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Do you ever notice an author using a word over and over again? (alien.top)

submitted 1 year ago by PastaConsumer@alien.top to c/books@metacritics.zone

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I’m currently reading The Duke and I and the author is constantly using the word “acerbic”. I had never heard of the word before now and had to google the definition. The word has shown up so much that I’m tempted to go through the book and count its appearances lol.

Have you noticed any authors having favorite words that they use page after page?

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[–] 1funkyhunky@alien.top 0 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Yeah that seems a popular word in 1800s fiction. I wonder why it’s not used much these days..

[–] Silvanus350@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Too many syllables.

[–] Efficient-Grass-6275@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Vibe is the zeitgeist

[–] Awkward_Pace_176@alien.top 0 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I used it once in a book I wrote. My beta wanted me to cut it and I refused. I think any word overused gets annoying. It’s easier to overuse uncommon words. I read a story where the author kept describing a character as “dainty.” Everything about her was dainty. Stuck out like a sore thumb.

[–] Fox_Hawk@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

You could not countenance its removal?

[–] Shok3001@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Maybe don’t let your fish read your rough draft next time. :)

[–] Awkward_Pace_176@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

It’s embarrassing how often I had to read this to get the joke. 🫨😂Well played.