Is it fine to use them in dialogue?
Dear Nezerra,
Thank you for pointing that out. These are words we use in speech as natural fillers. Dialogue should sound natural but not too natural. Normal dialogue can be mondain. Wit, humour and intellect are used to avoid mondain dialogue. Mark Twain was the master in this department.
Best Regards,
timeless[:)]
You can use them tho if you WANT a particular passage of vagueness and wordiness, perhaps surrounding a character who is full of himself, but otherwise gives no indication in his speech and actions.
Etc.
Dear MJ-12,
Another excellent point! Rules are always meant to be 'intentionally' broken. A problem occurs when we not aware of editors perceptions and rules in the first place.
Respectfully,
timeless[:)]
aa
Nice, cheers for the post.
I think one of the benefits of following ideas like this, is that it forces you to be creative in your wording and style. Time for some editing [:D] [:)]
Adds more:
vagary, wordiness
I can show you a lot of good books with the words you posted, but none (as of yet) with the two above.[:D]
At least we agree on the "rules can be broken" thing.[8D]
-Ater
quote:
Originally posted by rantboi
Adds more:
vagary, wordiness
I can show you a lot of good books with the words you posted, but none (as of yet) with the two above.[:D]
At least we agree on the "rules can be broken" thing.[8D]
-Ater
HP Lovecraft used words that weren't particularly descriptive in such ways that they formed new connotations and became key to the atmosphere he created in his works, making his atmospheres distinct and instantly recognizable. I know when I come across some of the unusual words that he chose to reinvent for his doings, I can't help but think Lovecraft's work.
Wordy words are monotinous (sp?/I'm tired). It's just as easy to use these words to form witty, etc. characters. I used the word 'all' 659 times, and it's still not "going out of style". Hmm, I used the word 'time' 365 times in the first sixteen chapters (that's as far as I got, because I was looking for a specific time that I used the word time.) Of course, time wasn't one of those words, but still. I used 'then' 471 times, and I used 'well' 908 times. Just for a side note to this, I've written it in first person. Should I do some editing? Doesn't matter, because those words are important. Also, 'He was about to leave.' I'm amature, but 'about' looks pretty well usuable in that sentence. I mean, yeah, you can reword it, rewrite it into something else, but that changes meaning completely. Oh yeah, and I used the word 'just' about 1,369 times. Of course, I wasn't using it as in: "He just left," or "There's just no way that could happen." I used it as in, "What was just about it?" <--- notice the 'about' in that sentence, and then 'that' in the previous? I like these words. They add meaning to first person writing, because, really who sits around talking like they invented the English Language all the time? (sidenote, I forgot all the smilies and things, but there's no meaness (I'm tired, leave me alone) in any of my post here).
Anyway, out with that, these are also words people are use to hearing, so it keeps them connected to the story better (or at least me.) And THAT is all I have to say. [:P] (hehe, I finally clicked a smiley)
The following list of words add vagary or unnecessary wordiness to a story. Precise and concise are what publishers look for. [Rules saying never end a sentence with a preposition, have changed -- thanks to Wiston Churchill.] These are words 'that' mark an amatuer in most editors minds.
About, actually, all, almost, already, also, become (and related words like became and becoming), begin (and began), bit, enough, even, ever, exactly, fairly, guess (and related words like guessed, guesses and guessing), just, indeed, little, oh, only, other (and another), nearly, now, plenty, pretty, probably, quite, rather, really, right, seem (and related words like seems, seemed, seeming and seemingly), such, slightly, so, some (and related words like somehow, something, sometimes and somewhat), soon (and sooner), sound, start (and related words like starts, started and starting), still, sudden (and suddenly), that, then, thing, think, too, truly, try (and related words like trying, tries and tried), very, well and yet.
It is fine to use the word 'that' if you are referring to that ball, that cat, that 'particular thing'. Otherwise, avoid it like the plague.
I found an inexpensive American software for writers. It can be ordered over the internet. http://www.variagate.com/wordfreq.htm
Best Regards,
timeless