Bits and Pieces
Oct. 21st, 2013 06:37 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kerravonsenLet's see...
I finished a couple of jewellery sets on the weekend, though I haven't scanned them in yet. They were mostly-finished and had been lying around waiting for clasps and matching earrings to be made, so there wasn't a lot to be done. I actually decided to keep one for myself, so the earrings in that case were clip-ons. (Yes, I do not have pierced ears. Mainly because I'm non-conformist.)
I realized this morning in the bus when I was working on another lacy crochet necklace... what the etymology of "necklace" probably is: "neck lace". Lace around the neck. From when lace collars were detachable and were swapped from dress to dress, because lace was so expensive.
Also finished on the weekend, a re-read of "Regann's Heart Over Mind, which I actually enjoyed less this time around, to my surprise. I mean, the good bits were still good (especially Hermione's family), but I noticed some of the annoying things more, such as the grammar mistakes. I found it also a bit frustrating that Hermione was off studying, out of the action, for most of the story. I don't mean that we didn't get her point-of-view, but I figure that the author didn't want to write any of the fighting-Voldemort stuff, so she moved Hermione out of the action.
I was also reminded of a particular compound word which makes me twitch, as the story used it repeatedly. What is it, you ask? The word is "ancient-looking". This isn't the only author who uses it; I've merely been reminded of it. Why do I frown on it? Because it's wishy-washy, lazy. I mean, what's wrong with using the perfectly good word "ancient"? If you add the "-looking" it weakens the adjective. It declares that you aren't certain whether the object is ancient or not, but you can't be bothered to figure out a better description. I mean, what is it about the object that makes it look ancient? Is it darkened with the patina of years? Is it worn down by the passage of many feet? Is it weathered by wind and rain? Is it cracked with much handling? Are the colours faded? What?
I can't think of any good reason to use "ancient-looking" at all.
(gets off soapbox)
I finished a couple of jewellery sets on the weekend, though I haven't scanned them in yet. They were mostly-finished and had been lying around waiting for clasps and matching earrings to be made, so there wasn't a lot to be done. I actually decided to keep one for myself, so the earrings in that case were clip-ons. (Yes, I do not have pierced ears. Mainly because I'm non-conformist.)
I realized this morning in the bus when I was working on another lacy crochet necklace... what the etymology of "necklace" probably is: "neck lace". Lace around the neck. From when lace collars were detachable and were swapped from dress to dress, because lace was so expensive.
Also finished on the weekend, a re-read of "Regann's Heart Over Mind, which I actually enjoyed less this time around, to my surprise. I mean, the good bits were still good (especially Hermione's family), but I noticed some of the annoying things more, such as the grammar mistakes. I found it also a bit frustrating that Hermione was off studying, out of the action, for most of the story. I don't mean that we didn't get her point-of-view, but I figure that the author didn't want to write any of the fighting-Voldemort stuff, so she moved Hermione out of the action.
I was also reminded of a particular compound word which makes me twitch, as the story used it repeatedly. What is it, you ask? The word is "ancient-looking". This isn't the only author who uses it; I've merely been reminded of it. Why do I frown on it? Because it's wishy-washy, lazy. I mean, what's wrong with using the perfectly good word "ancient"? If you add the "-looking" it weakens the adjective. It declares that you aren't certain whether the object is ancient or not, but you can't be bothered to figure out a better description. I mean, what is it about the object that makes it look ancient? Is it darkened with the patina of years? Is it worn down by the passage of many feet? Is it weathered by wind and rain? Is it cracked with much handling? Are the colours faded? What?
I can't think of any good reason to use "ancient-looking" at all.
(gets off soapbox)
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no subject
Date: 2013-10-30 08:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-10-21 11:42 am (UTC)In SGA, there's a certain aesthetic associated with the Ancients - metal and spires, mostly. So I can see a character describing something as 'Ancient-looking'....
(But, yeah, mostly I agree. Show, don't tell!)
no subject
Date: 2013-10-22 12:45 am (UTC)I've seen some lovely steampunky necklaces (literally neck-lace too) on eBay that combine beads and other classical jewel items with crochet or lace.