Randomness

[laleia]

So I think as a result from reading too much high fantasy (which tend to use slightly archaic words) and from being too obsessed with using big words, I have a tendency to use words in my writing that ... well, they're not mis-used, but I'm using a less well-known definition of the word where, because of the MORE well-known definition, it just confuses people.

For example, my beta thought (and probably still thinks) that when I say "I started awake from a nightmare" I meant to stay "I startled awake from a nightmare" or "I started to wake from a nightmare" where in fact I really mean "start" but the definition that means "to involuntarily jerk/jump". And I kept it "started awake" even though probably every other person to read that story ever is going to think it's a typo when it's not. It's just me being pretentious.

Another example, I recently realized in my story that I needed to change my use of the word "intelligence." My sentence "We will simply have to rely on their intelligence" uses the word "intelligence" in the espionage-related meaning but I realized that the automatic assumption would be of "intelligence" in the smartness-related meaning, and so I had to change it and I was sad.

I guess what I'm saying is, I wish people could read my story, and just know what I meant to say. But of course, the whole point of writing and reading, is so that if I'm really good at writing, they'll know what I meant to say and find it interesting, so they're only confused if I'm bad at writing.

Comments

[opalgirl28.livejournal.com]

I agree with you on the usage of "started"; people who aren't like you and me wouldn't be aware of the alternate meanings.

As for "intelligence"? It depends on the audience--e.g. if you're dealing with children or targeting teens--but given the popularity of spy movies and such? I think most people would figure out you were using the word in the espionage-related meaning.

Plus, it's kind of a funny kick in the head when you read further on and go: "oh, they meant THAT meaning of that word."

[gisho.livejournal.com]

I think that's a matter of context. It's obvious to anyone who's seen that usage of 'started' before, for example, that it's exactly what you meant given the context, and I'm surprised your beta wasn't familiar with it.