Saw this very much on x

[Bazzle]

Very interesting word salad

 

[lovecraft68]

That's a very helpful list.

 

[Blind_Justice]

Very useful.

 

[OffNSFW]

Reminds me of Dead Poets Society.

I understand encouraging people to be more adventurous with their word choices, but there's also no rule for or against using simple language (ex. "horny," "wet," "hard") and an intensifier (ex. "extremely horny," "very wet," "brobdingnagianly hard"). In dialogue, it can be a character choice. In prose, it can be a matter of rhythm and flow.

 

[TheLobster]

Very nice.

Seems to be missing a lot, though (anything after H).

 

[AwkwardlySet]

I just realized that I don't have the habit of using "very" with almost anything... Is that just me, the odd non-native guy?

 

[Rob_Royale]

This is good info, and I just double checked my latest story and I didn't use the word too much
But, remember, when we speak, we tend to use 'very' very often. So using 'pristine' in a description of something is good, but in dialogue I would lean towards 'very clean'.

Also, most online thesauruses will give you alternatives to your 'very often' as well. I use it frequently.

 

[lovecraft68]

I just realized that I don't have the habit of using "very" with almost anything... Is that just me, the odd non-native guy?

When I first started writing, I beat the words very, almost, literally, and actually beyond death.

I worked on it, and have now gotten to a point where if an occasion arises that it is the correct word, I sit back and mull it over, like I don't trust them anymore.

 

[SimonDoom]

I used qualifiers, like "very," "pretty," "kind of," "sort of," and "like," and similar terms often in my writing, because 1) people actually talk this way, so it's legitimate to use this manner in dialogue, and 2) sometimes I want my narrative to adopt a dialogue-ish, casual feel, and this is a way to do it. That said, I think this is a useful chart and a good thing to think about, because if you're using the word "very" in your narrative the chances are there's a better word to use.

 

[alohadave]

Very Enthusiastic.

Many of the substitutions are words that have different meanings.

 

[TheLobster]

Very deep -> Profound

“Oh my god,” she cried breathlessly, “your cock… It’s so profound!”

 

[lovecraft68]

“Oh my god,” she cried breathlessly, “your cock… It’s so profound!”

At least its not despondent.

 

[Britva415]

I can't overstate how pleased I am to see that "so very" is not on there.

 

[StillStunned]

I just use "really". Or if I'm feeling adventurous, I use "incredibly".

 

[Britva415]

I just use "really". Or if I'm feeling adventurous, I use "incredibly".

I'm from New England. We say "wicked."

 

[Devinter]

I've found this to be useful at times, though one has to proceed with caution as these are not synonyms but rather different forms of emotions. Can still be inspiring when you want to avoid going down the most basic route of emotional states.

 

[TheLobster]

I've found this to be useful at times, though one has to proceed with caution as these are not synonyms but rather different forms of emotions. Can still be inspiring when you want to avoid going down the most basic route of emotional states.

This is great.

Don't know how a character should react in given situation? Just spin the wheel!

 

[StillStunned]

This is great.

Don't know how a character should react in given situation? Just spin the wheel!

If you're really stuck: someone bursts through the door waving a gun. Then spin the wheel.

 

[Mastered_again]

The wheel of torture

 

[onehitwanda]

I like this alot.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Very Enthusiastic.

Many of the substitutions are words that have different meanings.

Or words that have the same meaning, but aren't intensified over the original. e.g. I'd take "grateful" as a synonym for "appreciative" but I wouldn't take it to mean "very appreciative".

I like this alot.

 

[TheLobster]

Or words that have the same meaning, but aren't intensified over the original. e.g. I'd take "grateful" as a synonym for "appreciative" but I wouldn't take it to mean "very appreciative".

Same for basic and rudimentary, attentive and observant, complicated and convoluted, different and diverse, and -- most importantly -- hard and rigid. They all mostly feel like synonyms to me, with no obvious gradation between them.

 

[HeyAll]

Generally speaking, "very" should only be used in dialogue, because that's how people talk.

 

[MrHereWriting]

Hmm, so, I should change 'very afraid' to 'terrified.'



But, if I change 'very afraid' to 'very terrified' then you really know my character is about a second away from shitting his pants.

 

[countdowntolov3]

Because my style can be very wordy, it's nice to write the way I speak.

Because my style can be verbose, it's nice to vary the language.

Because my style can be wordy, it's nice to trim where I can.