words I don&#039;t like in fiction

ha ha haa.... now that is one story I would read and would forgive any use of said vocabulary. Clever clogs.

Thu, 2006-01-26 14:24

#4

Right - once more people reveal their words, we should all aim to write something including them all that is actually good and doesn't bother any of us. Yep! zenith - there is no need for it. As there is no need for 'myriad', at least not if you're not Richard Wright or William Faulkner.

Thu, 2006-01-26 14:25

#5

'lythe' is another.

Thu, 2006-01-26 14:33

#6

maddan

'miasmic' and 'evernescent' are always a bit dodgy

Thu, 2006-01-26 14:34

#7

as is the phrase 'his stomach lurched'

Thu, 2006-01-26 14:36

#8

'plethora'

Thu, 2006-01-26 14:37

#9

ely_whitley

suddenly... used far too often, especially by me.

Thu, 2006-01-26 14:39

#10

Yes... the lure of 'suddenly'... it is one of those words that pops in at inopportune moments and doesn't let go. A bit like, 'quietly' for me. I always write things like, 'No thank you,' she said quietly. As if the 'quietly' give it more gravitas. It doesn't Hayley - so stop it!

Thu, 2006-01-26 15:18

#11

Oh, I like 'translucent', when used for things like clouds. I dislike the euphemisms 'manhood' and 'member'. Member of what? The RSPB? Why not just say cock or dick and get it over with? I especially loathe the tag words with these: throbbing manhood, pulsing member, etc. I mean, from my perspective they sometimes twitch or even spit *cough* but pulse?

Thu, 2006-01-26 15:23

#12

span

I hate sear, flame, shudder, scintillate, agony and .... tissue.

Thu, 2006-01-26 15:28

#13

I hate the word 'sex' - as in 'he touched her sex'. Purrrllleeaaaaaaaaaaaaaase.

Thu, 2006-01-26 15:44

#14

Yeah, what an absolutely UN-sexy word. Then again, I hate the word 'slit', which is sometimes used instead: it's somehow disgusting and violent at the same time. What's wrong with 'petals'?

Thu, 2006-01-26 15:45

#15

ha ha.. you're joking.... right? And i was talking about fiction... we seem to have got off track somehow.

Thu, 2006-01-26 15:48

#16

No, I just read Annie Proulx, and she used both 'cock' and 'slit'; the first I like *ahem* and the second I deplore. As for petals...any better suggestions? 'mysteriously' is another one...."Who knows?" he said mysteriously. WTF does that mean?

Thu, 2006-01-26 15:53

#17

Foster

mostly i hate overly obvious phrases like, His feet shuffled slowly across the floor. of course! and i thought he was walking on the ceiling...

Thu, 2006-01-26 15:57

#18

ah yeah, adverbs... they can be terribly offputting. Like 'No way,' he said aggressively. 'Why not?' she said questioningly. 'Because you are being unfair!' he said whiningly. 'Am not,' she said defiantly. 'Are too,' he said angrily. 'So long terrible writer,' said fergal, frustratedly. As for petals...well... any flower word for female genitalia is a no no for me. I'm a fan of c**t...I don't mind s**t either and have read it in Annie Proulx (ooh public computer censoring me).... just because they do what it says on the tin.) 'In the cut' - the title of the book - is slang for vagina. I have this theory that I always go into, and that is that the reason there are so few acceptable words for female genitalia is because people are scared of it, or see it is something dirty and sinister. Therefore a word like c**k is perfectly acceptable for a bloke, as is d**k, pr**k, knob, etc etc, but c**t is not. I have many female friends who think c**t is the most offensive word in the world, followed by p**sy, and all I have to say to them is the following: 'Is there something so terrible about your own c**t that you don't want it to have a simple, accurate name?' So petals is a big no for me (in fact I am still laughing), but then I try not to particularly have genitals in my writing anyway. I don't tend to write sex scenes. I like to write bits after sex scenes, or before. The exciting bits.

Thu, 2006-01-26 16:00

#19

I like the word 'cunt'; I was halfway joking about petals, but that's what I use when talking to my little girl. I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable with her telling me, "Mummy, my cunt hurts!". We also use 'too too'. !!! 'In the Cut': saw the movie. Fairly erotic, very black. Apparently the book is far darker.

Thu, 2006-01-26 16:06

#20

The book is a lot darker - but oddly I enjoyed the film more... in the book I felt she was punished for her sexuality... in the film she isn't. And I'd do Mark Ruffalo if I had to. You know, in the name of science or the good of mankind. Yes - the whole what to get your daughter to call her 'cunt' is fascinating... Isn't it amazing that there is no acceptable word.. after all this time?! Every parent goes through this and it AMAZES me that this is still the case. There aren't any safe words either - like boys can have willy, which is perfectly innocuous and fine, and there is no female equivalent. Most boys know what is meant by the word 'willy', but girls have all been given different names for theirs and it gets 'em in a right muddle when talking about it. 'Minnie' seems popular at the moment. When I was a kid it was a case of not naming it or mentioning it. I think my parents hoped it would go away. Ha!

Thu, 2006-01-26 16:10

#21

Juliet OC

vagina monologues has a piece on this, by the end the audience are shouting cunt, cunt cunt - love it. Juliet

Juliet

Thu, 2006-01-26 16:10

#22

ha ha haa! My mum used 'too-too' so the name stuck. But I like 'petals' for a little girl; I want her to like her vagina, to associate it with something beautiful, like a little flower. I think girls in my generation grew up hating theirs, for various reasons...I want my girl to love herself, unquestioningly. I'll have to go read the book. I'll also volunteer to share Mark Ruffalo with you. That man is solid. *humph*. Must go pick up the kids now. Laters..

Thu, 2006-01-26 17:12

#23

span

ha, this thread is brilliant. I was talking about this with my housemates the other day. there is no acceptable word. My best mate, hates the word cunt, I try and use it as often as I can because the fact that she hates it so, makes me laugh. I have taken to predominantly using the word cunt. I find to be a perfectly functional word, and not aggresive. The word, vag makes me laugh. As does (still) reading the word Fanny as a name (as in Famous Five) whenever I come across the name in whatever context there is a small part of my brain that titters. I am so infantile. I don't think men have many better alternatives themselves and that the whole thing is pretty funny and should be viewed with good humour. I think it is hilarious that most guys name themselves. Not many women do that. Or maybe I am just weird and my friends are shy. Span

Thu, 2006-01-26 21:13

#24

maddan

Tim: "I'd look like a twat in a jumpsuit." Daisy: "Don't say that Tim, that's a word that hates women." Tim: "What, twat?" Daisy: "No, jumpsuit." Spaced

Thu, 2006-01-26 23:19

#25

1legspider

In our household with two girls it is 'nunu' pronounced ''noo noo' thinking back to when I was young it was also nunu. I am not sure grownups have nunus though, It don't seem right, what do you think? I like cunts. I must admit I did chuckle at the 'hoover' sucking machine in Teletubies (Remember them!) that was also an aptly named noo noo. Never mind fiction, some of the words that really get to me in real life are 'skint' and 'no' except when it means yes of course or even 'yes, of course'.

Thu, 2006-01-26 23:46

#26

2Lou

Ah now, you see, I used to find, see you next Tuesday (as we used to have to say when proofreading the dodgier Northern and Shell copy) offensive. Not because of the subject matter, but because of the way it used to be said. Iâ€™d only ever overheard it said in an aggressive, disparaging manner (no â€“ not directed at meâ€¦ just realised how that read). But, you know what I mean, youâ€™re in a bar somewhere and you overhear some bloke using that term, and it always sounded vicious. Anyway, I donâ€™t feel the same since it began slipping into mainstream usage without the tone of misogyny. Itâ€™s not a particularly pretty word though. Very sharp and abrupt, (which is why itâ€™s sooo good as a curse word of course). My daughters and I use the word fanny. Not very creative, but what a happy little word. (Btw friend of mine also called it noo-noo as a kid - she found the whole blue hooover thing terribly surreal - we are talking sleep deprived mothers here.)

Fri, 2006-01-27 11:51

#27

span

Tears, sob, wretched all of these words bother me. One of my close friends cannot stand to hear the words 'breast' or 'tissue'. Combined, it is almost enough to make her vom. She is screwed if she ever has to go for a mamogram. Span

Fri, 2006-01-27 11:58

#28

I still hate it when I read the line, 'It had started to rain.' in fiction as if that is supposed to mean something important. Tissue I like, but only when talking about tissues (tissues don't feature enough in contemporary fiction in my opinion).

Fri, 2006-01-27 12:08

#29

ely_whitley

I've just checked with the missus and the name for that when a small child was 'tuppence' (I sarcastically suggested it was appropriate because, in later life, if they get a lot of interest they can be worth a fortune) there's always 'front bottom' which I find disgusting and biologically inaccurate (apart from in the case of Hitlerâ€™s mum). Fanny can be misconstrued when travelling in the states so best not to bother. I had a brief argument once with a PA when she called someone a â€˜see you next Tuesdayâ€™. I didnâ€™t get it and she rolled her eyes like I was an idiotâ€¦â€Think of what it spells out, Stupid!â€ she said. â€œSyntâ€ I replied.

Fri, 2006-01-27 13:48

#30

2Lou

What a silly synt!

Fri, 2006-01-27 15:31

#31

Brooklands

If I was a girl I would call it my nonny. I am not a girl.

Fri, 2006-01-27 16:18

#32

2Lou

So when Shakespeare said, Hey Nonny Nonny...

Fri, 2006-01-27 16:52

#33

ely_whitley

as a swear word, as well as a name for genitalia, I find that the 'C' word is best tested in jokes where the impact is easily measured by its comic effect and I'm afraid there are none to beat it. Example: (very crude, apologies in advance) [mother is in bath when youing son toddles in and points beolow the surface] "Mommy what's that?" [panics] "err, Mommy had an accident and fell on an axe sweetpea" "Did it hurt?" "err, no not really, don't worry darling, Mommy's not hurt" "my word Mommy, you must have a c**t like a tractor's bumper!" I rest my case

Fri, 2006-01-27 18:52

#34

Jack Cade

'Snatch' is the best equivalent to 'cock'. Although that can lead to difficulties when discussing Guy Ritchie films. "I have this theory that I always go into, and that is that the reason there are so few acceptable words for female genitalia is because people are scared of it, or see it is something dirty and sinister." That's a very widely held theory. In fact, I was reading a Kurt Vonnegut essay recently where he suggested that all 'dirty' words are regarded as such because people are scared to discuss the things they describe. Words I hate in fiction. I dunno. I'll wimp out and say it's all about context. But I tend to get turned off by any introduction to a character that begins with their name and what they're doing/thinking in a manner that attempts to desribe the entire set-up in one fell swoop. eg. "Andrew Twatbank stood outside his five million pound home and wondered what ungodly force had caused the roof to collapse into the secret attic where he kept his genetic experiments." There are names that I definitely dislike. Anyone introduced as 'Smith', 'Anderson', 'Tony', 'Barbara', 'Bill' or numerous other handles-that-suggest-little-imagination. I know words that look awful in poetry, unless you're very sparing/clever in your use of them: 'soul' 'pain' 'Auschwitz' You know.

Fri, 2006-01-27 19:20

#35

2Lou

Anyone seen Deadwood? Now * there's * a rich vocabulary...

Fri, 2006-01-27 21:17

#36

I find any phrase that's overused really annoying not just in fiction but my friends' emails. But then equally annoying is choosing a fancy show-off-y word just to be different. It's a fine balance. thus words/phrases I hate from: My (ex) psychiatrist: intoxicated, episode My friend (identity protected): you (it's the tone), 'in terms of' in fact entire composition sounds off key From my father: fritter, childish, damned And it is not necessary to affirm one's faith in a signature/ sign-off. 'Love and Prayers', 'Holding you in prayer during this Lenten season', 'May the Lord continue to bless you as you continue this journey' etc are not necessary and they do not boost your 'Holiness Rating'. A simple 'Best wishes' will suffice. (Unless you're my friend J who actually means it and actually does love me and will pray for me). I rather like 'Bear hugs and Bhajans' as a backhanded tribute to 'love and prayers' Moving on to literature swaying glow (and I confess to this one) groaned or moaned And Ferg, what's wrong with tendrils? Okay you said, you don't know why you don't like it but what would you do here? ...the tendrils of chemical comfort cradled my cranium and seduced me in the dark perfumed beauty of vodka vapour and lust ... Apart from not write something so shite?

Fri, 2006-01-27 21:31

#37

And while I am bitching on here. Euphemisms that really pee me off. As (I think it was Mr Shirt who pointed this one out) to 'sleep with' someone to describe having sex. Mr Shirt's point was that usually you'd very much stay awake. 'Passed away' instead of 'died'. It makes it sound like they've been flushed down the loo or floated away on a canoe or something. As in "I had a curry last night and its played havoc with my bowels but its passed away now". Even worse is 'fell asleep' appearing on gravestones. When I fall asleep, I wake up the next morning. Dead people do not.

Sat, 2006-01-28 08:53

#38

justyn_thyme

I avoid 'suddenly' at all costs. Virtually everything in life happens suddenly from the perspective of the person witnessing the action. In some cases, it is physically impossible not to happen suddenly, such as when the telephone rings 'suddenly.' All telephones ring suddenly, unless you happen to have a new model which gently announces itself in advance through psychic messages. ''Plethora,' 'numerous,' and 'cacaphony' are overused or used incorrectly. In American English, 'fanny' is a grandmotherly word for arse. For generations one of the bestselling cookbooks in Amerca was called 'Fanny Farmer's Cookbook.' Now there's a thought: a fanny farmer. 'Meaningful relationship' makes me feel like puking. It is such a 70s word, and nothing of lasting value came from the 70s, the decade that brains and taste forgot. I have a meaningful relationship with my employer. I do the work and they pay me. That means a lot. I do not have meaningful relationships with people. I have friends. Duh.

Sat, 2006-01-28 12:43

#39

justyn_thyme

"Cunt is fine. Depends how it's used." Ah, truer words were never spoken. *apostrophe inserted*

Sat, 2006-01-28 14:37

#40

I rather like punani (I got this from Ali G) for a woman's genitals...or cha-cha not to be confused with tea. Don't like cunt - I don't find it offensive, it just has a nasty sound and in the same way I don't like runt to describe a weakling. Blunt is okay but I digress. Never liked cock really. I use willy for one I'm familiar with (not that I am familiar with loads of willies) and knob for one I don't know personally (even if I know its owner personally). Some debate as to whether or not (k)nob should be spelt with a k.

Sat, 2006-01-28 14:39

#41