May 25 2026
We’ve talked about our favorite words.
Are there words that you despise and won’t use?
Some years ago, when I was starting a new job in a technology environment, a current employee challenged me about the worst word I ever used. Now, you must realize I was a mild-mannered older woman, someone who didn’t fit into the typical male stereotype. What they didn’t realize was that as a wordsmith, no word was excluded from my vocabulary.
It took me a moment to figure out how I could push it when I answered. With no manager present, it opened up the boundaries. The only other woman in the workroom had already revealed her character in overheard telephone conversations. So, I went there.
Now, we weren’t in Australia, where this word loses its power. I looked him in the eye and proclaimed, “Cunt.”
I swear my questioner nearly fell over. Instead, after a few seconds, he shook his head and laughed.
Words have power. That single word gave me entry into a fellowship I didn’t realize existed. After that, the gentleman felt free to include me in various conversations I might have missed out on otherwise. There was only one time when he asked me to leave the room when he had a discussion with the other (male) techs (that wasn’t work-related).
Writing is like that tech. It challenges us to use one of those words. Sometimes a “wrong” word is the right word. It can be avoided, but that may be at the loss of the strength of the sentence. It’s a choice that writers have to make. Would the example I used above have carried the same meaning if I’d used a tamer word?
Now, I may use words in my writing that I don’t use in real life. Especially as my daughter and grandchildren live with us, and I watch my language around them. But I can type them to strengthen my story and not worry about sullying little ears.
So, there are no words I won’t use in my writing. There are words I think hard about before putting on paper. Words that, while their meaning is rough, the way they are used is rougher. Words that are meant to try to hurt people. In real life, I work hard to take away the power of those words.
Are there words our other authors despise? Find out by following the links below.
And, as always, please stay safe until the next time.
Goal Update: I made it up to 58,800+ words. I didn’t think the book would get this long. I am trying to wrap it up, but there was another shooting instead.
May 25 2026
We’ve talked about our favorite words. Are there words that you despise and won’t use?
Yes, nothing is off limits. My characters tell me the story warts and all. If they feel free to say it like it is, it’s my duty to copy it all down faithfully.
At time, I will temper my characters. Or make them rougher than they want to portray themselves.
Yes, I agree that no words are off-limits if they strengthen our storytelling. Some words should be used rarely and some of those words I don’t use very often because I think they’re far too overused by writers today. Shane, a former mercenary, never saying a swear word would be…weird.
agreed. I got yelled at by a beta reader when I didn’t include any swear words in a short story centered around characters in their late twenties. I went back and changed that.
I absolutely despise that word, and won’t use it anywhere in my stories.
I tried to watch my language with my daughter around. Eventually, I explained to her that I have been speaking freely for the greater portion of my life and there was no stopping now. Then, I said she would never be in trouble with me for it, but that until she learned when and where and how to use certain words as not to get herself in trouble with others, she should avoid them. She’s never sworn in front of me in her nearly 9 years, except for one slip at 1 repeating what she heard. She’s such a good kid!
My grandsons are getting to the stage where they hear many kinds of words. They are good at not using them around me.