Word Frequency

[NotWise]

Didn't really work for me. One program plastered "Carl" over the middle of the image, which I thought was apropos but odd, since the other main character names did not appear.

 

[sr71plt]

I'm sure that if I did a "most frequently used word" review of my stories, the word would be "cock."

 

[ElectricBlue]

Stallion, surely?

I'm sure that if I did a "most frequently used word" review of my stories, the word would be "cock."

 

[sr71plt]

Stallion, surely?

Nope.

 

[Bramblethorn]

https://prowritingaid.com/en/Home/Index

This one has a repeated phrases report. The free-use version only allows 3k words at a pop, but it's there.

I use it for a couple of the reports when I have time to process something in small chunks. The free version used to allow a lot more words, which made it far more useful, and a standard part of my editing process. Not so much any more.

Nifty, thanks.

 

[Bramblethorn]

I've had that issue. But personally, 'said' draws me out and draws attention to itself so I also dislike using he said she said. My approach is to try move into dialogue seamlessly without using said. I usually put the dialogue after the character's thoughts, or actions, or expressions etc.

I like this technique. A nitpick, though:

He counted nine seconds before the thunder followed the strike of lightning. Gloved hands gripped the steering wheel firmly as he cast her a grin, "You ready?"

Should be a full stop after "grin". Comma would be correct if you were using a speech tag like "he said", "he "asked", etc. etc. But grinning isn't speaking.

 

[le_kitty]

I like this technique. A nitpick, though:



Should be a full stop after "grin". Comma would be correct if you were using a speech tag like "he said", "he "asked", etc. etc. But grinning isn't speaking.

Ohhh. I didn't know that. To me a full stop completes the sentence and the dialogue should then start on a new line, but doing that might obscure who spoke it, whereas I feel the comma makes it clear. Also I find that the only time I start dialogue on a new line is when I've gone from person A to person B.

I haven't had a reader bring it up with me though, but I am consistent so maybe they're used to it.

I guess that's what happens when you don't have formal training in writing, you follow your own rules.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Ohhh. I didn't know that. To me a full stop completes the sentence and the dialogue should then start on a new line, but doing that might obscure who spoke it, whereas I feel the comma makes it clear. Also I find that the only time I start dialogue on a new line is when I've gone from person A to person B.

I haven't had a reader bring it up with me though, but I am consistent so maybe they're used to it.

I guess that's what happens when you don't have formal training in writing, you follow your own rules.

"Gloved hands gripped the steering wheel firmly as he cast her a grin" is a full sentence. The "You ready?" follows on from that but it isn't part of the sentence, so a full stop after "grin" is appropriate.

The comma shows up next to speech when the speech is part of that sentence. For example, if you'd written:

Tom said, "You ready?"

then that's a single sentence. "Tom said" isn't a sentence on its own; it needs the quoted words to be complete. So it gets a comma.

Dialogue doesn't always need to start on a new line. If you're switching between speakers, then each new speaker needs a line break, and sometimes it's good to add one anyway to separate ideas. But if you're writing about what a character's doing, with speech by that same character, it doesn't usually need a line break.

 

[le_kitty]

"Gloved hands gripped the steering wheel firmly as he cast her a grin" is a full sentence. The "You ready?" follows on from that but it isn't part of the sentence, so a full stop after "grin" is appropriate.

The comma shows up next to speech when the speech is part of that sentence. For example, if you'd written:

Tom said, "You ready?"

then that's a single sentence. "Tom said" isn't a sentence on its own; it needs the quoted words to be complete. So it gets a comma.

Hm. I see. That gives me a dilemma. I've effectively been doing it wrong for the last few years. To be honest, I'm comfortable and used to it and I vaguely balk at the idea of having to conform now. But thank you, I've learned something new.

 

[NotWise]

We often don't put a full stop after a complete sentence. Sentences can be spliced together as independent clauses. On the other hand, if the second "clause" is in dialogue then maybe that doesn't apply.

 

[sr71plt]

Ohhh. I didn't know that. To me a full stop completes the sentence and the dialogue should then start on a new line, but doing that might obscure who spoke it, whereas I feel the comma makes it clear. Also I find that the only time I start dialogue on a new line is when I've gone from person A to person B.

Nope. Bramblethorn's got it right.

 

[Hypoxia]

If anyone cares, my most-used non-trivial words are pronouns and proper names. YMMV.

An old humorist who started his working life as a printer's assistant wrote:

I never did learn how to spell, – but I did learn the typesetter's rule, – "Set up type as long as you can hold your breath without turning blue in the face, then put in a comma. When you gape, put in a semicolon, and when you want to sneeze, that's the time to make a paragraph."​

That works for me. YMMV.