I am sure we have all been warned at some point about the dangers of repetitive language. But sometimes a word (or phrase) just tickles your brain, and you put it everywhere! And that is not a crime.
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It is! It can make dialogue more naturalistic. But you have to be careful about when you're doing it on purpose as part of a character voice and when you are just (heh) weakening your sentences. It's an adverb, and should be treated as such. Can't avoid them all, but be judicious.
Revising what my editor sent me... Turning, moving, looking and trembling. She sent me a list of better words to replace those. Apparently in my book, everyone is just turning and spinning around everywhere haha
i've noticed i use the word "just" to emphasize a lot. like "this album is just wonderful" or "it's just so sweet". i write for me so i haven't got around to fixing this habit quite yet
Similes. I overuse the f out of them. Don't know how to stop or what to replace them with, so my MS is ridden with them for now lol I'm just crossing my fingers it's not noticeable/annoying.
In an ideal world, yeah. But if enough people have trouble understanding it's best to adjust the writing. I think more established writers can get away with less clarity because there's more of a sense of trust. But I'm a newbie.
That. I didn't realize how often I unnecessarily used the word that until I read something suggesting you look for that and just in your writing. Just is a strong second to that.
He thought that she just hated strawberries. vs. He thought she hated strawberries.
I overuse so many words I paid bucks to ProWritingAid so I could find them. I have a bad habit of echoing words in proximity to earlier uses. Not surprising. I'm still thinking about the same subject.
This is what I'm talking about. Words and phrases that just really get you, and even if you use them just a little too much, it's noticeable because they're unique and evocative. I have a tendency towards describing someone shrinking away from something "like a wounded animal" and you simply cannot do that too often, or people will notice it
I'm definitely guilty of using the word definitely.
I also tend to suddenly use the word suddenly which I know is a common writing problem.
Apparently, I use the word "Cocked" a lot as well. Cocked hips, cocked heads, etc. I didn't even realize that one until it was pointed out and now I'm hyper aware every time I write that lol
"As if", as if I could replace it with anything but "like"... "And" when I need to speed up the narration of someone's memories. 5 times per long sentence, 15 time per paragraph is too much. "Fuck" and all the derivatives; my characters are somewhat of an intellectual elite and swear like sailors. "They laughed" as a dialogue tag, they just keep laughing and I can't do anything about it. "Desolate", the action is set in a desert. I feel like it's such a strong and emotionally charged word using it more than a couple of times is a lot. "Maybe", "perhaps" and "probably" — can't stop the characters from being unsure about their conclusions and futures.
while
which
like
as
as though
seemed
even
until
only
started
suddenly
very
yet
And then because I was curious, I ran the first four chapters of my temporarily shelved project though a word counter to verify my claims here, so here they are ranked by usage:
as (86 uses)
even (43 uses)
like (37 uses)
while (22 uses)
which (21 uses)
only (18 uses)
until (18 uses)
started (16 uses)
very (15 uses)
yet (12 uses)
suddenly (6 uses)
seemed (5 uses)
And some bonus words, which are one thousand percent tainted by the actual contents of the story:
dragon (91 uses)
potatoes (25 uses), potato (10 uses)
fucking (12 uses), fuck (2 uses)
annoying (11 uses)
perverted (10 uses)
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like
just
Man, 'just' is such a hard habit to kick. Especially in dialogue.
just try your best like
All you can do really
Just stop saying it, duh. Smhmh. Like how difficult can you make this? Literally, just stop using it. God 🙄 smhmh
Well, if it's part of the characters habit to use just and like it would be fine, wouldn't it?
It is! It can make dialogue more naturalistic. But you have to be careful about when you're doing it on purpose as part of a character voice and when you are just (heh) weakening your sentences. It's an adverb, and should be treated as such. Can't avoid them all, but be judicious.
This
Literally
I say them all the time irl. My rough drafts are probably 3% of just, like, those 2 words
Just like, stop using just and like. Like… just stop it.
Revising what my editor sent me... Turning, moving, looking and trembling. She sent me a list of better words to replace those. Apparently in my book, everyone is just turning and spinning around everywhere haha
My people do a lot with their "gaze". Always looking at something
Careful! They will get dizzy!
…can i have a look at that list?
https://preview.redd.it/8n6uyy69799g1.jpeg?width=2252&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7d9a9763aeab721fb449f62dd7d66880198b2a03
Lmfao now I want to read this version of your story
You can when I publish it.
Will it make me dizzy?
i've noticed i use the word "just" to emphasize a lot. like "this album is just wonderful" or "it's just so sweet". i write for me so i haven't got around to fixing this habit quite yet
Consider a switch to writing about criminal protagonists, traditionally they are very
...
unjust
I'll see myself out.
Same. Also "even."
I suffer from this badly also. I have to find all, and consider each usage in turn to see how many I may be allowed.
While editing my book I had to remove like thirty instances of "one of the...".
Yup....Gotta phrase search sometimes...
"Just", "seemed"
Little. Everything is little. I use it to put things in proper reference.
His little fears. Her little pride. Little people walked down the little lane living their little lives.
lol
I find myself using “as if” to much 🥲
I pull "As" or "and as" a bit too much
He kicked the monkey, as if to let the world know that he didn’t like monkeys.
It's "as though" for me.
all. At all, after all, all of, etc.
Similes. I overuse the f out of them. Don't know how to stop or what to replace them with, so my MS is ridden with them for now lol I'm just crossing my fingers it's not noticeable/annoying.
Turn them into metaphors with this one weird trick
I've tried that but then it leads to lack of clarity and readers get confused/take them literally.
Readers taking a metaphor literally is not a burden that falls on you, it's their own lack of reading skills.
[deleted]
There is a time and place for them. Not knowing how to use them is the problem, or using them too much, not the fact that they were used
In an ideal world, yeah. But if enough people have trouble understanding it's best to adjust the writing. I think more established writers can get away with less clarity because there's more of a sense of trust. But I'm a newbie.
Which IS?
Soft + softly
That's a good one. I have a real problem with "gentle"
Same.
I catch myself using “with a smile.” With dialogue tags way more than I should, lol.
That. I didn't realize how often I unnecessarily used the word that until I read something suggesting you look for that and just in your writing. Just is a strong second to that.
He thought that she just hated strawberries. vs. He thought she hated strawberries.
It’s amazing how many “thats” can be removed. Or I am an overzealous “that”user…
I'll make my usual joke here: "Supererogatory," because using it even once is supererogatory, but I do it anyway.
Then. Every time I edit I have to this word about a thousand times. ‘Then’ he turned, then they were, etc.
Hmm it was the same for me but try “saying” the line as if you are talking to someone. Finding alternatives would be easy like this.
Literally, generic, blazing, excellent, cheeseburger, citizen, :3
Cheeseburger? 😁
I can't explain it, I just have the urge to repeat that word.
Mutinous.
I am the queen of sighs.
Just
Like
Enragement (???)
"Me oh my"
I have random episodes where I can't stop using "thou"
The amount of times I use the word "quite" is insane 😭
I overuse so many words I paid bucks to ProWritingAid so I could find them. I have a bad habit of echoing words in proximity to earlier uses. Not surprising. I'm still thinking about the same subject.
"just" is common for me.
In front
"a number of..."
Sometimes 'several' and 'many' just don't have the right vibe lmao
No clue but probably Spoke and Said.
Depending on how much of a prude you are, Fuck and damn.
I.
'As' and 'then'
Then Even That
Eyes fixed...just....clung....watched from the side of his/hers eye.... Indigo...that's off the top of my head
Um well i say um alot so um yeah
just
In my smutforging, I use "trail of fire in its wake" a ton, I've now noticed.
This is what I'm talking about. Words and phrases that just really get you, and even if you use them just a little too much, it's noticeable because they're unique and evocative. I have a tendency towards describing someone shrinking away from something "like a wounded animal" and you simply cannot do that too often, or people will notice it
So & look. Ugh. In the heat of writing fast, I let them go, but I need to edit them all out later.
I use the word, bit, a bit too much.
I'm definitely guilty of using the word definitely.
I also tend to suddenly use the word suddenly which I know is a common writing problem.
Apparently, I use the word "Cocked" a lot as well. Cocked hips, cocked heads, etc. I didn't even realize that one until it was pointed out and now I'm hyper aware every time I write that lol
"Such"
Such is this, such is that... Such this, such as that... Too tempting
“That.” My friend has valiantly crossed out dozens of unnecessary “that”s in my writing over the years.
“Stare” and all its variants. Everyone is eyeballing everyone.
Honey
Probably probably.
Well
Lovely, amazing, spectacular, great. I'm s very positive person
then
"As if", as if I could replace it with anything but "like"... "And" when I need to speed up the narration of someone's memories. 5 times per long sentence, 15 time per paragraph is too much. "Fuck" and all the derivatives; my characters are somewhat of an intellectual elite and swear like sailors. "They laughed" as a dialogue tag, they just keep laughing and I can't do anything about it. "Desolate", the action is set in a desert. I feel like it's such a strong and emotionally charged word using it more than a couple of times is a lot. "Maybe", "perhaps" and "probably" — can't stop the characters from being unsure about their conclusions and futures.
"as if"
"but"
"literally"
"couldn't"
"were"
I know these are common words, but looking through one of my fics and seeing how many times I used the phrase "as if"...
Totally.
Why? Because my character is twelve and this is a first person narrative. He’s totally gonna use ‘totally’.
while
which
like
as
as though
seemed
even
until
only
started
suddenly
very
yet
And then because I was curious, I ran the first four chapters of my temporarily shelved project though a word counter to verify my claims here, so here they are ranked by usage:
as (86 uses)
even (43 uses)
like (37 uses)
while (22 uses)
which (21 uses)
only (18 uses)
until (18 uses)
started (16 uses)
very (15 uses)
yet (12 uses)
suddenly (6 uses)
seemed (5 uses)
And some bonus words, which are one thousand percent tainted by the actual contents of the story:
dragon (91 uses)
potatoes (25 uses), potato (10 uses)
fucking (12 uses), fuck (2 uses)
annoying (11 uses)
perverted (10 uses)
Said
Just
Murmur. I don’t know why but my current WIP I just read through the first draft again and my goodness my FMC needs to speak the f up lol
Just
Yet
Soft
Look
Warm
Gaze
And Then
Cocked his/her head.
Silent, silence, silently, quiet, quietly and ...
____ smiled.
For me it’s “cock”.
Soft, softly, gently, smiled, frowned
“basically “
Said” 💔
I guarantee there are authors under thirty who even write "nOt GoNnA lIe" at the start of sentences. Grim.