tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2421642745880281653.post4722885580082932069..comments2023-12-08T14:31:03.897+00:00Comments on WRITEALOT: Writing - self-edit - repeated wordsNik Mortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10060923673065456386noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2421642745880281653.post-23166203615868438042017-07-10T14:04:18.580+00:002017-07-10T14:04:18.580+00:00Thanks for the comment, Tinthia. Appreciated. Word...Thanks for the comment, Tinthia. Appreciated. Word repetition isn't necessarily bad - sometimes it is used for emphasis, or for character purposes. Even so, an author - or a good editor - should spot echo word repetition, where the same word is used two, three or even four times in a paragraph or a scene; that is just sloppy. Obviously, certain stand-out words can be spotted - such as, phantasmagoria, for example - so they should not be overused in my opinion (unless for the reasons I've stated). Nik Mortonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10060923673065456386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2421642745880281653.post-6526140828383876672017-07-10T11:02:20.630+00:002017-07-10T11:02:20.630+00:00In the grand scheme of things, most readers don...In the grand scheme of things, most readers don't even notice the repetition unless the word is different in some way. For example, I recently read a NYT bestseller and found, in one chapter, that the MC 'fretted' five times. Go back and reread a book you love. Note the times your words appear but also note you didn't notice them when you read it for the first time. It's always a good thing to avoid repetition but never lose the flavor of the story. Blessed be, TinthiaTinthia Clemanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10486866197751792019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2421642745880281653.post-22444314475396440972016-04-07T10:53:09.643+00:002016-04-07T10:53:09.643+00:00It's always a worthwhile exercise, JC. Another...It's always a worthwhile exercise, JC. Another glitch to look out for is the misuse of 'to much' when it's really 'too much'...! I agree, if the repetitions don't occur on the same page/or near each other (such as, on the next page) then there's probably no problem. Though, again, sometimes the words are not necessary at all at re-reading. And of course there are other words for 'turn', for example, depending on the context, action etc. Nik Mortonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10060923673065456386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2421642745880281653.post-29395848194850074862016-04-05T14:05:49.128+00:002016-04-05T14:05:49.128+00:00I totally feel your pain! I just went through my ...I totally feel your pain! I just went through my 124k manuscript the other day for the words I use to much.<br />400 eye<br />300 head<br />150 turn<br />200 smile<br />150 nod<br />150 bow<br />200 look<br />100 gaze<br /><br />The list goes on.<br /><br />As long as I don't have more than once instance per page, I usually let is pass. Because really, a word like "head" twice one page stands out a lot less than a word like "tentative" twice in a chapter.JC Kanghttp://www.jckang.infonoreply@blogger.com