Comments on: 5 MORE Words We Never Want to See in Travel Writing Again

By: Lucky

Lucky — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 01:06:46 +0000

HA! Does anyone want to join me for dinner at The Eatery? Most from/have been to Vancouver reading this will know this restaurant. It’s a GREAT name!

By: thailandtravel

thailandtravel — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:48:20 +0000

It’s useful information.

By: susan

susan — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 13:35:08 +0000

I hardily agree….but for the new restaurant owner who does not want to use ….grill, diner, restaurant, cafe, bistro, what options are there to convey you have a place to eat food?

By: carol

carol — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 23:18:45 +0000

Why are residents of a particular place always “locals” ? I am really tired of “locals.” It sounds demeaning.

By: Rebel

Rebel — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 10:45:25 +0000

I don’t read glossy travel magazines, and the last time I checked my local news-stand everything was in Thai.

I agree that a numbered list can provide useful information. But they are not the only way to do so, and like the words in this article, I think they’re a bit overused here.

By: Julie

Julie — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:02:55 +0000

It’s interesting to me that you’ve got a beef with top 10 lists on Matador– how about top 10 lists in glossy travel magazines? Have you checked out your local newsstand lately?

Numbered list articles can have plenty of solid content if you move beyond the title.

By: David Miller

David Miller — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:50:53 +0000

don’t get your point. seems like you haven’t read BNT.

By: Rebel

Rebel — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:22:02 +0000

AMEN! It seems like that’s all Brave New Traveler is – 10 places you don’t want to miss, 11 reasons to visit India, 9 great bookstores.

There’s nothing wrong with a good old-fashioned essay: an introduction, a couple interesting ideas supported by a few anecdotes, maybe a little thesis running through it and a nice conclusion to give us something to think about.

What do you think?

By: Drew Clement

Drew Clement — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 05:47:32 +0000

I do believe it is all about context. It is a shame that certain words and pictures are so overused that people get tired of them, because some are simply the best way to describe things, without being long winded. Mecca can wrap it all up….but can also be used in a terrible context. I would have to see that we should look at the overall context of the article before saying the words do not fit.

By: Travel-Writers-Exchange.com

Travel-Writers-Exchange.com — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:53:03 +0000

Great post. I agree that words like “nestled, Mecca, adventure, rustic, etc…are overused. I admit to using “adventure” for some of my travel articles.

Some other words and phrases that are overused: azure, a step back in time, hustle and bustle, must-see, best kept secret, and hub.

Reading this article inspires me to really “think deeply” about my articles before I write them. Perhaps a brainstorming session would help.

By: David Miller

David Miller — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:07:37 +0000

funny, Carlo, I read 'hailed a cab' in this morning's piece on Buenos Aires. people do say 'hailed a cab' I guess. damn.

By: Kyle Smith

Kyle Smith — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 05:59:52 +0000

Truth. Death to ‘eatery’!

By: Carlo

Carlo — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 03:14:54 +0000

What about hailed a cab? That’s legit. 2 legit 2 quit.

By: David Miller

David Miller — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 03:13:24 +0000

i just found another one: ‘hailed’ — as in ‘hailed as the mecca for mountain biking. . ..’

there’s only one use for the hailed — the past tense of the verb describing when balls of ice fall out of the sky.

By: Lindsey

Lindsey — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:42:15 +0000

Sorry that was “no” more.

By: Lindsey

Lindsey — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:41:47 +0000

How about now more “50 best place to see/things to do before you die” lists!!!!!! Sheesh!

By: Alanna

Alanna — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:02:38 +0000

I use all of these all the time. I am not embarrassed. Except for eatery, that’s just lame.

By: alan

alan — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 07:24:55 +0000

How about “adventure?” Why does everyone think their holiday/trip is always an “adventure?”

By: Marilyn Terrell

Marilyn Terrell — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 16:40:19 +0000

Thanks for accepting my “nestled/perched” and “mecca” submissions from the comments in your last post. Now if only I could get the editors I work with to agree!

By: Paul Sullivan

Paul Sullivan — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 13:23:11 +0000

I think Leo’s comment may make for some interesting experiments in interactive travel writing. “The — surfer sat on the — beach” Let the reader insert their own words / use their own imaginations. Ha!