Words you hate

Serena Casey · Aug 5, 2006

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 · Aug 5, 2006

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 · Aug 5, 2006

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

You already got mine.

Kristal · Aug 5, 2006

nevada said:
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 · Aug 5, 2006

nevada said:
I hate how they feel in my mouth ...

Hi nevada, maybe you should try edible panties instead

newmod · Aug 5, 2006

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 · Aug 5, 2006

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 · Aug 5, 2006

Chuckle ^ You got mine! I hate it!

RedWombat · Aug 5, 2006

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 · Aug 5, 2006

"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 · Aug 5, 2006

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. · Aug 5, 2006

"Utilise"

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

IThinkICan29 · Aug 5, 2006

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 · Aug 6, 2006

Red Shonja said:
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?

BardSkye · Aug 6, 2006

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

NightWynde · Aug 6, 2006

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 · Aug 6, 2006

"Whatever" - I hate that word!

Cassiopeia · Aug 6, 2006

TeddyG said:
"Whatever" - I hate that word!

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

Forbidden Snowflake · Aug 6, 2006

Casiopeia said:
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 · Aug 6, 2006

Casiopeia said:
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 · Aug 6, 2006

UrsulaV said:
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 · Aug 6, 2006

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 · Aug 6, 2006

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 · Aug 6, 2006

TeddyG said:
"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 · Aug 6, 2006

"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.

Words you hate

Serena Casey

User Titles Rock

nevada

katiemac

Five by Five

Kristal

newmod

newmod

newmod

Vaxil

RedWombat

Runs With Scissors

Elizabeth Slick

Cassiopeia

Otherwise Occupied

Mac H.

Board Visitor

IThinkICan29

Cassiopeia

Otherwise Occupied

BardSkye

Barbershoppin' Harmony Whore

NightWynde

TeddyG

The Other Shoe Will Fall!

Cassiopeia

Otherwise Occupied

Forbidden Snowflake

I'm quite put out.

Novelist in Paradise

Ah, the joys of dengue fever

Robert Toy

Joanna_S

Linda Adams

Soldier, Storyteller

IThinkICan29

aruna

On a wing and a prayer