Tags
editing advice, editing tips, Self-editing, Strong Verbs, Strong vs Weak Words, Strong Words, Weak Verbs, Weak Words, writers, writing
Okay fellow word wranglers. I have another Strong vs Weak Word for you. Don’t turn away. Please turn to me for help, turn to me for love, and turn to me for affirmation.
Is your head spinning from turning so much?
You guessed it . . . today’s word is “turn.”
“Turn” is a nice enough word. You can have a turn of phrase, turn on your heel or, as I do, turn men’s heads. But “turn” is one of those words that “turns” up everywhere if you aren’t careful.
As per usual . . . here we go.
Robin turned to me and said, “Thank you for following my blog.”
Are you an idiot? Robin is a nimrod.
Robin grabbed my chin with her boney fingers and twisted my face so she could give me the evil eye. She said, “Follow my blog, or else.”
~~~~~
Turning her head over her shoulder, Robin said, “I love that you love me.”
You love her? Here is the name of my therapist.
Onion-breath washed over me when Robin said, “How dare you un-follow me.”
~~~~~
My love of Robin’s blog turned into an obsession and I thought about her while I was in bed.
Please. Too much information.
My love of Robin’s blog morphed into fearing for my life.
~~~~~
I turn to Robin for advice on all things writing.
That is why agents aren’t returning your calls
Robin is my guru when it comes to how not to write.
Sure, Mr. Roget and his pet dinosaur, Thesaurus, have words we could use instead of “turn.”
Twist
Spin
Rotate
Twirl
Etc.
But why say “she turned her head over her shoulder” when she could bathe someone in onion-breath?
Excuse me . . . I need to brush my teeth.
Robin Coyle 