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Is this a word?
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Amanda
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Nov 03, 2014 10:21AM
I used the word 'funnily' in one of my books and then got feedback from a few of my beta readers that they don't think it is a word. I've seen other people use this word and it is in the dictionary. What is you guy's take on it?
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Whether or not it is a word doesn't matter much. This is the perfect example where you should follow the advices and skip an adverb. Not alone it sounds silly, but I just can't think of how such a word could be necessary.
Mod
My wife was reading a book the other day and mentioned that the author had described a community as "treesy". It was a great word that conveyed a vivid picture. The fact that the word didn't exist in a dictionary had no bearing on the fact that it was used brilliantly. If it's the right word for your story, use it. If not, find the one that is.
The reason why I went with funnily is because I needed a word that indicated funny and strange. Strangely or oddly doesn't convey funny enough to me and on the other side hilariously or comically is too funny and not enough strange. I need something that conveys both of them.
If you're talking in your narrative voice, then use a word if you'd use it yourself. In quoted dialog, anything goes. Mrs. Malaprop is one of the best-loved characters in fiction. Euphemised swearwords like "smeg" are a fun device. Funnily enough, I'd use your word.
Ubiquitous wrote: "My wife was reading a book the other day and mentioned that the author had described a community as "treesy". It was a great word that conveyed a vivid picture. The fact that the word didn't exist ..."I do like the word funnily but I also don't want people to scratch their heads when they read it and then go look it up to see if it is actually a word.
Mod
Personally, if I understand the way it's being used, I don't feel the need to check if the author made the 'faux pas' of writing a word that doesn't exist. However, some readers do. You need to decide whether it's worth the risk or not. In your case, the word does exist, you're safe. I'd use it if I'd feel it's the one needed for the occasion.
Thanks for all of your responses! I think I'll keep the word.
I don't think there is anything wrong with making up words if there is not a real word that conveys the point you are making. The fact that the word you used does actually exist shouldn't be a point of contention if the readers understand the concept.
I absolutely hate the word 'funnily.'I used to hear hicks using it back in High School and it would drive me nuts. Just one of those stupid Americanisms that crop up in some backwoods dialects.
A few years ago I heard some well spoken British guy use it on the radio. I got home and complained about it to my wife.
She says to me in a deadpan voice: "Funnily is a perfectly correct word."
I was livid. My own wife turning against me! I'll teach her...I looked it up! Ha! This will teach her!
...Oh...It is a totally correct word.
F---. ;(
G.G. wrote: "...Not alone it sounds silly, but I just can't think of how such a word could be necessary."In dialog is the only place I might use it. Depending, of course, on the character.
"Funnily enough, James, I was just about to ask you the same question."
Well, I have to agree that in dialogs it fits. I was mostly thinking about the dreaded 'he said, funnily' tag.
Still, 'tis a silly word.
Oh yes, G.G. Never tell your readers you think you're funny. "These are the yolks, folks," sign of a dying comic
Mod
Why "funnily enough" though? It's odd, isn't it. We never say the one without the other.
You can say "amusingly,"
or you can say "jocularly,"
or you can say "hilariously,"
but you doesn't has to say "funnily."
--Ray Jay Johnson
or you can say "jocularly,"
or you can say "hilariously,"
but you doesn't has to say "funnily."
--Ray Jay Johnson
Mod
I have a character who speaks like this. Proofreading is a nightmare.
I feel the need to post the sentence in question.'Winston looked at us funnily for a moment before sitting down next to me and joining us.'
This is how it is in the book.
Mod
Mod
If the context is correct, I think I'd use "oddly."
Richard wrote: "Is there something a bit old-school about it? I can imagine my father saying 'funnily' that way, whereas I wouldn't."
I've never heard the word before, so if it's old-school I missed it.
I've never heard the word before, so if it's old-school I missed it.
Just looked it up in my old Webster's New Twentieth Century Dictionary (unabridged, 2nd Edition), which I've had since 1973. "fun'ni-ly, adv, in a funny manner."
Who knew? But I still wouldn't use it.
Who knew? But I still wouldn't use it.
Other places define the word as "in a strange or amusing way" but in the case of the given sentence (which funnily enough has other oddities that bother me more than 'funnily'--Winston looks at us, sits next to me and joins us all in the same sentence. Bit awkward)...but in the case of the given sentence, I'm not really sure whether he looked at us strangely or in an amusing way.I would either choose 'strangely' or 'amusingly' or 'oddly.' Or describe the actual look:
"Winston screwed his face up into a comical scowl for a moment before joining us, sitting at my side."
pfft ignore them. it's a real word and used correctly. those betas of yours don't read often enough :D
Who knew that word would be so funnily *wink wink* received here?
Yes it is word, but it might not be a good word. Not all words are made equal. I'm not fond of the word funnily, and if your beta readers are pointing it out, then it's not sitting well with them, either. That's probably a good enough reason to find a new word.It helps that you posted the sentence. Without wider context, it's still hard to judge, but it's not doing anything for me. "He gave us a funny look" sounds better but it still doesn't convey a whole lot to me. Even if I am unsure what the look is supposed to convey, I don't get the sense that the characters are as confused as I am.
I think in that case I would say that he "had a funny look on his face as he sat down next to me." "Joined us" seems superfluous. (wow, see what happens when you throw a sentence up in front of a bunch of writers? We all want to rewrite to our own style.)
Mod
And hey! That's a spoiler, that is!
Sorry Christina. I didn't think when I posted that. I would try to make it better but am worried I'll make it worse.
Mod
No worries, I'll be sure to forget what I read.
;)
Amanda wrote: "Sorry Christina. I didn't think when I posted that. I would try to make it better but am worried I'll make it worse."That's okay. So try again and make it worse. Then try again. Then try again until it is correct. You get infinite retries when you're writing.
I'm always rewriting, trying to make it better, until I'm finally satisfied. And then I publish.
G.G. wrote: "Whether or not it is a word doesn't matter much. This is the perfect example where you should follow the advices and skip an adverb. An adverb each page keeps the readers away ;)
Amanda wrote: "The reason why I went with funnily is because I needed a word that indicated funny and strange. Strangely or oddly doesn't convey funny enough to me and on the other side hilariously or comically i..."My thoughts exactly when someone suggested 'He danced around hilariously.' That implies fall about laughing, whereas 'funnily' has the amusing feeling, but not as strongly as 'hilariously', and also the 'oddly' feel too. Please remember that no two words convey exactly the samd meaning. Yes, 'funnily' is a word, so use it if that is what you mean.
Ken wrote: "I'm always rewriting, trying to make it better, until I'm finally satisfied. And then I publish."Are you ever satisfied? I'm not, and many writers of my acquaintance are not either. I keep re-writing and re-writing and could go on for ever, I think. I do eventually publish though.
Ryan wrote: "G.G. wrote: "Whether or not it is a word doesn't matter much. This is the perfect example where you should follow the advices and skip an adverb. An adverb each page keeps the readers away ;)"
What's wrong with adverbs anyway? We are not told to leave out adjectives. Just because something governs a verb and not a noun does not make it much different.
Vivienne wrote: "Are you ever satisfied? I'm not, and many writers of my acquaintance are not either. ..."
Satisfied enough to publish. When I reread after publishing I can always find some minor things I wish I had changed. I'm currently considering a 2nd edition of my first novel, with major changes--not to the story, but to add or shorten scenes, reorganize the chapters, and smooth the writing just a little more. Maybe I should let it go, but it doesn't seem to be a major undertaking.
Satisfied enough to publish. When I reread after publishing I can always find some minor things I wish I had changed. I'm currently considering a 2nd edition of my first novel, with major changes--not to the story, but to add or shorten scenes, reorganize the chapters, and smooth the writing just a little more. Maybe I should let it go, but it doesn't seem to be a major undertaking.
Adverbs often weaken and distract from the verb though, whereas adjectives strengthen the noun.Ran quickly, for example is much better replaced with a visually stronger verb such as: sprinted; darted; dashed
A blue box can't be described by substituting a different word for box.
Amanda wrote: "The reason why I went with funnily is because I needed a word that indicated funny and strange. Strangely or oddly doesn't convey funny enough to me and on the other side hilariously or comically i..."Drop "froward" on them. It's a great word. (Along with frowsty and crapulous. Describing someone as frowsty, froward and crapulous is awesome in my book.)
BB. wrote: "I used 'Balldashery' in a paragraph of my work. It's a word now!"Good on ya! I used the word "nitwitery" once and it was published (in the Atlantic Monthly no less), so I'm laying claim to coining it.
David wrote: "Adverbs often weaken and distract from the verb though, whereas adjectives strengthen the noun.Ran quickly, for example is much better replaced with a visually stronger verb such as: sprinted; da..."
The key word in the above is "often". Some authors use adverbs frequently as a lazy short-hand that weakens their writing. But that's not because adverbs are bad, it's because the author isn't trying.
Other authors buy off on the "rule" adverbs are "weak" (promulgated by authors like Stephen King, who really ought to know better) and go thru circumlocutions to avoid it, producing awkward, stunted, unnatural prose as a result.
Neither is desirable, but only the second is actually bad.
BB. wrote: "Hahaha Nitwitery, I like it!"Thanks. That was in a letter to the editor that was first thing I ever had printed in a major publication. (And also the last.)
