tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post5591205598567167852..comments2024-03-20T08:27:29.290+11:00Comments on .W.I.P. It: Vocabulary: Expand or Not to Expand?Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-24381948642837908512010-08-07T08:25:09.960+10:002010-08-07T08:25:09.960+10:00Blogger didn't eat your comment. It went to my...Blogger didn't eat your comment. It went to my moderated comments and waited for me to wake up. I moderate comments 3 days after the post just so they don't get lost :)<br /><br />And a big welcome to my blog :)Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-57225123896960454932010-08-06T19:58:17.331+10:002010-08-06T19:58:17.331+10:00Blogger ate my comment :-(
It was something to do...Blogger ate my comment :-(<br /><br />It was something to do with liking to use the appropriate word, but if it is not clear from the context what the word it, then using a simpler one.<br />Showing off a vocubulary was what I did when I was much younger than my 39 yearsNatashahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00481081735923606868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-88962748222543884042010-08-06T19:56:26.191+10:002010-08-06T19:56:26.191+10:00When I was younger, I loved using big words- it wa...When I was younger, I loved using big words- it was my way of showing everyone I was smarter and better than they were.<br />I still like to use the appropriate word, but when I am in doubt about whether the readership would know the word, I either try to make it clear from the context, or not use it at all.<br />Fantastic post, and I am now following you.Natashahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00481081735923606868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-35377110339436898432010-08-04T10:03:07.061+10:002010-08-04T10:03:07.061+10:00Great advice, Dezmond!
Hart, yes exactly :)Great advice, Dezmond!<br /><br />Hart, yes exactly :)Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-16152988515164121552010-08-04T09:41:49.623+10:002010-08-04T09:41:49.623+10:00I think there is a middle ground. I think we shou...I think there is a middle ground. I think we should always be LEARNING new words, but before we use them in writing, we probably should practice them some--some words morph, or mean different things in different places, so using a bright shiny word in a manuscript often misses the mark, and I think unusual vocabulary should only be used when the context gives some hints, or for an audience that digs that sort of thing.Hart Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17599570189253229318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-65449925886478199432010-08-04T07:27:38.425+10:002010-08-04T07:27:38.425+10:00as a literary translator I deal with words a lot, ...as a literary translator I deal with words a lot, usually more than with the story, and after all my experience I must conclude that great books are not about great words but about great stories. It also goes for sentence structure. Don't overcomplicate your vocabulary, your syntax, your sentences, your grammar ... focus on the story and just make it flow like a river. We translators would have less problems in that way as well ;)))))DEZMONDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14127166104359407763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-35857141207553236952010-08-03T09:21:40.106+10:002010-08-03T09:21:40.106+10:00I like your term of "gunking it up". We ...I like your term of "gunking it up". We can't please everyone either but it's still something to keep in mind. Opportune? Really?Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-55303619045129797542010-08-03T09:08:08.431+10:002010-08-03T09:08:08.431+10:00ONe of my writer friends thought my using 'opp...ONe of my writer friends thought my using 'opportune' was showing off. I scratched my head puzzled. To me, it's basic vocabulary.<br /><br />Sometimes I come across a word I haven't seen in a long time. Like bludgeon. Then I just have to find a way to use it. :D<br /><br />If I'm talking about something really technical, there might be big words. I use a lot of original words because of my genre, so I try not to then gunk it up with words that are not in common useage. But then, some people think 'opportune' is a big word.M Paxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14096697282530998519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-19687290343129991212010-08-03T08:44:47.563+10:002010-08-03T08:44:47.563+10:00Clarissa, I don't mind at all you using a post...Clarissa, I don't mind at all you using a post of mine. I feel quite honoured. I like the added point you made for mystery writersLynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-41969023448179045432010-08-02T23:56:20.904+10:002010-08-02T23:56:20.904+10:00I should also tell you, I loved your blog on Chara...I should also tell you, I loved your blog on Character Relatability. I blogged about it on Friday. Hope you don't mind.<br /><br />CDAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12160669603997465454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-37026720433375613032010-08-02T23:53:53.409+10:002010-08-02T23:53:53.409+10:00No, I don't use big words. Not unless it's...No, I don't use big words. Not unless it's the only word that fits. You make a really good point here in the blog. Thank you.<br /><br />CDAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12160669603997465454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-76843546135986254072010-08-02T22:24:27.599+10:002010-08-02T22:24:27.599+10:00Jody, that's exactly right. It's not just ...Jody, that's exactly right. It's not just our own personal style we need to consider, but also the market we are writing to.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-23532687463649952072010-08-02T21:34:56.319+10:002010-08-02T21:34:56.319+10:00I think you're spot on, Lynda! It has to be wh...I think you're spot on, Lynda! It has to be whatever is natural for the writer and also a sensitivity to what our reader's need. Our goal is to write in such a way that our reader is immersed into the story. When we throw in big words for the sake of "words" then we risk taking them out. We need to know the readers we're targeting and what works for them.Jody Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12424307540530719614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-18631869717772147972010-08-02T17:38:28.087+10:002010-08-02T17:38:28.087+10:00Rachna, Welcome to my blog :)
That's a good ha...Rachna, Welcome to my blog :)<br />That's a good habit. Remember the words, file them away but wait until they are fitting before using them.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-22814352113231711172010-08-02T17:26:15.522+10:002010-08-02T17:26:15.522+10:00Melissa, it's true. Finding the perfect word i...Melissa, it's true. Finding the perfect word is what matters. We are more able to do that when we learn more words. But using the word because it sounds interesting, or cool, doesn't necessarily make it the perfect word.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-63380573810943210842010-08-02T16:16:35.042+10:002010-08-02T16:16:35.042+10:00Hi Lynda..pleased to meet you. Thanks for the foll...Hi Lynda..pleased to meet you. Thanks for the follow, I have added myself to your follower's list.<br /> <br />Whenever I come across a new word, I tuck it into my memory for future use. But I don't just use it at random, but check if its fitting in well in my story/article.Rachna Chhabriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-72861023937962241092010-08-02T13:53:10.232+10:002010-08-02T13:53:10.232+10:00I think a great book is the compilation of X0,000 ...I think a great book is the compilation of X0,000 perfect words, in the perfect order. With no unneccesary words, and no missing words. The perfect word might be long or short, it might have multiple syllables, or only one. If you choose a long complicated word when a short one is the perfect word, then you will have a less than perfect story. Same goes for choosing an easy word, when a more difficult one is the perfect option.Melissa Gillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02700191547004665402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-8544569101586959972010-08-02T11:59:58.303+10:002010-08-02T11:59:58.303+10:00Aspiring, you made me laugh, but you are right.
...Aspiring, you made me laugh, but you are right. <br /><br />BTW, I only used the ponti-etc word to demonstrate the way my friend writes. My word doc didn't even know the word and kept screaming at me saying it was misspelled. lol.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-81565436567913201462010-08-02T11:47:18.391+10:002010-08-02T11:47:18.391+10:00ponti-what???
small word user here!
:)
really, i...ponti-what???<br />small word user here! <br />:)<br />really, it's about finding the right word. this is one of those things in life where size truly doesn't matter.vic caswell https://www.blogger.com/profile/01218698236837610704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-65493675026749598312010-08-02T11:24:14.666+10:002010-08-02T11:24:14.666+10:00Meadow - great quote from Mark Twain
Susan - thes...Meadow - great quote from Mark Twain<br /><br />Susan - thesaurus' are a god-send. I love them. I use them more as a trigger for the words on the tip of my tongue (a lot of my words live there).Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-50504660761797294142010-08-02T11:20:11.803+10:002010-08-02T11:20:11.803+10:00Big words are definitely not my style and always s...Big words are definitely not my style and always seem to sound funny when I try to use them. I do use a thesaurus a lot to find a variety of words, but I shy away from the big ones.Susan Fieldshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02433408456603462774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-14271311702219413402010-08-02T10:53:47.562+10:002010-08-02T10:53:47.562+10:00"The difference between the right word and th..."The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug."<br />— Mark Twain<br /><br />:)Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03450102234567861016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-61475542244697555532010-08-02T10:06:02.202+10:002010-08-02T10:06:02.202+10:00Absolutely, Tabitha. It's about using the righ...Absolutely, Tabitha. It's about using the right word.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-24656825741467531872010-08-02T09:54:32.473+10:002010-08-02T09:54:32.473+10:00I heard someone once say that writers should '...I heard someone once say that writers should 'Use the word you mean, not is second cousin.' And I agree. The right word, be it big or little is the word that best says what you need to say. Sometimes a little word can say more that 100 big words. And sometimes lots of little words trip readers over and would be better replaced with one big word. That's my thinking on it all anyway. :)Tabitha Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08196816108272065974noreply@blogger.com