Is there a word for it?

AlexBell · 01-26-2009, 03:53 AM

I occasionally come across things in books which do not make any sense because they go against important plot or character elements, and wonder if there is a word for it.

For example in 'Passage' by Lois McMaster Bujold one of the protatonists is Dag who lost his right hand and lower forearm in a battle some years before. Yet he is described as having to run vigorously up a hill and resting at the top with his hands on his knees to regain his breath.

In 'The Wind in the Willows' by Kenneth Grahame one of the protagonists is Toad, who is of course a toad. Yet after he escapes from prison and has spent the night huddled under the roots of a tree he is described as brushing the dead leaves from his hair.

Does anyone have other examples? What does one call things like this? They are surely more than typos.

Regards, Alex

acidzebra · 01-26-2009, 03:57 AM

Sloppy writing?

Laine · 01-26-2009, 04:04 AM

Concerning Dag - if you look at the front cover of the book you can see he's wearing a hook for an artificial hand. I don't think it's wrong to use the normal phrase 'hands and knees' instead of hand, hook and knees. That would be clumsy.

In the words of the posters around Sydney these days:

Don't dis my ability.

Laine

GeoffC · 01-26-2009, 04:38 AM

Whoops !

Over · 01-26-2009, 05:54 AM

Incongruency?

montsnmags · 01-26-2009, 06:15 AM

"Discontinuity" (as opposed to "continuity")

Cheers,
Marc

wayrad · 01-26-2009, 07:54 AM

I've always heard it referred to as a continuity lapse.

In one of Larry Niven's Dream Park novels, his hero is described as black-haired, but a chapter or so later he's looking at his red-haired reflection "as if at a stranger". As well he might...

I'm not sure this is actually a continuity lapse or just a failure to think, but in one of Barbara Hambly's books the heroine views the exotic sight of a flock of "two-legged birds"! (She meant "flightless"...) Oh, and there was the Lyndon Hardy fantasy novel where you could always tell when the characters were in difficulty because of the flocks of "carrion" overhead, but that was just poor vocabulary skills and not a continuity lapse.

pshrynk · 01-26-2009, 10:19 AM

Cognitive dissonance?

zelda_pinwheel · 01-26-2009, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wayrad

you could always tell when the characters were in difficulty because of the flocks of "carrion" overhead, but that was just poor vocabulary skills and not a continuity lapse.

lilac_jive · 01-26-2009, 10:31 AM

I love when names get spellchecked. There was a character named "Grey" in one of the books I just read, and I saw it come up as "Gray" once or twice. Another one had the name "Baskett" (or similar) and showed up as "Basket." Even in the HP books I saw Percy spelled as Perry once.

Gaurnim · 01-26-2009, 10:39 AM

I would say "Brain fart".
But it's only because I love that expression, not because it is the industry-approved word for this situation.

RickyMaveety · 01-26-2009, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaurnim

I would say "Brain fart".
But it's only because I love that expression, not because it is the industry-approved word for this situation.

I call mozzle on Plotfart!!!

vivaldirules · 01-26-2009, 10:46 AM

Well, Toad drives a car so I guess I'll let him have a bit of hair so we can see it blow in the wind as he cruises down the road.

RickyMaveety · 01-26-2009, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

Well, Toad drives a car so I guess I'll let him have a bit of hair so we can see it blow in the wind as he cruises down the road.

Or, maybe it's a toupe?

A toad driving a coupe in a toupe.

DixieGal · 01-26-2009, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

Or, maybe it's a toupe?

A toad driving a coupe in a toupe.

Alright, now you've gone and made me laugh until I peed! (Got an open faucet with this stent up against my bladder)

01-26-2009, 03:53 AM	#1
AlexBell Wizard Posts: 3,413 Karma: 13369310 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Launceston, Tasmania Device: Sony PRS T3, Kobo Glo, Kindle Touch, iPad, Samsung SB 2 tablet	Is there a word for it? I occasionally come across things in books which do not make any sense because they go against important plot or character elements, and wonder if there is a word for it. For example in 'Passage' by Lois McMaster Bujold one of the protatonists is Dag who lost his right hand and lower forearm in a battle some years before. Yet he is described as having to run vigorously up a hill and resting at the top with his hands on his knees to regain his breath. In 'The Wind in the Willows' by Kenneth Grahame one of the protagonists is Toad, who is of course a toad. Yet after he escapes from prison and has spent the night huddled under the roots of a tree he is described as brushing the dead leaves from his hair. Does anyone have other examples? What does one call things like this? They are surely more than typos. Regards, Alex

01-26-2009, 07:54 AM	#7
wayrad Fanatic Posts: 551 Karma: 1121392 Join Date: May 2008 Location: USA Device: HTC One M8	I've always heard it referred to as a continuity lapse. In one of Larry Niven's Dream Park novels, his hero is described as black-haired, but a chapter or so later he's looking at his red-haired reflection "as if at a stranger". As well he might... I'm not sure this is actually a continuity lapse or just a failure to think, but in one of Barbara Hambly's books the heroine views the exotic sight of a flock of "two-legged birds"! (She meant "flightless"...) Oh, and there was the Lyndon Hardy fantasy novel where you could always tell when the characters were in difficulty because of the flocks of "carrion" overhead, but that was just poor vocabulary skills and not a continuity lapse. Last edited by wayrad; 01-26-2009 at 08:18 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Romance Ebers, Georg: A Word, Only a Word. V1. 20 Mar 2009	crutledge	Kindle Books	0	03-20-2009 08:14 AM
Romance Ebers, Georg: A Word, Only a Word. V1. 20 Mar 2009	crutledge	IMP Books	0	03-20-2009 08:12 AM
Romance Ebers, Georg: A Word, Only a Word. V1. 20 Mar 2009	crutledge	BBeB/LRF Books	0	03-20-2009 08:10 AM
Romance Ebers, Georg: A Word, Only a Word. V1. 20 Mar 2009	crutledge	ePub Books	0	03-20-2009 08:09 AM
Convert word DOCs when you don't have WORD ? heheh	macthekitten	Calibre	9	01-30-2009 07:41 AM

01-26-2009, 03:57 AM	#2
acidzebra Liseuse Lover Posts: 869 Karma: 1035404 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Netherlands Device: PRS-505	Sloppy writing?

01-26-2009, 04:04 AM	#3
Laine Addict Posts: 341 Karma: 1162396 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cabramatta, Sydney, Australia Device: Aura H2O, Voyage	Concerning Dag - if you look at the front cover of the book you can see he's wearing a hook for an artificial hand. I don't think it's wrong to use the normal phrase 'hands and knees' instead of hand, hook and knees. That would be clumsy. In the words of the posters around Sydney these days: Don't dis my ability. Laine

01-26-2009, 04:38 AM	#4
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,600 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	Whoops !

01-26-2009, 05:54 AM	#5
Over Wizard Posts: 1,462 Karma: 6061516 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cascais, Portugal Device: Kindle PW, Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2", OnePlus 6	Incongruency?

01-26-2009, 06:15 AM	#6
montsnmags Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,155 Karma: 4632658 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: none	"Discontinuity" (as opposed to "continuity") Cheers, Marc

01-26-2009, 10:19 AM	#8
pshrynk Beepbeep n beebeep, yeah! Posts: 11,726 Karma: 8255450 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: La Crosse, Wisconsin, aka America's IceBox Device: iThingie, KmkII, I miss Zelda!	Cognitive dissonance?

01-26-2009, 10:31 AM	#10
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	I love when names get spellchecked. There was a character named "Grey" in one of the books I just read, and I saw it come up as "Gray" once or twice. Another one had the name "Baskett" (or similar) and showed up as "Basket." Even in the HP books I saw Percy spelled as Perry once.

01-26-2009, 10:39 AM	#11
Gaurnim Final Five n°42 Posts: 789 Karma: 3599 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lyon, France Device: Cybook Gen3	I would say "Brain fart". But it's only because I love that expression, not because it is the industry-approved word for this situation.

01-26-2009, 10:46 AM	#13
vivaldirules When's Doughnut Day? Posts: 10,059 Karma: 13675475 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX, US Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	Well, Toad drives a car so I guess I'll let him have a bit of hair so we can see it blow in the wind as he cruises down the road.

Advert

Advert