Alice's Essay
. Simple descriptions, such as the ‘glittering pool of blood’ which Renfield’s body was lying in may seem rather tame, it is the use of the word ‘glittering’ that makes it seem so tame, yet still putting that image into out head. Glittering is a word generally associated with sparkles and ‘good’ magic, so to place it with something which we would usually view as quite vivid ultimately brings the vicious tone of the word down, thus making it pass through Victorian censorship. Now, if we replaced ‘glittering’ with another word, say ‘sickening’, then that immediately brings a more vivid, more ominous feeling to the reader, as ‘sickening’ is a word associated with pain, disease and death.
You see what I did there? Any way. What about the other words, the words that I never use when typing...The words that I see as ugly?
Chuckle:
Just urgh, I have no explanation as to why I hate this word, I just do...It bugs me and it really does make me cringe. Whenever I read the word chuckle, especially if I type it myself, I cringe and blush, epically. I don't mind if a guy character puts that, I see chuckle as a masculine word. But when it's used in reference to a female or girl...ugh.
Jolly:
Yet again, no real explanation as to why I hate this word. I think I would only type it if I was referencing to the 'Jolly Rodger'...But I don't think that's happened yet. I just think it's ugly. Now Lolly...that's a different matter...
Sweat:
Not a nice word is it? Sweat...it sounds slippery and manky. So, if you're wondering why my characters are never red faced and *shudder* sweaty, this is why, I simply don't like the word.
Manky:
See Sweat. I refuse to use this word as well, as it sounds like such an immature word...Manky, there are so many other words that could describe something that's manky in much greater detail. Which sounds better 'Manky Body' Or 'Putrid, rotting form, which looked as if it had been lain there for days, the blood was dried against the pale, slowly greening skin, and the wide eyes were blank, devoid of that spark of life. The smell was overwhelming.' Honestly? Manky is a lazy word
Also, according to Firefox, manky isn't actually a word
That's all I got for now, I will update this regularly though!
