Words you hate

[Serena Casey]

I'm sure this is not the first thread about most-hated words, but I'm too lazy to look, so I'll just start another.

Right now, my nemesis is the word "chuckle" or any form of it. I can't explain it, but I just don't like that word. It's a dilemma because I can't come up with many other words for laugh that are reasonably dignified. I don't want my characters to chortle, giggle, cackle, snicker, or guffaw. Those terms just rarely seem to fit. And the only person whom I've allowed to chuckle in my novel is an elderly man because it worked. But not for anyone else.

What do you use as alternatives to "laugh"? And what words do you hate but that seem to be impossible to avoid because of the lack of alternatives?

[nevada]

The two words I hate the most are pants and panties. I hate the sound of them, I hate how they feel in my mouth, I hate typing them even. I never use the word panties and cringe whenever anyone else does. I've tried to inure myself to the word pants because it gets used so much, everyone wears pants. But I'll never use that word, ever. Illogical I know, but I dont care. lol

[katiemac]

I don't want my characters to chortle, giggle, cackle, snicker, or guffaw.

You already got mine. :)

[Kristal]

The two words I hate the most are pants and panties. I hate the sound of them, I hate how they feel in my mouth, I hate typing them even. I never use the word panties and cringe whenever anyone else does. I've tried to inure myself to the word pants because it gets used so much, everyone wears pants. But I'll never use that word, ever. Illogical I know, but I dont care. lol
Well I suppose you need to stick to historical pieces so you can call them breeches, or fantasy, and they can all wear cloaks. Or if you really want to avoid it you would have to write a scottish novel, and they would wear kilts and perhaps you wouldn't to worry about the whole pantie word either... chuckle...oops...sorry Serena, it just came out.

:)

[newmod]

I hate how they feel in my mouth ...

Hi nevada, maybe you should try edible panties instead :D

[newmod]

You could always go for trousers and knickers if you prefer. I´m from London and hate the word pants (which for me means a type of male underwear) for trousers and panties, which for me are knickers (depending on the style).

[newmod]

Hmm, this is a tough one, so many to choose. Three things spring immediately to mind. It´s not the words themselves but their use. Cool, it´s like, you know. For example "It´s like, you know, sooo cooool!" Arrgghhh!!!

Also in business "added value". Possibly a euphimism for "do what you´re supposed to".

Pukka, dude, buddy, sweet (meaning very good), I better stop before I spend too long on this ...

Also a lot of phrasal verbs and fixed expressions get on my tits. If I think of any stonking examples I´ll give you a heads-up, but at the end of the day, when all is said and done that probably won´t happen.

Take care all,
newmod

[Vaxil]

Chuckle ^ You got mine! I hate it!

[UrsulaV]

There are plenty of alternatives, but the word "tummy" has always made me want to gag and kick people in the shins. It is only justifiable when talking to small animals, in sentences that include words like "ooogie-woogie-snuggy!" and not to be used in speech to humans.

Also "proactive." But that's probably a relic of my corporate days. (The other one I remember from those days was an internal marketing campaign that said "Our goal is to be world-class!" As many times as I asked "World-class whats?" there was never an answer. They seemed surprised I would ask.)

[Elizabeth Slick]

"F&%k" (rhymes with truck)
I can't stand this word in excess. Sure it is a bad word, okay, fine. It can be used here and there. I have it in my novel, but when you start seeing it all over the place or every other word, like some HBO shows, it gets annoying.

[Cassiopeia]

Well, I really can't stand chortle. It sounds like it belongs in a sentence like, "The dirty old man chortled as the beautiful young woman walked by."

As for replacements for those words, I can't help you. Is something you feel comfortable saying long with the word laugh? Without using ly on the end? It is kind of hard, I know. I am sitting here thinking...laughed amiably, excitedly, happily but then no..there is that ly thing on the end.

I wish I knew of a word. :)

[Mac H.]

Try our new word: "Utilise" ! It has the same meaning as 'Use' but with three times as many syllables !

What's the point of the word? Why do bureaucrats love putting it on signs: "Passengers: Please utilise the gate on your left" !!!!!

It's only purpose is to obscure.

Mac

[Red Shonja]

I hate the word 'Fabric'. No reason.

I also hate it when someone says "as I said before..." I can't STAND that!
Yes, I know what you said! I was there! Remember! I'm not simple!

I also hate it when people call a tissue a 'kleenex'.

[IThinkICan29]

Ok, brace yourselves! I despise the word "the" when it's pronounced "tha'". It drives me absolutely bananas. I also hate the phrase "you know", when people add it to the end of everything they're saying...you know? LOL

[Cassiopeia]

I hate the word 'Fabric'. No reason.

I also hate it when someone says "as I said before..." I can't STAND that!
Yes, I know what you said! I was there! Remember! I'm not simple!

I also hate it when people call a tissue a 'kleenex'.BUT...BUT...that is what they are don't you know? kleenexes. That is the proper way to spell their plural form don't you know? :D

[BardSkye]

"Wellness." It's even popping up all of a sudden on business signs: "Wellness Centre," and -- my gawd -- "Minister for Health and Wellness."

[NightWynde]

I hate words/phrases that are so PC'd down they don't mean anything anymore. "Differently abled" is my current peeve. I mean, come on, we're all differently abled. So I have a knack for dialogue, does that mean I get a little blue sticker on my car?

I also hate "cinnamony" but that's more of a pronunciation thing since I keep saying "cinnamonamonneenee" or some such a couple of times before I get it right.

[TeddyG]

"Whatever" - I hate that word!

[Cassiopeia]

"Whatever" - I hate that word!I agree...especially when my son uses it when I am trying to make a point.

[Forbidden Snowflake]

I agree...especially when my son uses it when I am trying to make a point.

Or my Girlfriend ;)

Anyways, I hate chuckling too, and giggling, who the hell giggles? Except for schoolgirls?

[Novelist in Paradise]

Well, I really can't stand chortle. :)

"Well, soap me up with kerosene," the dirty old man chortled.

I flared my nostrils at him. "Listen, you ringworm. One more chort and I'll throttle you to a giggle."

[Robert Toy]

Also "proactive." But that's probably a relic of my corporate days. (The other one I remember from those days was an internal marketing campaign that said "Our goal is to be world-class!" As many times as I asked "World-class whats?" there was never an answer. They seemed surprised I would ask.)
Please let’s not forget “Center of Excellence”, “Thinking outside of the box” and my favorite “Philosophy of Culture.”

[Joanna_S]

I hate 'proceeded to' as in "Then she proceeded to yell at him." Why add the extra words? What does it add?

I also hate when people qualify 'unique.' Things are not very unique, really unique, totally unique -- they're unique. Period.

I also dislike it when people use 'orbs' for eyes. I realize that there are no reasonable synonyms for eyes, but the image I get when I see the word 'orbs' has nothing to do with eyes.

-- Joanna

[Linda Adams]

My co-writer has a problem with the word "men." Still haven't figured out why. I'll get revisions back, and my "men" are always replaced with something else (soldiers, troopers, Federals, Confederates, etc). But he doesn't have problem with using "women" for the women characters. :Shrug:

Me? I don't really have any words I don't like and avoid using other than some forms of profanity.

[IThinkICan29]

"Whatever" - I hate that word!

Oh my my my...I have to add this word to my list. My skin really crawls when someone breaks it up...."Wha' everrrrrrr". I secretly wish I could kick them to hell.

[aruna]

"African-American". Especially if it's used as a synonym for black when the black person isn't even American! (happens often)

There was a movement recently in Britain by which black Britains ought to be called "African-British". Luckily, it dissolved into nothing.

[aadams73]

"African-American". Especially if it's used as a synonym for black when the black person isn't even American! (happens often)



I agree. Some journalist on CNN(I think) recently referred to Naomi Campbell as African American. I just cringed.

I really despise the word 'like' especially when used by teenagers and adult morons in a sentence such as this:

"Like, I am totally blah blah." or "So he was like...and I was like..."

Nothing that person says thereafter will ever convince me they actually have a brain. Like, totally. ;)

[MarkEsq]

"African-American". Especially if it's used as a synonym for black when the black person isn't even American! (happens often).


Agreed, even when they are American.

I dislike "eclectic."
It's overused and, in my humble opinion, sounds pretentious.

[stormie]

The word "chirped." As in, "Oh, I love it!" she chirped. I see this most often used in Women's World magazine. Once I was surprised to read the word "chirped" used in one of the stories in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. Some young woman "chirped" when she responded to something. It threw the whole story off for me, esp.when I saw it in a mag such as EQMM. And here I thought only birds chirped.

[MajorDrums]

i don't like the word "p***y" (rhymes with wussy). sounds incredibly crass, i can't say it or write it.

also, i hate the phrase "i understand that..." usually when someone says that, he/she is trying to get someone to shut up and let them have the last word at something.

[Anonymisty]

"as"

I get so tired of writers saying things like "As the sun rose, she rolled over in bed and yawned." Or "I jumped in fear as the lion roared."

It sounds weak to me. I know there are times when it's use is appropriate but it's been so overused that whenever I read it, the "as" always pops me right out of the story.

[Thomma Lyn]

dude

basically (useless word)

issues (as in, he/she "has issues")

closure

doodle (when used for a baby chicken - just can't stand that one; it's a visceral loathing)

quirky (soooo overused these days)

chunks (just sounds icky)

[KTC]

Ever since Robert Culp beat the word SCENARIO to death in The Greatest American Hero, I've hated the word. I have never used it in any of my writing. It's on my black list.

[KTC]

"Whatever" - I hate that word!

Whatever, Dude!

[UrsulaV]

doodle (when used for a baby chicken - just can't stand that one; it's a visceral loathing)

I've never even HEARD this one before! I thought baby chickens were chicks, period, full stop.

Weird.

[scully931]

There are plenty of alternatives, but the word "tummy" has always made me want to gag and kick people in the shins. It is only justifiable when talking to small animals, in sentences that include words like "ooogie-woogie-snuggy!" and not to be used in speech to humans.

Haha... That is SO true! I always use it with my kitties, but I can't stand it when applied to humans.

My main problem word is "children." Not that I hate the word, but if I'm talking about someone who is about 12, 13 or 14, 'children' gives the wrong impression. 'Teenager' also gives, in my opinion, an incorrect implication. 'Youth' sounds too formal. I manage to avoid use of these words in the actually manuscript, but when I get to the synopsis, etc., I keep pulling up the thesaurus hoping someone will have invented a new word. And don't anyone suggest 'tween!' :rant:

;)

[wrinkles]

So?

[Ardellis]

Most useless word that any writer would do well to forget:

somehow

[ChaosTitan]

My pet peeve isn't a single word, but a collection of four: all hell breaks loose.

I cannot explain how much I despise seeing it or hearing it. Because seriously? Unless your novel/movie is about a battle between heaven and hell or demons and angels (or something to actually do with hell), then it's not going to break loose. Period.

It's just one of those cliches that makes me grind my teeth and want to smack people.

[nevada]

Oh oh, another word that's misused: quality. As in "we sell quality merchandise." Okay, but what kind of quality? Good, bad, medium? Quality by itself means nothing.

[kristie911]

I hate the word [B]mount[B] in all it's forms. I will never say or write "She mounted the stairs." Though I read it frequently and it makes me cringe every single time. And don't even get me started on taxidermy..."he mounted his trophy deer". Argh, just gives the wrong mental image.

[blackbird]

Maybe it's just some sort of subconscious prudishness on my part, but I hate the names of most body parts--belly, feet, toes, nose...you get the idea. All of these make me cringe even though sometimes there's no way around them.

Weirdly enough, I don't have a problem with "eyes" or "hair". I can use "mouth" okay, but try to avoid "lips" unless the scene is supposed to be sexual. I don't have a problem with "penis" but hate every single word for the female genitals, all of which are horrendously ugly--vagina?? Come on!

Having said that two cents, I'll jump on the PC-label bandwagon here. I don't like Native American; it is a very uncomfortbale term for me, and most indigenous people today reject it. It is little more than a white liberal term coined to somehow rectify the past five hundred years, but the truth is that most of us prefer "Indian." (Go figure, but it has much to do with Indian logic--we just consider it a more honest term). Of course, the problem there is that it can be confused with "Indians" who are from India (which, of course, is where Columbus thought he was--hence the name).
Most indigenous people actually prefer to be called by their individual tribes--Cherokee, Lakota, Dineh, etc. But that can be problematic since there are only about five hundred individual tribes and most people need a convenient umbrella label for the entire race.

Oh, and I detest "chuckle" too--a horrid word. I can live with "giggle" if the character is a teenage girl or small child, but it sounds funny to say a man or boy "giggled." I usually just say something like, "He laughed." Which if flat, but pretty much says it, and without having to rely on any of those horrid substitutes.

[nicegrrl]

Nigg-r.

Well, that was an easy one.

[Mac H.]

"African-American". Especially if it's used as a synonym for black when the black person isn't even American! (happens often)An African friend almost came to blows with someone over this.

The other person (an 'African American') made the mistake of saying that my friend wasn't African. My friend IS African - Zimbabwean to be precise. However, the concept of 'African is not the same thing as Black' was a bit too much for the American to comprehend !

Friend: "I am African"
Other: "No you aren't. No, a 'REAL' African."
Friend: "I AM a REAL African. I was born there. My parents were born there. My parents parents were born there."
Other: "That doesn't make you a real African. Not like me."
Friend: "Have you ever even been to Africa?"
Other: "I don't need to. It's in my blood."
Friend: "And it isn't in mine? Are you a real American?"
Other: "Of course"
Friend: "Why do you think you are a real American, but I'm not a real African?"

etc

Mac
(PS: On the N--ger issue - funnily enough it seems to be highly offensive in the USA, but not as much in other countries.

Queensland even has a stadium named in honour of 'E.S. N-gger Brown' - which has offended one campaigner by the name of Hagan:

Hagan isn't stopped even by the fact that all the Aboriginies in the area - the ones he's "saving" from this indignity - think he's a loon:

Toowoomba's 4,000-strong Aborigine community is not supporting Hagan's campaign, a community elder, Walter McCarthy, confirmed by phone Friday.
He said a community meeting in 1999 had passed a resolution agreeing that the name of the grandstand had "nothing to do with race," and should remain in honour of a great sportsman. That resolution still stood.

Moreover, the heads of 11 regional bodies representing 10,000 Aborigines in the wider Queensland area had discussed the matter, and 10 had agreed the name should stand. The dissenting 11th representative was Hagan himself.

I'd like to think that the reason the term isn't as offensive here is something to do with perfect racial harmony - but in reality we just have different offensive terms!)

[Jenan Mac]

I hate the word [b]mount[b] in all it's forms.

Ah, the infamous Johnny Carson curse: "May a crazed diamond cutter mount your sister!"

[Cassiopeia]

Haha... That is SO true! I always use it with my kitties, but I can't stand it when applied to humans.

My main problem word is "children." Not that I hate the word, but if I'm talking about someone who is about 12, 13 or 14, 'children' gives the wrong impression. 'Teenager' also gives, in my opinion, an incorrect implication. 'Youth' sounds too formal. I manage to avoid use of these words in the actually manuscript, but when I get to the synopsis, etc., I keep pulling up the thesaurus hoping someone will have invented a new word. And don't anyone suggest 'tween!' :rant:

;)the new word for that is pre-teen :) not any better I am afraid.

[allion]

Some of my pet peeves:

Diva
Strategize (is this a word?)
"Knowledge Management"
Awesome (used often in conversation at work when it has nothing to do with the real meaning of the word - if someone does something you asked them to do, the result is not awesome)
"Value added" anything
"Return on investment"
"It seems to me that..."
"Teeny bopper"

And another vote to have "utilize" exorcised.

Karen

[Thomma Lyn]

I've never even HEARD this one before! I thought baby chickens were chicks, period, full stop.

Weird.

Maybe it's a Southern thing, or maybe even specifically an Appalachian thing. Ha. ;) All I know is it makes me wanna hurl.

[Anonymisty]

My main problem word is "children." Not that I hate the word, but if I'm talking about someone who is about 12, 13 or 14, 'children' gives the wrong impression.

I work in a middle school, and I can tell you the students would all agree with you. *grin* I still refer to them as children (when I don't say students) but it's just because calling them teens or young adults, in their hearing, is just asking for behavior problems.

[Scrawler]

"Needless to say..." (obviously not!)
Sniffed, as in "You are beneath me," she sniffed.
female when used instead of women or ladies. We don't use the females room, or look for females shoes in the females department.

Heard on a TV gossip show: "Mel Gibson was at the bar alone by himself."

[Thomma Lyn]

Oh, one more: I've come to loathe the word "value". More and more, it's used in a meaningless way.

Cases in point: direct marketing commercials for widgets and services that claim things like "a $239 value for only *gasp!* 19.99. But Wait! If you call now, you'll receive this pickle piddler - a $168 value - for FREE (just pay shipping and handling)!"

[Thomma Lyn]

Oh, I can't forget: I hate "irregardless". It isn't a word! It's a blight on the English language.

[nicegrrl]

I hate all stupid pseudo medieval or pseudo elizabethan words- wench, m'lord, aye, womanly courses. WTF. Use real words and sentences. There are few people in the world that could accurately mimic dialogue from anytime before the 17th century.

[expatbrat]

I hate Bling.

The stupid word is popping up all over the place.

[maddythemad]

I hate the word "shyly". "Shy" I can stand, but after reading Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke (where this one character Ben says every other sentece "shyly") I have developed an intolorence for people doing or saying things "shyly". In fact, I had to go through my novel and change every occurance of the word "shyly" to something like "timidly" or "hesitantly".
~maddythemad

[Ordinary_Guy]

I hate Bling.
I'm not a big fan of that one either.

On the same note, I'm not too fond of "pimp." To refer to a person that acts as a business manager to a prostitute – there it's acceptable. To use the word as a verb substitute of "modify", as in "to pimp out..." annoys the holy living ship out of me. Obviously, though, there are already alternatives to "pimp" that I can and do use.

Which takes me back to the very beginning of this thread:
I'm sure this is not the first thread about most-hated words, but I'm too lazy to look, so I'll just start another.

Right now, my nemesis is the word "chuckle" or any form of it. I can't explain it, but I just don't like that word. It's a dilemma because I can't come up with many other words for laugh that are reasonably dignified. I don't want my characters to chortle, giggle, cackle, snicker, or guffaw. Those terms just rarely seem to fit. And the only person whom I've allowed to chuckle in my novel is an elderly man because it worked. But not for anyone else.

What do you use as alternatives to "laugh"? And what words do you hate but that seem to be impossible to avoid because of the lack of alternatives?
I ran into a similar situation (a couple of times, unfortunately) and started leaning on the thesaurus for help. It helped once...

After pounding on this problem, I realized the real stumbling block was in my approach. The "chuckle" was a symptom, if you will, but not the cause. The characters were too similar and the situations were repeating themselves where the appropriate reaction was a reaction we'd seen half a dozen times before... and I got the feeling my plot was going in circles.

In this case, you might have too many "bemused" characters or even be unconsciously recycling scene settings. Heck, you might consider having fun with showing the umpteenth "chuckle" and having one character belt the other for chuckling when "panic" was finally a valid reaction.

Just something to think about.

[Serena Casey]

BUT...BUT...that is what they are don't you know? kleenexes. That is the proper way to spell their plural form don't you know?
I would have thought that would be Kleenices? :D

Another one I despise is "nosh," usually found in women's magazines, in articles about how to lose weight: "Keep an apple in your pocket so when you get the munchies you can just nosh on fresh fruit instead."

Makes me shudder.

[Anonymisty]

Another one I despise is "nosh," usually found in women's magazines, in articles about how to lose weight: "Keep an apple in your pocket so when you get the munchies you can just nosh on fresh fruit instead."

Makes me shudder.

Oh, me too! I have a friend from New Jersey who uses that word habitually, and it always gives me the willies. It brings to mind the sound of someone chewing with his mouth open.

*bleh*

[BardSkye]

My main problem word is "children." I keep pulling up the thesaurus hoping someone will have invented a new word.

They're not new, but what about "lad" and "lass"?

[TrickyFiction]

You got mine too. Guffaw.
It just doesn't roll off the tongue when it's read aloud.
I can't stand it, especially in past tense. Guffawed. Ugh.

[Scrawler]

I hate it when people my age use street slang. It's totally wack to hear a 40+ year old saying things like, "wicked cool," or "fresh" or "Stop falsing!" WORD!
Asking, "who's your daddy" is not dope. Fo rizzle!
I am soo not guffawing here.
Peace out.

[Cassiopeia]

How about someone typing the word...if you can call it a word, meh. What the hell is meh?

I know I am older ...oldER but I am not stupid. So when I see someone replying on a thread with ..
Meh

All I can think of is that our educational system has gone to hell in a hat basket.

[Cassiopeia]

I hate it when people my age use street slang. It's totally wack to hear a 40+ year old saying things like, "wicked cool," or "fresh" or "Stop falsing!" WORD!
Asking, "who's your daddy" is not dope. Fo rizzle!
I am soo not guffawing here.
Peace out.

Now hang on there... wicked and cool were both in my era, along with fresh but it was used in the context of "don't be fresh".

What I can't stand is people that are under 29 thinking that groovy, cool, dude, rightous and similar saying started with their generation. NOT. Like I tell my kids...I am from the original head bangers. :)

[seun]

I know they've been taken but I have to add my loathing to chortle and chuckle. Awful words.

Panties sounds like something from a letter in an adult magazine. I usually just stick to underwear although that can sound a little clinical.

[UrsulaV]

has gone to hell in a hat basket.

Gotta say, that's a new one on me...

[stormie]

I think it's "Gone to hell in a hand basket."

[MajorDrums]

I hate Bling.

The bloodly stupid word is popping up all over the place. I, of course, blame those damm rap-singing back-people, oops, no, african-americans, nooo, ummm, those people who look a little bit like the people, the dark coloured people not the the light coloured people, who live in Africa but who live in other countries now, nope.... the people who look like that 50-cents fella. The coin-people. Yeah, them, that's it. I blame the coin-fella-like-people for that stupid bling word.

i'm still new here, but can we report posts we feel are offensive? are posts like this allowed?

[FloVoyager]

I don't think I hate any words or phrases, per se, except those that were invented or appropriated only to hurt people, to degrade them, either individually or as a group. And I don't think I need to type any of them here.

[MadScientistMatt]

My pet peave is using "impact" as a verb to describe anything other than a collision or certain medical conditions.

[Haggis]

i'm still new here, but can we report posts we feel are offensive? are posts like this allowed?
Indeed you may. Go to the post in question, and on the left hand side, below the avatar, you will find a triangular symbol. Click on that to report any post you find offensive or inappropriate.

[JimmyB27]

Sniffed[/U], as in "You are beneath me," she sniffed.


One of the many things that made me want to throw the Wheel of Time books at a wall. Every single female (sorry :p) character in those books sniffs when annoyed. All of them.

My current peeve is the word 'action', used as a verb. As in, 'Could you please action this?"

[seun]

i'm still new here, but can we report posts we feel are offensive? are posts like this allowed?

Howdy. Just offering the idea it was a joke post, taking the piss out of PC terms. I'm still relatively new here but it strikes me as unlikely to be serious.

[NeuroFizz]

"state of the art" whether hyphenated or not, grates on me like fingernails on a chalkboard.

"organic" with all of its bastardized meanings which are mostly used commercially.

"cellulite" There is no such thing. It's all adipose tissue, folks. Cellulite is the name for the bumps it creates through skin, but it is the same kind of adipose tissue (fat) found in other parts of the body, and there is no diet or exercise regime that can or will target it specifically--because "it" is not a unique entity.

"spot reducing" In the same veing as "cellulite," spot reducing--preferentially reducing fat in the area of exercise or movement--is a myth. When fat is burned, it is burned throughout the body, not just in the area of movement/exercise.

Any novel that begins (first line) with "It was..." That said, I just read a relatively new James Patterson that started...you guess it..."It was..." I acknowledge some great novels started this way, but to me, it is overused. This, of course, is a very personal preference, so no need to point out all of the "It was..." beginnings.


I realize the middle three are seldom used in novels, although I've seen "organic" in a few. The other two were just word-related rants, not novel-related rants.

[smiley10000]

Swear words bother me. I do not see how they further the plot in any way and only give me the desire to wash the author's mouth out with soap.
I got through 4 pages of A Million Little Pieces and I loved it but the amount of swearing prevented me from continuing. Is it really necessary?

Other than that, any word goes as long as it works...
:D 10000

[HoosierCowgirl]

I've never even HEARD this one before! I thought baby chickens were chicks, period, full stop.

Weird.

In the Midwest, baby chicks are peeps.

In the spirit of extreme helpfulness ...

Ann

[blackbird]

Now hang on there... wicked and cool were both in my era, along with fresh but it was used in the context of "don't be fresh".

What I can't stand is people that are under 29 thinking that groovy, cool, dude, rightous and similar saying started with their generation. NOT. Like I tell my kids...I am from the original head bangers. :)

This is an interesting point, Casiopeia. I was recently blasted for a story in which my 40-year-old female protagonist is listening to Nirvana. The reasoning? It wasn't considered "believable" behavior for a 40-year-old woman, without giving the reader some reason to believe she is unconventional. I was taking the criticism like an obedient puppy, tail tucked between my legs, before I realized: BUT HEY. Kurt Cobain would be thirty-nine years old if living today. Courtney Love is already past forty. ALL of the grunge rockers from that era are pushing forty or over. Because the fact of the matter is, grunge was the music of Generation X, and guess what...that is MY generation, and the generation of my protagonist, and yes, believe it or not, we are all pushing forty, if not already there.
I felt so much better then. Well, anyway, that has nothing to do with hated words, and I don't mean to hijack the thread, but couldn't resist throwing that in.;)

[arrowqueen]

I don't know who wrote that UK editors prefer 'anyways', but they were wrong. I've never heard that in my life.

[blacbird]

In descending order of importance:

Not,
For,
Us

caw.

[stormie]

In descending order of importance:
Not,
For,
Us

Excellent!

[stormie]

Oh, and similarly, I know I've been told that 'gay' is now an insult and 'queer' has been reclaimed, but I still can't get my mouth around that one. Again, my formative years were in the late 80's, early 90's, and 'queer' just seems antiquated to me (and hey, it's not really a positive word).
Interesting. I have several gay friends who would rather be called gay than queer. But they're over 35, so maybe that makes a difference? Personally, I don't like the term "queer" as it seems to connote "different in a bad way."

[Siddow]

At.
Queue.
And the C-word.

[Thomma Lyn]

In the Midwest, baby chicks are peeps.

Peeps = :e2headban

Doodles= :Headbang:

Ha, go figure.

Edited to add: But I loathe "peeps" when it's used in lieu of "people."

[expatbrat]

Someone/people complained about my post that was made as a dig at the whole PC-crazy attitude some people have adopted. (Post #55)

Please understand the post was in jest. I live in an expat environment where my friends are from hundreds of countries – well probably mostly 30 countries but you know… I honestly can not longer hear accents. I have to ask people where they are from (if it ever becomes relevant – not often) as my brain simply ignores the differences. Meeting friends for a meal I am usually the only one at the table from my country, and there can be as many countries represented as there are people (I am not even from the same country as my husband, my four best friends are all from different countries. Our wedding was interesting!).

I am flabbergasted people take offence to someone noticing people have a couple of differences – but in the world I have been living for the last ten years, no one is judged for being blonde, dark, blue eyed or tall. People are judged on how they present themselves and interact with others. Whoever was offended by my original post obviously lives in a different reality of the world. Sorry if anyone was offended.

[LightShadow]

"F&%k" (rhymes with truck)
I can't stand this word in excess. Sure it is a bad word, okay, fine. It can be used here and there. I have it in my novel, but when you start seeing it all over the place or every other word, like some HBO shows, it gets annoying.

Any expletive, for that matter. I write without them, except for the light use of "darn" "dang" and "what the hell?"

whew, am I courageous, or what?

[Novelist in Paradise]

In descending order of importance:

Not,
For,
Us

caw.

oliitial.

Out loud it is that I am laughing

[Novelist in Paradise]

Heard on a TV gossip show: "Mel Gibson was at the bar alone by himself."

Well hang on, I only drink alone *all* by myself, or with other people.

[Novelist in Paradise]

Someone/people complained about my post that was made as a dig at the whole PC-crazy attitude some people have adopted. (Post #55)

Please understand the post was in jest. I live in an expat environment where my friends are from hundreds of countries – well probably mostly 30 countries but you know… I honestly can not longer hear accents. I have to ask people where they are from (if it ever becomes relevant – not often) as my brain simply ignores the differences. Meeting friends for a meal I am usually the only one at the table from my country, and there can be as many countries represented as there are people (I am not even from the same country as my husband, my four best friends are all from different countries. Our wedding was interesting!).

I am flabbergasted people take offence to someone noticing people have a couple of differences – but in the world I have been living for the last ten years, no one is judged for being blonde, dark, blue eyed or tall. People are judged on how they present themselves and interact with others. Whoever was offended by my original post obviously lives in a different reality of the world. Sorry if anyone was offended.

I'm in an expat world too. Some of us here, in one of the world's surf centers with wild lads and surf chicks (not to mention the clubbing), are judged partially how much we can drink. (Middle-aged me, I'm just a couple sunset beers guy, actually.)

[seun]

Someone/people complained about my post that was made as a dig at the whole PC-crazy attitude some people have adopted. (Post #55)

Please understand the post was in jest. I live in an expat environment where my friends are from hundreds of countries – well probably mostly 30 countries but you know… I honestly can not longer hear accents. I have to ask people where they are from (if it ever becomes relevant – not often) as my brain simply ignores the differences. Meeting friends for a meal I am usually the only one at the table from my country, and there can be as many countries represented as there are people (I am not even from the same country as my husband, my four best friends are all from different countries. Our wedding was interesting!).

I am flabbergasted people take offence to someone noticing people have a couple of differences – but in the world I have been living for the last ten years, no one is judged for being blonde, dark, blue eyed or tall. People are judged on how they present themselves and interact with others. Whoever was offended by my original post obviously lives in a different reality of the world. Sorry if anyone was offended.

Don't worry too much. I got the joke even if others didn't.

[seun]

I don't know who wrote that UK editors prefer 'anyways', but they were wrong. I've never heard that in my life.

Agreed. I can't imagine any editor here changing 'anyway' to 'anyways'. I know it's an American term (same as 'someplace' rather than 'somewhere') but it still makes me cringe for some reason.

[newmod]

I´m from London and for me it´s anyway. I always thought anyways was an American thing :Shrug:

[Angelinity]

'youth'

worse yet, 'youths'...

[Mac H.]

Heard on a TV gossip show: "Mel Gibson was at the bar alone by himself."I really don't see why this is bad.

Sure, it is redundant. But any good language has redundancy - it is essential for error detection. (Sorry, a communications theory background sneaking through)

If we want to emphasise the sadness of it, we use a phrase that reminds us of the loneliness in multiple ways.

Good writing and poetry does it all the time.

What if we reformat the original statement to make the redundancy less subtle: "Mel Gibson was at the bar by himself. No friends. No family. Not even strangers to drink with. Just the alcohol and him. Alone."OK, maybe it's a bit TOO much, but the redundancy packs more emotion than simply stopping at 'by himself'.

Imagine critiquing Shelley's poem "Ozymandias":

"What a waste of words! Shelley talk about how the sculpture was 'lifeless' - but hey, he's already mentioned it's made of stone! By cutting out some of the words, he could have had exactly the same meaning ! "
But would it have the the same impact on the reader?


Mac

[JimmyB27]

I really don't see why this is bad.

Sure, it is redundant. But any good language has redundancy - it is essential for error detection. (Sorry, a communications theory background sneaking through)

If we want to emphasise the sadness of it, we use a phrase that reminds us of the loneliness in multiple ways.

Good writing and poetry does it all the time.

What if we reformat the original statement to make the redundancy less subtle: OK, maybe it's a bit TOO much, but the redundancy packs more emotion than simply stopping at 'by himself'.

Imagine critiquing Shelley's poem "Ozymandias":


But would it have the the same impact on the reader?


Mac

Plus, you can be surrounded by people, and still be all alone.

[C.bronco]

"Myriad" and "mellifluous." Every kid tries to fit those in her college essay. I once said that if I saw the word mellifluous again I would go gor my shotgun.
For me, the worst is "impact" used as a verb instead of using "affect." The only way I could ever have been impacted is if I had been wedged below someone's gumline.

[stormie]

The word "amongst." Don't know why, but it makes me grit my teeth when I read it.

The word "dine" as in "We dined at this fabulous (another hated word) restaurant." I read this a lot on restaurant forums. It sounds pretentious. Why can't people just say, "We ate at this great restaurant" ?

[MajorDrums]

Someone/people complained about my post that was made as a dig at the whole PC-crazy attitude some people have adopted. (Post #55)

Please understand the post was in jest. I live in an expat environment where my friends are from hundreds of countries – well probably mostly 30 countries but you know… I honestly can not longer hear accents. I have to ask people where they are from (if it ever becomes relevant – not often) as my brain simply ignores the differences. Meeting friends for a meal I am usually the only one at the table from my country, and there can be as many countries represented as there are people (I am not even from the same country as my husband, my four best friends are all from different countries. Our wedding was interesting!).

I am flabbergasted people take offence to someone noticing people have a couple of differences – but in the world I have been living for the last ten years, no one is judged for being blonde, dark, blue eyed or tall. People are judged on how they present themselves and interact with others. Whoever was offended by my original post obviously lives in a different reality of the world. Sorry if anyone was offended.

no prob., expatbrat. just a little "j/k" or a winking smilie-face would have cleared it up for me, it doesn't take much (on both sides apparently).

[Jenan Mac]

I hate it when people my age use street slang.

Although it would be a great writing device. If anyone ever wants to identify a character as a thoroughly obnoxious, semi-literate suburban Mommie, just insert the phrase "totally freakin' awesome!" into every third sentence.

Is it obvious that I spent this morning at the kids' school?

::tictwitchcringe::

[stormie]

If anyone ever wants to identify a character as a thoroughly obnoxious, semi-literate suburban Mommie, just insert the phrase "totally freakin' awesome!" into every third sentence.Is it obvious that I spent this morning at the kids' school?
Or, "How cool is that?" One mother I know says this in answer to anyone's statement. Sometimes I have the urge to answer, "Way cool!" but it'd probably be lost on her.

[alanna]

"not unkindly"

GAH! make it go away!

[newmod]

I´ve just been reminded of another after reading a different post: butt, which also makes me think I don´t like the word *** either.

Diaper is another one.
Elevator.
Travelator (not even sure how that´s spelt!)

Heaving breasts/ample bosom (the terms not the things themselves ;) )

Pert is another one. And perky.

My god we´re creating a Room 101, for words.

This could run and run ...

p.s. Oh, for the first time it appears I´ve been auto-edited for the word as with an extra s. I´m quite surprised by that (the act itself and the word edited). If I say similar to a donkey does that help???

[drevil915]

My problem is that I have my character "see" too much. A few times on almost every page, my character "saw a flash of light in the sky," or "saw the man's face through the peephole." "Saw the way the water shimmered in the moonlight." Saw, saw saw... I gotta cut all those down in revisions, and boy is it a pain.

[seun]

I'm doing an edit at the moment. I can't believe how many times I have my characters sighing and nodding. None of my readers picked up on it but it seems horribly obvious to me now.

[hjwilde]

I really can't stand the word 'guru'. Why is everyone suddenly a marketing guru or an internet guru or a copywriting guru, etc? It makes my teeth itch! :rant:

[aruna]

I really can't stand the word 'guru'. Why is everyone suddenly a marketing guru or an internet guru or a copywriting guru, etc? It makes my teeth itch! :rant:

Me too. I've liven in India and the original meaning of the word is light years apart.

[Soccer Mom]

Unfortunately, I just really love the words just and really. I've stopped stressing about them and used the find option to hunt them down and kill them after I've written a novel.

[Scrawler]

I really don't see why this is bad.

Sure, it is redundant. But any good language has redundancy - it is essential for error detection. (Sorry, a communications theory background sneaking through)

If we want to emphasise the sadness of it, we use a phrase that reminds us of the loneliness in multiple ways.

Good writing and poetry does it all the time.

What if we reformat the original statement to make the redundancy less subtle: OK, maybe it's a bit TOO much, but the redundancy packs more emotion than simply stopping at 'by himself'.

Imagine critiquing Shelley's poem "Ozymandias":


But would it have the the same impact on the reader?


Mac Yes, what you say makes sense. I can see a person alone by himself, like being alone in a group as opposed to with someone in a group. It just struck me as wrong, possibly due to the fact that it was said by one of those people on a Hollywood TV gossip program that I love to hate and still feel compelled to watch anyway! Or maybe by the time I heard it I was tired of the whole MG story.
Meh!
;)

[Rob D.]

Another poster noted "as", and I agree. It's a shame.

[Inkdaub]

I hate the word 'pretentious'. It's too often an overused knee-jerk response.

[RG570]

I've been noticing the phrase "killed it" (when referring to something somoene did well) a lot lately, and it's driving me nuts. I hate it so very much. I'm saddened by the adversarial turn language is taking, especially concerning business. It seems like everyone wants to kill everyone else.

Oh, and I can't stand "cool", unless the person is talking about temperature.

[Bufty]

There's several words like, that drive me mad, you know? Like when I'm listening to someone, you know, and they talk funny like, like as if they had to check I heard what they'd said just half a sentence back, like, if you see what I mean, like, you know?

[davids]

Bufty made me laugh-there was a tiny bit of dissention between us a while back but Hail Mary full of Grace-we agree-thanks Bufty-and we mean it-no sarcasm intended-thanks

[SherryTex]

Words and Phrases found in Education and Business Journals

Paradigm Shift (It's just a change for goodness sake)
Mission Statement (Vision if you must)
Dynamic learning process (what does this mean?)
Behavior Management (never works in reality, not even with Dogs)
Spin (Lies)
Preconceptions (It makes whatever you think now sound illegitimate and ill informed)

[gromhard]

"Orgy"

I hate seeing it because writers like to use it metaphorically to describe some heightened state of mass excitement...yet they seldom make it clear that it's metaphor and I'm always left wondering if a bunch of group sex happened or what.
Group sex, at least in my humble prudish opinion, is something extreme and the participation in it by a character would really change my perception of them.

[SherryTex]

Then there are the cliche phrases, any of them, all of them.
--had a friend that wrote a story entirely of cliches and it was a howl. (there you go, instead of laugh). Might be fun to do with all of you guys. (note: not using the word men, though I have no issue with the word itself).

Once upon a time...

[Bufty]

I don't remember, Dave, so that probably means you came out on top! But it's always nice to share a laugh, and I've sent you a rep point for - well, just for being you. :Hug2:

Bufty made me laugh-there was a tiny bit of dissention between us a while back but Hail Mary full of Grace-we agree-thanks Bufty-and we mean it-no sarcasm intended-thanks

[MyFirstMystery]

Utilize
Reframe (as in "I'll reframe the question")
Paradigm
Poignant
Moist
Lady
Contextualize

I think Utilize is the worst. Just say 'USE' for crying out loud.

[NightWynde]

I've seen a lot of people mention "utilize" as a least favorite word. I'd like to chime in on that one and say that I agree, except for when it's used correctly.

For example: "When she couldn't find the hammer, she utilized her stiletto to pound the nail into the wall."

In other words, she's using the stiletto for a purpose other than its original intent. A danged good word that needs to quit getting watered down.