We're all "glancing" around

[SciFrac]

This word is grating on me. I see it used all the time, and I like it less and less. I've used it myself a couple of times, but now it turns my stomach. There are substitutes, and it takes some thought, but I'm happier without it.

I'm curious: what words do you hate seeing in print?

 

[HareBrain]

"chuckled" -- I usually picture a gurgling, imbecile baby, even when it's clear the author didn't intend that. (Though I sympathise with the choice because there are no usable synonyms for "laugh" that don't sound ridiculous.)

Also, "tumescence". For some reason. (Not that I do see it in print very often.)

 

[allmywires]

'Giggled' when used for a male character. NOT. ON. No men I've ever met (or anybody over the age of 10...) has ever giggled.

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

I'll agree with you there, AMW. It just looks wrong. I even hesitate to have my adult females giggle.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

'Giggled' when used for a male character. NOT. ON. No men I've ever met (or anybody over the age of 10...) has ever giggled.

I have one giggling when stoned, and he is just as horrified about it as you are. Can i have that?

Superfluous thats set my teeth on edge and had hads. Deduced. Dont like deduced.

 

[HareBrain]

I'm starting to wonder if all the alternatives for "laugh" were invented by people who disapprove of it, like that monk in The Name of the Rose.

I mean, what've we got? Chuckle, giggle, guffaw, chortle, titter, snigger -- all instantly remove the dignity of any character who does them. Would Churchill have inspired Britain to stoicism if he'd "chortled" during a speech? If Lincoln had accidentally "tittered" during the Gettysburg Address, isn't it certain Union morale would have collapsed? No wonder Shakespeare's tragedies are so much better than his comedies. Laughter in English sucks!

 

[Juliana]

Laughter in English sucks!

Thats the advantage to writing in Portuguese, there are only about 3 ways to write "laugh" (one being a diminutive) and they are all pretty dignified...

 

[TheDustyZebra]

I've come to despise "competently" due to a series I read recently. In every book, someone drives competently. It would never occur to me to use that word in that manner. Unless someone is driving incompetently, is there a reason to point out their skill level? In basic traffic, that is, not on a racetrack.

 

[HareBrain]

I've come to despise "competently" due to a series I read recently. In every book, someone drives competently. It would never occur to me to use that word in that manner. Unless someone is driving incompetently, is there a reason to point out their skill level? In basic traffic, that is, not on a racetrack.

Reminds me of our old Call of Cthulhu games, in which our GM insisted we make several driving rolls even when just going to the shops. All I can say is, it's a good job our characters were rich, the number of trashed Duesenbergs we left lying about.

 

[Mouse]

I like a good glance. It serves a purpose. I agree with the 'giggling' though. Chuckling I don't mind.

I've said it before, but 'delicious' is the one that gets me. Where's the pukey-face smiley?

 

[Biskit]

'Giggled' when used for a male character. NOT. ON. No men I've ever met (or anybody over the age of 10...) has ever giggled.

As a former, card-carrying 'mad scientist' who worked amongst others of the same ilk, I have to say that I suspected one or two of my (male) colleagues of giggling when no one else was around. The sort of giggle that would make cute furry animals nervous at the phrase "… and then close the microwave door…"

 

[Biskit]

And add 'realised' to the list of words to hate.

 

[Kylara]

the phrase "suddenly noticed" eugh, where do I even start!?

 

[psychotick]

Hi,

I'm giggling even now!

However if there's a word I don't like writing its "said". Maybe it is invisible when you read it, but I simply hate writing it.

Cheers, Greg.

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

Hi,

I'm giggling even now!

However if there's a word I don't like writing its "said". Maybe it is invisible when you read it, but I simply hate writing it.

Cheers, Greg.

Especially if you have two people speaking to each other named Ted and Ned?

 

[TheDustyZebra]

"I just realized I'm going to have to rethink my WIP, the mystery novel," said TDZ, giggling. "Glancing through this thread, I suddenly noticed that I use a delicious abundance of words that irritate the snot out of people on this forum. In fact, I have deduced that my book will be unanimously unpopular, and I am going to give it up and drive competently to the bar for a stiff drink." :~0# <---pukey faced smiley

 

[Warren_Paul]

I've got a male character giggling, but he's not your average male. In fact, the way he acts is borderline insane. So yes, he giggles. Cackles even. Think Rumplestiltskin from Once Upon a Time.

Glancing. I used to use this a lot, not so much anymore, especially since I write in mostly 1st-person now. I just have the character's descriptive thoughts narrate about what they are looking at, which implies they are 'glancing' that way and such. I do have occasions where somebody else glances at the PoV character though, because I can't show their thoughts instead.

Suddenly. It does grate on me sometimes, but I also do use it. I think this word depends on the way it is being used. Sometimes the effect is lost because of punctuation or phrases that invalidate it.


I don't think it's all that bad, TDZ. Sometimes those words are the only ones that work in certain situations. I've even been forced to use 'seemed' a couple of times in my current WIP, which is a pet peeve of many people.

 

[ctg]

You native speakers are so weird. Getting physical symptoms from seeing a word. Maybe you guys should go to get your heads checked.

 

[Bowler1]

Sorry, CTG, my turn to join the weirdos.

Glancing and eye movements if overused drive me up the wall. In real life are we watching where people are looking, no we don't, we'd really be considered weird if we went around staring into peoples eyes.

 

[ctg]

Well, I definitely noticed that from your critiques. And now that bring out so well, I have to say that you probably don't ever watch people eyes. But if you lot have a problem with a word, are you going to delete it from your brain or carry on with weird writing and trying to implement all sorts workarounds in your WiP's?

Thing is if I would remove all eye movements from this real short story, I'd have hard time describing it as I experienced it. And yes, there's couple mistakes and no, I don't care.

Poor Husband.

I was about turning to home stretch the other evening, when I noticed a couple standing in the street corner. Husband had his face buried in a book of maps, while the wife looked real desperate. And just as I was about to run over the road, the wife said: "Excuse me. Could you help us?"

"Yeah," I said. "Maybe. What's the problem?"

"Could you please tell us how we can get to the Holland Park Avenue?"

I glanced the husband and said, "You're standing on it."

The wife rolled her eyes, turned around and smacked the husband real hard, before she turned back and said, "Thank you so much."

I shrugged my shoulders and thought, poor husband, he needs to learn reading maps and fast.

​

The thing is, I have only so many words to express myself, while you lot have probably gazillion more even if some make you physically sick. So there, I'll shut up now.