using the word "suddenly"

[FibonacciEddie]

Agreed... my manuscript (Post 2nd decent draft) had ~50 "suddenly" instances in 115,000 words - I deleted 35 of them

I now have to get rid of the 150+ occurrences of xyz "nodded"

 

[NbDawn]

Thanks for this. In proofreading my own work, the few places where I used the word 'suddenly' felt jarring but I couldn't figure out why or how to fix them. I also have trouble with realized, that, and felt.

 

[J D Foster]

Off topic a bit, but on a theme, I can't stop using "only," as in except. I've tried to swap some out for excepts, but then there is only (aggg) so many times you can do that before you end up with piles of "excepts" instead. I'm guessing it points at a tragic over reliance upon some kind sentence structure in my writing, only I can't figure out how to stop it....

 

[Tim Murray]

Off topic a bit, but on a theme, I can't stop using "only," as in except. I've tried to swap some out for excepts, but then there is only (aggg) so many times you can do that before you end up with piles of "excepts" instead. I'm guessing it points at a tragic over reliance upon some kind sentence structure in my writing, only I can't figure out how to stop it....

How about, they, them and the? How creative can we be in third person narrative?

 

[Steven Sorrels]

Whenever I write, I try my hardest to avoid overusing adverbs, particularly common ones like 'suddenly'. That's not to say that they can't be used, but if I don't keep constant watch, I find I rely far too heavily on them.

And yes, I'm aware I had a few in there. Point made.

 

[JaeDarcy]

Hmmm 49 in 130k. I might need to review!

 

[Jennifer L. Carson]

We all have habit words (one of mine is "bit." Whenever I search for it, I dope slap myself with an accompanying "doh!" I'm not interested in eliminating it, but I don't want it to look like I've been paid by the society for the use of "bit" either!). If "suddenly" is a habit word, then yeah, worry a little. It should not be a lazy default, but as some have pointed out, there is no reason to eschew the word entirely. It's in the language for a reason. In truth, I think it is overused, and a writer should take a precaution or two to see if they have done so. My objection to it is essentially that it is what I call a one word oxymoron (I collect those). Suddenly just ain't. It's a three syllable oxymoron with a comma or implied pause after it often. That's one word, meaning pretty much "instantaneously" (another one word oxymoron), that takes four beats when you are reading. "Suddenly" just isn't a sudden word.
However, I have used it 49 times in 250K, and that's after vetting for it. Where it works for me is when it is used as a transition. An abrupt change sometimes needs a transition, a notification to the reader, "listen up! Pay attention here!" I fervently agree with using the right verbs; verbs are the engine of a sentence. A good one takes you far, a bad one has the whole thing breaking down. But sometimes that is not enough. Sometimes a sudden action needs immediate notification. There are places where I use good verbs, but when I read the sentence without the transitional "suddenly," I slide over the change in action, and go, oh wait, using an entire sentence to be sudden didn't give the feeling I wanted. It diluted the full stop that suddenly provides. So while suddenly isn't sudden, sometimes to best be sudden, you have to stop the action that was happening right HERE...suddenly. That can sometimes be the best way to knock a reader...suddenly. So even though its a four-beat stop, or maybe because it is (meaning it provides a firm and noticeable point of transition), "suddenly" sometimes is the best answer.

Because of all this, "suddenly" should be a conscious, well considered choice, never a habit or a default, for if it is overused, it will lose it's power where it is correctly used as well as where it is not.

 

[AnyaKimlin]

In a close third person or first person the odd habitually used word (used deliberately and not too often) can give a voice character. Just is probably my biggie but I make sure to keep it to one particular characters POV.

 

[JaeDarcy]

Actually, what I get is word *clusters*. I'll use some rather distinctive word about four times on one page. Never before, and never again. Just all clustered there like it was stuck in my brain for an extended time and I got stuck on repeat. Very common for me, in editing, to be like.. wtf... I used "precise" three times in three paragraphs.

Anyone else get that one?

 

[Dennis E. Taylor]

In a close third person or first person the odd habitually used word (used deliberately and not too often) can give a voice character. Just is probably my biggie but I make sure to keep it to one particular characters POV.

Yeah, it's important to remember that your rules for word content, grammar, etc, have to be different for narration and for character dialog. Characters absolutely can have run-on sentences. Characters absolutely can say "like", like, every third word. Characters absolutely can have accents. But the non-dialog narration (even if told in first person) has to have a higher standard.

 

[AnyaKimlin]

But the non-dialog narration (even if told in first person) has to have a higher standard.

Not if it's told in their voice. I've got four POVs in my story.

Ian uses just a lot.
Matt doesn't use contractions and calls himself Matthew or Matilda (he's Matt in everyone else's POV). His tone is callous in someways.
John's thoughts tend to be more passive and he's very shy.
Pete has a liking for suddenly and other -ly adverbs. He also is more affectionate in tone.

They didn't start out as deliberate but I think quirks that distinguish the character even narrator are important. They're bound

 

[AnyaKimlin]

Actually, what I get is word *clusters*. I'll use some rather distinctive word about four times on one page. Never before, and never again. Just all clustered there like it was stuck in my brain for an extended time and I got stuck on repeat. Very common for me, in editing, to be like.. wtf... I used "precise" three times in three paragraphs.

Anyone else get that one?

Quite often I have a favourite word de jour that needs weeding out. Singeing was a really long standing one.

 

[Ursa major]

Actually, what I get is word *clusters*.

Where there is just the one cluster, the following won't help. However, just in case....

I've mentioned this before (perhaps even in this thread): if you search for certain words using Replace, and replace the sought word with the same word highlighted, you can -- if you use a red highlight AND you've overused the sought word -- discover that your manuscript has word-measles.

 

[Ronald T.]

As The Judge and Stephen P, stated, moderation is the key. All of us have pet word-peeves that irritate us whenever we see them. But we have to be kindhearted and remember that, without intending to, we irritate our readers with words that nettle their minds as well. We all do it. But our goal is to be aware of overused words or phrasing. We give our readers a gift if we can be aware of the most extreme examples of this problem, and then make sure to eliminate at least a few of the offending words and phrases.

But be generous with yourselves and other writers, because this is a troublesome aspect of writing that has always been with us, and always will be. If you ask a thousand readers to write a list of ten words they hate to see in a story, you'd probably have a thousand different lists. It's an unavoidable part of writing.

And in truth, I believe "suddenly" is exactly the right word in certain applications.

Of course, this is just one man's opinion. And what the hell do I know?

 

[tinkerdan]

I agree that it has it's place, but it doesn't hurt to examine it's use and find a different way.
We could start it off with::
He stood resolute, challenging.
This::
Suddenly a blow sent him reeling to his knees.
Or::
In seconds the unexpected blow sent him reeling, to his knees.
Or::
The blow moved his head clockwise; his grinding teeth bit into his tongue and the copper taste accompanied a sharp pain while he struggled to remain erect. He fell to his knees, palms splayed out, grinding into the gravel.

Yes the first one shows great economy of words.

 

[Steve Harrison]

And in truth, I believe "suddenly" is exactly the right word in certain applications.

And that, for me, sums up this and every other word in the dictionary!