Most Overused Phrases in Books?

Question

As an editor, I read...a lot. I get five to six unsolicited submissions a week, not to mention submissions for our writing contest currently running. There are certain phrases that just scream amateur at me.

Raven haired---unless the woman has black feathers coming out of her head, don't use this descriptive phrase. Same goes for flame haired. Unless her head is on fire, she does not have flamed haired. In either case, there have to be better ways to describe a woman with black hair or red hair.

"What he/she/it didn't know..." normally followed by four paragraphs of dull, lifeless backstory that has little or no bearing on the story.

Variant spellings of "Cain." Yeah, yeah. I get it. Trying to play off the biblical name and all that. But it's been done a thousand and forty-seven times, and changing the spelling to Kain, Kaine, Caine, Kane, Kayn, or any other variant doesn't make it any more original.

So, what phrases do you think are overused in fiction?

Answer 1

As far as romantic fiction goes - "throbbing" anything. Please, can we find another way to describe this?

Answer 2

I've read black hair also described as black as ink or black as the night sky. Cannot recall any others than what you state for red hair. Does sort of bring me to an interesting visual place where women have feathers sprouting out of their heads or they are on fire.

I cannot think of the phrasing used in some of the older romance novels - "Sweet Savage Love" was the name of one that I read long ago. I just got so sick of the heroines going through all this misfortune, rape, etc. and still being described as robust, having perky bosoms, clear skin, beautiful hair and figure - all kinds of flowery description. For goodness sakes she just spent five months with a band of cut throats until the hero saved her. You mean to tell me she looked as good as before? Come on. I'm sure you know the descriptions I'm talking about.

Answer 3

The phrases I've learned to hate are the substitutes for SAID. They vary from jolting to annoying. I also try very hard to stay away from 'suddenly'. It's overused.

I also agree that not all endings need to be happy. They need to be satisfying. Not all loose ends need to be wrapped up either, particularly in a series. Some readers are happier at the end of the book if they can speculate on what will happen with this thread or that thread in the future.

Answer 4

I write poetry so I understand the descriptive language. (I think)

I see alot of the same things written. The phrase that sticks out most for me is** Come grow old with me, the best is yet to be**

That is the most overused phrase in history! It has to be!

Answer 5

This post is interesting. I think I would have to say, the sickly sweet happy ending sometimes gets to me. And telling, not showing when writing.

In movies I definitely know that the line "come with me if you want to live" is definitely used too much.

Answer 6

Once upon a time
Happily Ever After

Answer 7

I think that the phrase is:
1.My name is...
2.They were at the....
3.She is wearing...

Answer 8

Flaxen Hair, Damsel in destress, happily ever after.

Answer 9

i hate when they say once upon a time or the end, or lived happily ever after, and i hate how everything has to have a happy ending, make some stuff sad....

Answer 10

The one phrase written in more books than any other:

"close cover before striking"

Answer 11

How about "The End"?

I know its the end of the book. Its obvious! There are no more pages.