this post was submitted on 28 Nov 2023
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Do you ever notice an author using a word over and over again? (alien.top)
submitted 11 months 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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[–] Formal_Instance_544@alien.top 0 points 11 months ago (14 children)

In Frankenstein Mary Shelley constantly uses the word “countenance”

[–] 1funkyhunky@alien.top 0 points 11 months 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 11 months ago

Too many syllables.

[–] Efficient-Grass-6275@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Vibe is the zeitgeist

[–] Awkward_Pace_176@alien.top 0 points 11 months 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.

[–] Shok3001@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] Awkward_Pace_176@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

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

[–] Fox_Hawk@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

You could not countenance its removal?

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