Slang

Use this is you want to add some pizzazz to your character (make the character feel real and authentic)

Only use slang on the characters thoughts and speech.

You shouldn’t be criticized because your character says y’all a lot,  says “what’s up dog.”, or misspells frequently

Valley girl: I received a text from Sally.

OMG! Did u hear wat I herd? Jack is dating Suzy! ~Sally

WTH??? Why would he date that ? I dialed Tiffany’s number. “OMG did you hear what I heard?”

“What?”

“Jack is dating that ! They are sooooo not meant to be together.”

Gangster: “What up bro?” guy 1

“Nuthin’ just been smoking weed, want some?” – guy 2

“Naw man, I already had some earlier.” – guy 1

Strict: “Can we come in?”-person

The lady stared down at them. “Your kind is not welcomed here.” - lady

(ok having strict speech isn’t slang but it makes the character real; if you want a strict character don’t use contraptions for him/her)

Country: “Yee ha! Mama look what we have here. It’s uhh fish!”-Guy 1

“Y’all boys get the pot, we’re having fish tonight!!”-Mama

“Uhh I don’t think that’s no fish right there.”-Guy 2   

American English vs British English

Yeah there’s a difference

They’re like identical twins. At first you don’t notice any differences but over time you realize they do.

Note:  American English is used globally; American version is on the left, british right, alternative farthest right

this is just here if you stumble upon this and you’re wondering..

Gray vs grey

I switch between them regularly.  I think it gets regularly switched out  

Mail vs Post

I hear the 2 regularly used but just stick with mail

Movie theater vs cinema

Some of my movie theaters use cinema to make sound more classy/sophisticated

Pants vs trousers

Hear them both a lot; trousers mostly directed at men ‘pull up your trousers.’

Side walk vs pavement

Used regularly

Trash can vs bin

Used regularly

Soccer vs football

America has a different sport named football so alert its soccer for american readers ‘We played football(soccer)’

 

Jello vs Jelly

If you find that you’re reading a story with some british spelling/words then jelly = jello

Jelly vs jam

If the thing you’re reading looks normal then jelly= the fruit stuff you smear on bread

Can vs Tin vs tin can

Just use can its more American  

Spelling differences: (if you spot it then most likely you’re reading from a British/UK person

Theater, theatre, center, centre, meter, metre etc… (re- british; er- American)

 

Alice and Wonderland and it’s Gibberish!

Before Lewis Carroll wrote about the jabberwocky it wasn’t in the dictionary (many words that he made up is now in the dictionary) 

I have no idea what a jabberwocky is but I like it.

Glurflaginschnop- an item that makes you small as a dwarf, gives you 489548934 beer cans, and makes you gain 57 pounds.  (note: this isn’t a word in the dictionary)

I saw the glurflaginschnop. I became nervous when it started glowing. 

You can make up your own word but:

1.       You must be consistent with the word and only give it one meaning  (yeah don’t use it as a greeting then say you petted it)

2.       Give clues on what it means so you won’t leave your readers in the dark 

3.       It can be anything you want (animal. Power, thing, feeling, etc…)

You also shouldn’t be criticized for the make believe words you have (unless you’re inconsistent with it and give it a billion meanings)

Harry Potter: Muggles  (hmm if that was criticized with it’s other words, it would get an F for grammar and not be released for print)
 

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A/N: I wouldn't start trying to do slang until you have a good feeling of the language (though you still can make a word for your story)