The use of repetitive words can lose a reader. If I wrote that same phrase again and again, I’d wager most of you would click off this page faster than a Texas twister sweeping through a trailer park.
It’s ok. All writers use repetitive words. That’s why we edit – AFTER we write our first draft!
I can’t count the number of times I’ve searched for habitually boring words that somehow sneaked into my writing. You know them. The ones we tend to use over and over. As writers, we need to flee our comfort zone and enter the realm of creativity. Don’t settle for the pedestrian or mundane (Except for the first draft when you need to let those fingers fly uncensored).
Don’t be boring! I REPEAT! Don’t be boring!
I’ve read books in which the writers’ characters looked, sighed, nodded, shrugged, thought, etc. It made for a BORING read! Especially when those same characters nodded their head or shrugged their shoulders. How else do you nod or shrug? With your feet? Sad to say, I shelved most of those books unread or tossed them into the yard sale bin!
There’s no excuse for not replacing repetitive words. The tools are right at your fingertips!
That’s why Google created the SEARCH feature. So use it!
That’s why Google created the SEARCH feature. So use it!
In the “old” days, we writers settled for a hard copy of Roger’s Thesaurus to stave off repetitive words, but now we can utilize the electronic version at http://www.roget.org/ or other variants like www.thesaurus.com orhttps://en.oxforddictionaries.com/. Type a repetitive word into your word-processing search feature (Grammarly will also point out repetitive words), and voila, tens if not hundreds of words will pop up for you to try. Be patient. Substitute an alternative word until you find one that makes your sentence zing!
But don’t use a different word just for difference’s sake. Consider the context. Use a word or words that fit(s) the character or the situation. Take for example the repetitive word “look.”
If your character is:
A cute child or in a playful situation – he can PEEK, his eyes can DANCE
Nervous – his eyes can DART, FLIT, or SHIFT
Angry – he can SCOWL or BURN
Thoughtful – he can STUDY or WATCH
Indifferent – he can SCAN, GLIMPSE, LEAF, TAKE A GANDER, or GLANCE (Though the latter is also overused)
In contemplation – he can SQUINT
Intense – he can WITNESS or STARE
A “bad” guy – he can SNEER or LEER
Struggling with a situation – he can PEER or QUESTION
Searching for something – he can SIFT, SPOT, SPY, INVESTIGATE, EXPLORE, INSPECT, or PROBE
Interested – he can OBSERVE, VIEW, ADMIRE, CONSIDER, MARK, or NOTICE
Hesitant – he can BLINK
Skeptical – he can EYEBALL
Determined – he can MARK
Only slightly interested – he can GANDER
A lecher – he can RAKE or OGLE
Studying something – he can PERUSE, NOTE, SCRUTINIZE, or JUDGE
Get the picture? Well, good. Then why are you LOOKING at this article? Go find your own repetitive words and fix ‘em!
Help other writers. Add your variations of the word LOOK below under “Leave a Reply.”
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