Aussie Readers discussion

Great thread Michael :)

I 'would of' commented, but it annoys me too much...is that the sort thing you mean?

Of! I totally agree! Would of rather than would have. Makes me crazy. Or when people drop an of that is supposed to be there. A couple chairs may be how we say it but in writing it should be a couple of chairs.

In English nothing comes to mind right now... but when you are reading a translation, and because a sentence sounds a little bit off and you know that's because it haven't been translated well... drives me nuts...

Chirped. I hate characters that chirp, unless of course they are birds.

I'm tired of love interests having a scent or taste that is 'purely their own'. How many of us really notice that kind of thing when we're kissing someone?

I read a book once where the main character kept saying 'My bad' whenever he was wrong as in 'Sorry, my mistake'. He said it so frequently it became very annoying. I commented on it at the end of my review and several Americans said it wasn't generally used, especially by adults.

Carolyn wrote: "I read a book once where the main character kept saying 'My bad' whenever he was wrong as in 'Sorry, my mistake'. He said it so frequently it became very annoying. I commented on at the end of my r..."
I find it odd too, though it is used at present in Australia. Put it in a book though is going to date it, I suspect, like slang.

I really get annoyed at "twinkling eyes" such as his eyes had a twinkle in them, she twinkled at them - was that a twinkle in your eye? Even the old non-book expression I knew them when you were just a twinkle in your father's eyes.

What on earth is a twinkle? What does it look like? Stars twinkle - but I have never ever seen an eye twinkle.

I went around a dinner table once asking each guest to twinkle at me -some funny facial positions but not one twinkle!!!

Sally906 wrote: "I really get annoyed at "twinkling eyes" such as his eyes had a twinkle in them, she twinkled at them - was that a twinkle in your eye? Even the old non-book expression I knew them when you were j..."

Haha!!! That would have been a real sight!! It's a common usage though Sally ;)

Andrea's original post was what started this conversation going, and it's interesting; so I will reproduce it here for those who didn't see it:

Does anyone else have a particular word that really irritates them when they see it in writing? I do! The word is 'pressurised', used in the context of 'she was feeling pressurised'. Sheila O'Flanagan loves it, judging by how frequently she uses it. I'm reading Paul Torday at the moment, and he slipped one in too. Could it be UK thing? What's wrong with 'pressured'?

Katie wrote: "I 'would of' commented, but it annoys me too much...is that the sort thing you mean?"

I also dislike it when extra ofs get added, as in "he got down off of the horse". This seems to be an acceptable use in America but it bugs me.

10 years ago I read a few books by James Patterson. I got creeped out by the main character's need for cheesy 'sexual healing'.

I do! The word is 'pressurised', used in the context of 'she was feeling pressurised'.

That's the wrong word to use. She should be using 'pressured'.

Lynne wrote: "I do! The word is 'pressurised', used in the context of 'she was feeling pressurised'.

That's the wrong word to use. She should be using 'pressured'."

Reminds me of the pressurised cooker my grandma used to use a LONG time ago;)

Yes, that's the word used in the right way. Or a pressurised plane. Not what someone does when they put pressure on you.

How would editors not pick that up Lynne!

Lynne wrote: "Yes, that's the word used in the right way. Or a pressurised plane. Not what someone does when they put pressure on you."

Perhaps she was feeling pressurised as in about to 'blow her top' from built up anger or pressure! Quite a different feeling from feeling pressured.

Or as Michael suggests she could have been in a hyperbaric chamber or was diving very deep or in a submarine ....

Brenda, maybe she was self published or vanity published? The editing there might not have been significant.

Carolyn, it could have been something like that in context but Andrea's post said she used it a lot and it would seem odd to use it in that way frequently.

Lynne, I laughed so hard about your scent comment. It's such a ridiculously idiotic thing to put in there.

As for 'my bad', it's totally common usage in the U.S.. It is a phrase that I intensely dislike so maybe I notice it more. My mom even occasionally pops out with it since her co-workers use it. Although if they use it more than two or three times that's pretty excessive.

Sarah wrote: "Lynne, I laughed so hard about your scent comment. It's such a ridiculously idiotic thing to put in there.

As for 'my bad', it's totally common usage in the U.S.. It is a phrase that I intensely d..."

It was used a lot in the book and it got to the point where it was really, really annoying. The character saying it was a well educated Investigative journalist so I wasn't sure it was the sort of thing he say a lot. I guess any slang overused like that could become annoying.

Lynne wrote: "Brenda, maybe she was self published or vanity published? The editing there might not have been significant.

Carolyn, it could have been something like that in context but Andrea's post said she ..."

Totally agree, it sounds like the wrong word. Wouldn't be many situations that you could use pressurised.

Regina wrote: "10 years ago I read a few books by James Patterson. I got creeped out by the main character's need for cheesy 'sexual healing'."

I agree with this totally!I used to read and quite enjoy the Alex Cross series and now for the life of me can't understand why? I really hate the way Patterson writes about his personal life, it all sounds so cheesy.

Probably not many of you have read Fifty Shades of Grey but the main character in that constantly says "Laters baby" instead of later. I have seen it since in some UK books. Ugh!

yes, that was highly irritating

Phrynne wrote: "Probably not many of you have read Fifty Shades of Grey but the main character in that constantly says "Laters baby" instead of later. I have seen it since in some UK books. Ugh!"

I did read that and every time the phrase 'and that was my undoing' appeared, I rolled my eyes. I was quite dizzy by the end of it.

Sarah wrote: "Lynne, I laughed so hard about your scent comment. It's such a ridiculously idiotic thing to put in there..."

It is. I mean, I could understand it in Twilight because those vampires were meant to smell appealing to humans. It was part of their prey drive. But since then, it's in just about every YA romance I read. I'm fed up with it.

#14 Oh thank you Marina! I had started to wonder if I was the only reader to find the extra "of" so annoying.

You know what is so utterly annoying, in romance novels where the hero/love interest or whatever says something "silkily" pretty sure its meant to come across as sexy or smooth or something. But basically makes whatever they say come across as pretentious.
Oh and in American books the "yeah, no kidding" in response to a statement. ): like please. I know you're not kidding haha

My bad isn't used THAT frequently! And yeah, no kidding... sorry but I say that all the time.

I read a book that was in the Goodreads Choice Awards called The Flight of the Silvers. The author used the word leer instead of smile or smirk. People leered in that book so many times that I wanted to throw the thing across the room. It was horribly irritating. Then there was "David reeled in bother." What kind of a sentence is that?

A bad sentence, Sarah! :-)

Yes, I find "off of" really annoying, and that all time favourite "could care less".

Ugh. Could care less drives me insane!

I've also noticed lately that people are writing 'I startled as he burst through the door'. I was wondering if it was an Americanism because I would have thought the word to use was 'started'. Whatever the reason for it, it's annoying me.

Lynne wrote: "Ugh. Could care less drives me insane!

I've also noticed lately that people are writing 'I startled as he burst through the door'. I was wondering if it was an Americanism because I would have tho..."
Yes, it should be started, Lynne. The correct way to write that sentence using startled would be to say 'He startled me when he burst through door' but that is not as immediate, of course.
I think it means that people aren't being properly educated in the English language and this is being perpetuated by poor word choices in writing and lack of good, or any, editing.

Yes, I thought that was likely to be the case.

Lynne wrote: "Ugh. Could care less drives me insane!

I've also noticed lately that people are writing 'I startled as he burst through the door'. I was wondering if it was an Americanism because I would have tho..."

Yes seeing startled used like that quite a lot these days.

Kim Marie wrote: "#14 Oh thank you Marina! I had started to wonder if I was the only reader to find the extra "of" so annoying."

You're not alone, Kim Marie!

I forgot about "could care less". That's another one I find annoying.

Of course any of these gripes are okay in dialogue. If that's the way the character speaks, that's fine. But in the narration it looks bad.

Writers should always find a good editor to help them out as we all make mistakes and no one knows everything. Professional edits are so important, especially with so many people self publishing. The trouble is, a lot of people don't even edit their own work themselves, much less get a professional to look at it.

Part of the problem is that languages tend to evolve to where startled could become common usage rather than started. BUT that doesn't make it less idiotic and annoying. I have noticed that there are a greater number of things like this in teen books. I don't know if it's because teens are making these mistakes/changes or if it's something about the authors. I have never heard somebody actually say "I startled when he came in", but I mostly spend time with literary people and 30+. Who would know better ;)

Also, normalcy has started to bug me. It's definitely common usage but normality is the correct form.

A phrase that's really starting to irk me and I'm noticing a lot is "I bit my lip and tasted blood". I've tried it and it's almost imposible to bite you're own lip that hard unless you fall or hit it against something.

And it definitely hurts Veronica!

I am reading The Windup Girl and the word 'grimace' occurs 63 times (using the search function on my Kindle). That seems far too many for a word like that. It jars me every time it occurs.

It reminded me a little of the short story On a Red Station, Drifting which had 'grimace' 11 times. Both books are set amidst future versions of Southeast Asian cultures, so maybe it's just a common facial expression for them?

Not a specific word but in general people using descriptors words for "said".

"Oh yes" she said happily.

"Oh no" he said unhappily.

"Oh dear" she said uncomfortably.

We can figure out the tone ourselves if your writing isn't terrible.

Ryan wrote: "I am reading The Windup Girl and the word 'grimace' occurs 63 times (using the search function on my Kindle). That seems far too many for a word like that. It jars me every time it o..."

When I read The Flight of the Silvers, it used the word 'leer' so many times that I was pretty much ready to destroy something. It was used for smiling, smirking, and even grimacing :) I returned it to the library so fast that I never got the count.

Liam wrote: "Not a specific word but in general people using descriptors words for "said".

"Oh yes" she said happily.

"Oh no" he said unhappily.

"Oh dear" she said uncomfortably.

We can figure out the tone ..."

Exactly! Drives me mad too.

Addicting, I hate it. although, I am not actually sure if it is incorrect as in "It was addicting" instead of "It was addictive".

Ok this was way up the page. I have actually seen twinkling eyes. As in they looked like they had glitter moving out of them. Like stars, they twinkled. I looked it up on good old google later what causes that and apparently lust does. Lust makes eyes twinkle (which was good news in the circumstances) So....yes it's cheesy when they all twinkle for no reason but eyes CAN and DO twinkle.

My current book is gradually driving me nuts with the constant repetition of one word! "arse" is continual - 2 or 3 on almost every page. I'm only at 50% and I'm sure it's been used at least 50 times - so far!!

What on earth are you reading???