Word Issues, Have problems finding the right one?

[miss_elisha]

I think we've all been there. There's an idea we want to express, an image we want to convey, a mood we want to set. It's formed so clearly in our minds, but somewhere between the mental picture and the click of the keys the words get slightly jumbled and misplaced. It's rightthere on the tip of your tongue, but we just can't seem to find that perfect word, the word we know is lurking just beyond our consciousness.

So, we can turn here, to other word smiths (for really, isn't that what writers are?) for a bit of help.

And of course, I'm starting this thread because I'm having a bit of a problem right now.

Here's my dilemna: if someone forcibly expels air through their nose as an expression of disbelief/disgust/skepticism/etc., what is that called?

Sniffing?
Huffing?
Snorting?

None of those words seems just right to me. Sniffing and huffing are both INhaling, with huffing having a bit more of a drug-related connotation (at least in my head). Snorting makes noise, and often has a bit of a humorous connotation to it.

Am I just being too damn picky? What do you call it? Or do you just avoid referring to such a thing?

[Fixit]

I've referred to that in the past as "chuffing."

[Inoru]

I believe that's called "scoffing"... but I could be wrong.

~Mara~

[kupan]

I often use 'derisive snort', or a scoffing attitude.

Usually a snort, for me. *nodnod*

[Elehzya]

Hrm....can't think of word but the sound "hmph!". More a throat noise really, but you exhale through your nose while you make the sound <.<

I often get in trouble for doing it too much (especially with things I'm not interested in or too busy to care about)

[kupan]

Well, to deviate for half a second from this lovely scoffing/snorting/huffing conversation, what is the proper use to describe, in presence tense, that someone is laying/lying down?

Lying sounds better, but Word says laying. I know, though, that Word can be wrong at times.

And I still think it's snorting. ^^

[miss_elisha]

Deviate away. This thread is for everyone's word issues, not just mine.


Laying/lying depends on your usage.

Lay is a transitive verb, meaning that it requires an object in order to be grammatically correct. Ex: I am laying tile in my bathroom.

The one exception is when lay is used to indicate the production of an egg, in which case it's sometimes intransitive, but that's it.

Lie is an intransitive verb, meaning that it can stand on its own with no object. Ex: The dog is lying under that tree.

[kupan]

Ah. Well, I tried lying, see, and the computer said no, it's laying.

Well, thank you. ^^

[miss_elisha]

Hey, I'm not the Friendly Resident Grammar Freak (FRGF) for nothing!

[Helen Stoner]

miss_elisha - I completely commiserate on that. I utilize 'snort', and in my writing it sometimes takes on a funny sort of meaning, but other times I use 'sound of derision'.

Kupan - Maybe 'resting in a horizontal position'? >_>

edit:

also, I sometimes use (in Verdigris' steps) the word 'feh'. and 'pft', if the character will let me get away with it. ;p

[Inoru]

Oh my. Helen, that's SO shades of manga on the "feh" bit.

You know what's funny though? Ten to one says I'll end up making one of my MCs use that because it fits his personality. Though.. I'll probably use the Japanese equivalent... "keh"...

*wanders off muttering about annoying languages, a Pointy Stick of Wordy D00M™ in one hand*

~Mara~

[Here'sHoping]

Hi,
Thank you for this section- this will be very helpful!

Anyone know the word for when you 'nod' your chin toward someone- sort of like 'jutting' or something?

If you were to be talking to one person (person A) about another person (person B ) across the room and you stick your chin out toward person B a couple of times, indicating that you mean "you know, that person over there".

Anyone know the word for that? (Is it jutting?)

[miss_elisha]

I would probably say jutting.

[Here'sHoping]

thanks

[kupan]

I would just say 'nodding towards person B', but that's me. ^^ Jutting sounds more like when someone's being stubborn.