Using an unfamiliar phrase

[Dearelliot]

I thought about using the word "wont" in my story.
A friend of mine told a story about some years ago, when he leaned against an outhouse, and he said "as guys are wont to do."
Any thoughts on using unfamiliar phrases and getting negative comments on your story because not all readers may be familiar with the use of the word.

 

[Cindy027]

Is it a phrase, looks like a word LOL. And why not.

 

[SimonDoom]

I thought about using the word "wont" in my story.
A friend of mine told a story about some years ago, when he leaned against an outhouse, and he said "as guys are wont to do."
Any thoughts on using unfamiliar phrases and getting negative comments on your story because not all readers may be familiar with the use of the word.

"Wont" isn't that unusual a word. Maybe not a day-t0-day word for most people's conversation, but it's not a word that most readers will have to dig up a dictionary to understand under the circumstances.

My feeling on this issue is you shouldn't overdo it, and you shouldn't use a word that seems inappropriate for your character, but as a narrator you should feel free to sprinkle your prose with unusual words if they are the right words for the job. I do this from time to time, and I've received some positive comments from readers.

Also, if you do this, as long as you look up the word to make sure you are using it right, you become a better writer by expanding your vocabulary.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

I’d say go for it, but with a tiny caution, that being that it depends on the story. If you’re writing about a mature, educated individual, having them say, “I went for a walk, as was my wont in the evenings.” would work fine. If it’s said by a member of a bunch of 20-year-old jocks in a peeler bar, it might not work as well.

 

[NotWise]

I thought about using the word "wont" in my story.
A friend of mine told a story about some years ago, when he leaned against an outhouse, and he said "as guys are wont to do."
Any thoughts on using unfamiliar phrases and getting negative comments on your story because not all readers may be familiar with the use of the word.

I try to avoid using phases that the readers may not know--especially some of the antiquated things that I learned from my parents. Some of them still sneak through, but no-one has complained.

As far as "as guys are wont to do," I have no problem with it.

 

[MelissaBaby]

I had a character refer to someone having a conniption. One of my readers had a conniption in response.

 

[lovecraft68]

I think as long as the sentence its used in gives some context its no problem. The example you used for wont

 

[lovecraft68]

I had a character refer to someone having a conniption. One of my readers had a conniption in response.

I know that one because my grandmother said it all the time.

My daughter came to me once and said a book she was reading said "More excuses than Carter has pills" and she's like, "Who is Carter?" My answer was, hell if I know that one was already old back when I was her age.

Course as we all know google and wiki are our friends

https://www.southernliving.com/culture/carters-little-liver-pills

 

[yowser]

I had a character refer to someone having a conniption. One of my readers had a conniption in response.

Tangent, but...

 

[thomas1965]

I thought about using the word "wont" in my story.

I am German and I have never heard or read it in my whole life, though I have been living in the UK for 22 years.

Any thoughts on using unfamiliar phrases and getting negative comments on your story because not all readers may be familiar with the use of the word.

Why not just use a more common expression ?

 

[MelissaBaby]

I know that one because my grandmother said it all the time.

My daughter came to me once and said a book she was reading said "More excuses than Carter has pills" and she's like, "Who is Carter?" My answer was, hell if I know that one was already old back when I was her age.

Course as we all know google and wiki are our friends

https://www.southernliving.com/culture/carters-little-liver-pills

Many of my stories are set in Maine, and I use a lot of local dialect. I try to use colloquialisms in a manner that allows the reader to understand their meanings. I can't expect numbie flatland dubbers to understand what it means to bushhog the puckerbrush.

 

[Voboy]

I am German and I have never heard or read it in my whole life, though I have been living in the UK for 22 years.

Why not just use a more common expression ?

There are times when “wont” is absolutely the perfect English word. And there aren’t very many good substitutes. I’ve always avoided using it in stories, though, because I agree with the OP.

I would use it during dialogue for a certain kind of character, probably.

 

[stickygirl]

Many of my stories are set in Maine, and I use a lot of local dialect. I try to use colloquialisms in a manner that allows the reader to understand their meanings. I can't expect numbie flatland dubbers to understand what it means to bushhog the puckerbrush.

Hmm... Having my puckerbush bushogged sounds fun

 

[MelissaBaby]

Hmm... Having my puckerbush bushogged sounds fun

From Isabel:

Charles slowed the car as they approached the first stop sign they had seen in at least two hours. There was a directional sign next to it, showing an arrow pointing to the right, and the legend, Merganser Pond 4 miles, Saw Whet 8 miles. Attached to the post was a handmade wooden sign advertising blueberry pies and beneath that, one printed on cardboard showed a phone number beneath the single word, "Bushhogging."

"I do not know what it means to get one's bush hogged," Isabel said, "But I am willing to find out."

Ten years later:

The sound of a motor drifted up from the road. She recognized it as the postman's truck. She walked down the long driveway to retrieve her mail, although it would most likely be advertisements from that sad little grocery store in Saw Whet, or fliers from some local enterprise offering their bush hogging services. She still had no idea what bush hogging was.

 

[oggbashan]

Grammarly keeps telling me I use more unique words than 90-96% of Grammarly users.

My readers' comments seem to appreciate them.

 

[SamScribble]

I try not to send the reader off looking for a dictionary - either online or on the bookshelf. If they leave, they may never return. So I try to use words that they will recognise. However, that doesn't mean that I try to use words that all readers will recognise. Some readers are not very well read. If a few of those readers wander off - and don't return - it doesn't really worry me.

 

[MrPixel]

There are times when “wont” is absolutely the perfect English word.

Agreed! And it's positively grating when the writer uses "want" instead.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

Some readers appreciate a varied vocabulary, others complain about anything that isn't covered by a 6th grade American reading level.

I try to warn the latter off my stories - my most recent had an intro saying "this won't be everyone's cup of tea, and yes it's in British English." Like several of my stories I can see ratings getting high while Australians and Europeans are awake, then plummeting when the Americans wake up, repeat. Whatever; I get a few comments from people who appreciate the stories I tell.

I think "as was his wont" is a more common phrase, but the OP's wording is hardly archaic or too unusual.

 

[Omenainen]

As a non native I read uncommon phrases easily enough, but when I write I tend to edit them out at some point because I start to doubt myself. I find it funny that native English speaker have trouble with phrases they don’t understand, since it’s something ever ESL learner just has to learn to live with.

 

[NotWise]

As a non native I read uncommon phrases easily enough, but when I write I tend to edit them out at some point because I start to doubt myself. I find it funny that native English speaker have trouble with phrases they don’t understand, since it’s something ever ESL learner just has to learn to live with.

Modern English is bad enough. We can't expect you to learn Middle English, too.

 

[oggbashan]

Modern English is bad enough. We can't expect you to learn Middle English, too.

In my story with Middle English characters I translate into modern English, as I do for other stories in 14th-century French, and twelfth-century Welsh and Cornish.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

IMO, a writer should be true to his or her characters, not the intellectual maturity of the readers. If the phrase fits the character saying it, then it should be used. That is the only barometer I would focus upon.

I have stories that could have been "dumbed down" to appease a few readers with the comprehension skills of a feral child, but the story would have suffered for it in the long run.

 

[Voboy]

In my story with Middle English characters I translate into modern English, as I do for other stories in 14th-century French, and twelfth-century Welsh and Cornish.

I did a story set in 1067. I just wrote in normal modern English, with a disclaimer. Worked fine.

 

[oggbashan]

I did a story set in 1067. I just wrote in normal modern English, with a disclaimer. Worked fine.

I have stories set at the time of the Trojan War. England in the 5th century, and later periods. All have disclaimers such as 'The characters would be speak ancient Greek, translated into modern English'.

They don't seem to bother readers.

 

[MillieDynamite]

A few actual antiquated terms from the old west and Victorian England, Abisselfa = by itself, Abandons = foundlings, Absquatulate – to leave or disappear. Just three of the words my father has used in stories (and yes, in alphabetic order.) There are tons of others he uses when he writes westerns. Usually, he finds a way to let the reader, who mightn't be familiar with such out-of-date words, know what he means.