 

[lovecraft68]

Please, dear God, let "ample" as a description die a cold and lonely death.

Sigh.

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