Have you ever stopped to listen to yourself speak? If you are like me, you use the word ‘that’ often. And I have noticed that people often use that in their writting when they don’t need it or when it should be ‘which’. That is way annoying. And I don’t understand how an editor doesn’t catch… that.
Something else that will jerk me out of a story is when the same word is used two or three times in a paragraph. Make it the same phrase and all I can think is eek bad editing.
Is that something editors even look at and request the author change? Or is that one of those things they just change. I understand you don’t want to go thesaurus happy but a three sentence paragraph shouldn’t have quirk twice, should it? Or is that just a quirk of mine?
Agree, Syb.
Unless I’m really being carried by the author’s voice, it can certainly distract me from a story.
I think authors try to catch such things, but they can be missed, or overlooked after so many readings! And yes, the editors I’ve had generally do point such things out.
I agree with you–repeated words are annoying and make for bad writing. Any good copyeditor will mark it and suggest a change, but it’s up to the author to approve it.
And that/which is a problem for a lot of people. Restrict/non-restrictive little nightmare!
Sybil, when you post stuff like this I’m terrified you’re talking about my book. 🙂
If a writer is good this will be minimal. If the editor is good it shouldn’t happen at all.
But sometimes things do slip through.
I’m with December. Comments like these make me think you’re reading my book. PANIC!
This is one of those things copyeditors notice and point out. I can read a manuscript a thousand times and somehow miss this issue. After a break from looking at the pages, usually at the copyedit stage, this stuff jumps out at me. Like you, repetitive words pull me out of the story. They throw off the cadence of the writing. Very frustrating. Also frustrating as an author not to catch the repetition until the book is on the shelves. Never sure how that happens.
Agree. Times 10. I hate it when authors constantly repeat the same damn phrase, or word.
I suppose I think it’s both the author AND the editors faults.
What’s up with the new addy?
Well if it is you December you are fucked cuz your book be out. If it is you HK you still have time to fix it *g*
hhheeeeeeeeeeee
To be kind it is not either one of you… debut author though. I didn’t post the book title because I haven’t read it yet so I can’t fairly judge anything about it.
hey holly! I am in the middle of divorcing blogger because he doesn’t support me like he should, is never around when I need him, doesn’t like it when my friends come to visit and sucks in bed. oh wait wrong divorce
I am my own domain now. Pretty cool huh? Just don’t ask me what that means cuz I am not sure yet. But I am sure it is means awesome things. And a huge fucking headache for jane
Well if it is you December you are fucked cuz your book be out.
I know, that’s part of the reason why it’s so terrifying!
*wipes brow in relief*