As a writer, I hate the word caused.

I know, I know, we shouldn’t hate any words. And yes, of course, caused is a valid word and has excellent usages, most of them in legal briefs.

Okay, okay, also in peer-reviewed, passive voice scientific papers.

Why do I hate caused? Because 90% of the time I see it in fiction, it’s in a verb phrase like this:

The sadness in her voice caused him to pause.

She jumped back, causing him to fall down.

Yeah, okay, they’re not inherently objectionable sentences. (Ha ha. Lawyer? Object?) But for the vast majority of sentences like these, the “cause” sounds external, overwritten and intrusive.

I may have some strong feelings on the matter.

What on Earth is wrong with just using the word “made“? Isn’t that what most of us would say? Isn’t it simpler and more elegant?

Most of all, when we use caused, we sound like this:

For our one year anniversary, my girlfriend caused myself to go to a Yankees game, with whomever amongst our friends can go. But, the Weather Channel just changed their forecast and the skies are grey, so we might go with the girl that lives next door to see the movie, “Iron Man 2”.

Yeah, I know, I’m my own brand of crazy.

What otherwise innocent words drive you crazy? (And don’t say you just hate the way “moist” or “moisture” sounds. I hate people who say that!)

Photo by Benny Lin