Can this word be used in YA?

[Pacific]

Actually a phrase:
Knock
up.
I'm talking about American readers age 14-18, is it OK?

 

[Nether]

I don't see an issue? It's a benign euphemism. The only maybe-question would be if teens still use the term, but I assume they would.

 

[Sage]

'Tis the season for "Can I do this in YA?"

Can it be used in YA? Absolutely.

Do teens use it today? No clue.

 

[Brigid Barry]

I agree with Nether.

 

[Pyrephox]

I think it would feel a little dated. I don't think I've heard any teen use that phrase in a long time; at least anecdotally, the teens I've encountered are far more likely to just say "got her pregnant" or "I got pregnant".

 

[ChaseJxyz]

I think the fact that you seem to be hesitant to even write out "knock up" is going to be more of an issue than offending anyone lol. Teens know what pregnancy is, discussing it in YA isn't an issue.

 

[Jazz Club]

I really hope 'knocked up' isn't too offensive for YA, or I'm....screwed.

 

[Pacific]

I really hope 'knocked up' isn't too offensive for YA, or I'm....screwed.

"Screwed" okay in YA?

 

[mccardey]

"Screwed" okay in YA?

Are you reading a lot of current YA? If you're writing it, reading it will very useful.

 

[Helix]

"Screwed" okay in YA?

Is it set in the 80s?

 

[Jazz Club]

"Screwed" okay in YA?

I hope so, since I have several 'fucks' in mine.

'The Hate U Give' had circa 80 f-bombs...although apparently different publishers have different ideas about these things. So I've been told anyway.

 

[Sage]

Are you reading a lot of current YA? If you're writing it, reading it will very useful.

Agreed. It’s very important to read in the market you’re writing for. Lots of books. Preferably published in the past few years.

 

[starrystorm]

I don't see an issue? It's a benign euphemism. The only maybe-question would be if teens still use the term, but I assume they would.

I'm only 22, but I don't really remember that word being used. Of course I came from a very Christian country school where that rarely rarely happened.

 

[writer316]

U.S.; early 20s here.

@Pacific

Knock up -- perfectly fine to use; as far as I can remember, never used among peers when I was YA-aged.

Screwed -- used pretty often during my middle/high school years. Especially the variants, "Screw you/this/that/him/her/them/etc." and "so they don't screw with you."

 

[ambianc]

That phrase is totally fine for American teens! I think the only way you can go wrong in the YA territory is if you start graphically describing things. But I'm from a small town in America and we definitely used the phrase "knocked - up" in high school