Overuse of a word

[eh9198]

Dear Lit writers, particularly LW writers who tend to write the stories that don’t really focus on sex,

With love, respect, and the acknowledgement that I couldn’t write my way out of a wet paper sack, can we find another way to say “grin”? Smile, smirk, whatever it may be, I see it used ad nauseam to the point I’m starting to wonder if it’s a secret code amongst all the like-minded LW authors.

 

[filthytrancendence]

Not really. Take a gander in the thesaurus. You just listed all the extant English words that are somewhere in the neighborhood of smile.

I mean, it's certainly possible to overuse them. It's just, there's a linguistic reason why its extremely common to do so, and there's only so much a writer can do if they're writing a scene in which two people are smiling a lot at each other, which tends to happen in an erotic context.

 

[ronde]

I use several different terms other than grin, but I use them because while they all convey a facial expression, they also reveal something about a character's state of mind without having to write another paragraph. It is a code of sorts, but it's a code between the writer and the reader.

A "smile" can indicate happiness or just being polite.
A "grin" is an unconscious reaction to humor or because of particular pleasure with something the person has done.
A "smirk" says, "That's what you think but I know differently."
A "sneer" says, "You're so wrong I don't want to respond but I will."

 

[draco519]

I use this

 

[TheWritingGroup]

"The corners of her mouth turned up ..."

--Annie

 

[AG31]

I love WordHippo.com

 

[AlinaX]

I use grin far too often.

 

[yowser]

Whenever something like 'smile' turns up too often (and new lovers tend to do this a lot) I find it helpful, and sometimes character building, to describe the event, even obliquely. Show how it is a unique 'smile.'

Her smile seemed forced, as if she was struggling to be polite.

His smile came easily, I thought it charming.

Their smile came out of the blue, I wasn't sure why.

Each of these adds to the character's portfolio, paints a visual picture, and can avoid the constant parade.

 

[Voyeurkenneth]

This is a good thread, I appreciate you creating it! It should've perhaps been posted in the Author's Hangout to get maximum responses.

My two cents: I struggle too with grin vs. smile overuse. Attempts to be more descriptive with the expression sometimes feel too wordy for the flow of the dialogue I'm trying to achieve. There's always the argument that context should reveal the emotion, but sometimes there's just a need to spell it out clearly, especially if you assume someone is speed-reading the passage.

 

[Cagivagurl]

HArd to display the emotion if you cannot describe it.
Grin, snicker, smirk, smile, laugh, giggle, chuckle...
They are used to describe an emotion... Perhaps an uncomfortable forced grin...
A sneering smirk...
Creating an image in the readers head, you have to use appropriate words.

Cagivagurl

 

[darkride]

When I write, I certainly try not to overuse the same word / word combo. Sometimes it becomes obvious that I have done so, and I'll make some changes when I do my proof read. But, it's not always easy, especially if you're writing a particular chunk of text with the same general thing happening.

Sure, it means you get to be playful with words (and should do so!), but - sometimes you're just left grinning dumbfounded.

 

[TheWritingGroup]

I just wrote this line, and I'm curious how people feel about it:

"It's so typical of you, Liz. You thanked me for assigning you work." Smile met smile.

 

[Voyeurkenneth]

I just wrote this line, and I'm curious how people feel about it:

To me, it’s part of a flowing exchange of dialogue, I maybe wouldn’t think twice.

But if it’s coming after a blocky paragraph, I’d consider beefing it up: “her smile met my smile.”

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

HArd to display the emotion if you cannot describe it.
Grin, snicker, smirk, smile, laugh, giggle, chuckle...
They are used to describe an emotion... Perhaps an uncomfortable forced grin...
A sneering smirk...
Creating an image in the readers head, you have to use appropriate words.

Cagivagurl

I've tossed out a chucklesnort here and there.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

[Big smile] Her (his) whole face lit up.



[Meek grin] There was a subtle twist of the lips.



[Something else] Her sparkling eyes and pursed lips related her pleasure.

 

[DanDraper]

Someone who used to edit my stories once told me how the world "that" is one of the most overused words in the English language. We tend to say it more than we realize, and he was right. After searching how many times "that" shows up in one of my stories I realized it shows up a little too much so I try to revise the story to bring the number of times it shows up a more decent level. You can't avoid "that" too much, it's still needed, but its something that can't be overdone.


...

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

^^ And that's all there is to that!