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Sailsofoblivion Posted 11 years ago
Vocabulary

Too similar / Paraphrasing

Just wondering, I noticed that a piece I was inspired by uses a similar phrase when it comes to falling into a nightmare. I like the use of the word "slumber" as it's so old fashioned, however, I don't want it to look like I'm paraphrasing the other writer. My work is in red.

He settled into his armchair by the fire and descended into a tormented slumber.

Tears had formed in his bloodshot eyes, such was the majesty of this memory, and his mind grew increasingly perturbed as he fell into a melancholy slumber.

Similarly, I am a bit iffy about saying "he stumbled into" as it too seems too similar, but then again, these are pretty common phrases. I just wan to be 100% safe...

Half asleep, he stumbled into the kitchen and found a knife, glinting in the moonlight.

Exhausted, he stumbled out into the old town in search of a shadow.

That being said, does anyone think that "lurched" may work better as he doesn't actually fall over?
  

Top answer

There are certain actions, such as eating, drinking, sleeping, waking, going in or out of the house, and so forth, that are normal human activities that have been described by writers thousands of times. There are only so many synonyms out there. You cannot reasonably avoid mentioning these activities, and you cannot avoid using a word or two that have been used by other writers.

— Blue Jay

  • There are certain actions, such as eating, drinking, sleeping, waking, going in or out of the house, and so forth, that are normal human activities that have been described by writers thousands of times.
  • There are only so many synonyms out there.
  • You cannot reasonably avoid mentioning these activities, and you cannot avoid using a word or two that have been used by other writers.
  • It is an issue if you have a number of sentences that parallel those in another work, but the very slight resemblance of an occasional sentence to ones in other works is unavoidable and unremarkable.
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6 Answers
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There are certain actions, such as eating, drinking, sleeping, waking, going in or out of the house, and so forth, that are normal human activities that have been described by writers thousands of times. There are only so many synonyms out there. You cannot reasonably avoid mentioning these activities, and you cannot avoid using a word or two that have been used by other writers. It is an issue i
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Blue Jay There are certain actions, such as eating, drinking, sleeping, waking, going in or out of the house, and so forth, that are normal human activities that have been described by writers thousands of times. There are only so many synonyms out there. You cannot reasonably avoid mentioning these activities, and you cannot avoid using a word or two that have been used
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It seems to me that you went to considerable trouble to find the faintest of resemblances. #2 is the only one I might notice if it were not pointed out, but only because the idea of paintings looking disapprovingly at someone is one that has been used many times, not just here. Even here they are worded no more like each other than they are to other examples of the same idea.
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Blue JayIt seems to me that you went to considerable trouble to find the faintest of resemblances. #2 is the only one I might notice if it were not pointed out, but only because the idea of paintings looking disapprovingly at someone is one that has been used many times, not just here. Even here they are worded no more like each other than they are to other examples of th
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Reeled works for me, although both stumbled and reeled convey the idea that he was unsteady on his feet, and the reader would presumably know his situation and understand why he wasn't as nimble as usual.
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