Ok, been editing lately, trying to get the one novel fit for beta readers.
Editing and grammar are not my thing, hence I rely on 'Grammarly' and 'ProWritingAid' to help identify trouble issues. Sometimes I agree with them, sometimes I don't and other times...well, that's where this thread comes in.
Both programs seem to despise the word 'really.'
I use the word in two places:
(Octavos is a eight or nine year old kid trying to impress his father.)
I don't see anything wrong with this usage, but maybe I'm missing something. Younger kids I am familiar with do speak that way...and so do many adults.
Second usage - not dialogue, but a sort of commentary:
(Casein is a former soldier with an interest in horses.)
Now, I am looking a maybe dropping a pronoun or two from these samples, but to me the word 'really' seems appropriate in both contexts, despite what the editing programs say. I'd also point out these are the only two uses of that word out of 65,000-70,000 total. Comments?
Editing and grammar are not my thing, hence I rely on 'Grammarly' and 'ProWritingAid' to help identify trouble issues. Sometimes I agree with them, sometimes I don't and other times...well, that's where this thread comes in.
Both programs seem to despise the word 'really.'
I use the word in two places:
(Octavos is a eight or nine year old kid trying to impress his father.)
“Yes!” Octavos danced around me. “Do you want to hear me play the flute? I’ve been practicing really hard.”
I don't see anything wrong with this usage, but maybe I'm missing something. Younger kids I am familiar with do speak that way...and so do many adults.
Second usage - not dialogue, but a sort of commentary:
(Casein is a former soldier with an interest in horses.)
Casein said he wished to inspect the lower city. What he really wanted was to inspect the horses we’d seen grazing in the fields.
Now, I am looking a maybe dropping a pronoun or two from these samples, but to me the word 'really' seems appropriate in both contexts, despite what the editing programs say. I'd also point out these are the only two uses of that word out of 65,000-70,000 total. Comments?