18) Unreadability. Using a font or combination of colors that makes roleplay posts hard to read. It doesn't matter how 'pretty' you think that gray text looks on that slightly lighter gray background. It doesn't matter that people can highlight the text in order to read it. They shouldn't have to go through the trouble just so you can satisfy your impractical aesthetic urges. If you are going to change the default type, only do so if you are sure it is readable.
19) Purple Prose. Using descriptions that are so flowery they become ridiculous and agonizing. One does not need to spend several paragraphs describing a character's eye color in a variety of over the top metaphors on a character profile. The same could be said of describing the ache of emptiness in an angsting character's heart. Here is an example of purple prose taken from a real character profile:
"Hair: Raspberry bushes -- ripe and kissed in morning dew. Harumi's hair flows in soft strands of pale copper, with a sweet touch a roasted pecan shade kissed with threads the color of nutmeg and raspberry truffle cake. Silken flushed tresses slithers down, slighting brushing against the delicate curve of her shoulders which is as tender as the gentle strike of a butterfly, lithely floating about until finally settling upon the glazed rose bloom of her skin. Her hair was once long (Oh, was it unquestionably long) brushing against delicate arch of her slender spine. "
A description like this, while pretty, often goes on so long that you end up unsure of what you just read. Ironically, something like this conveys more information while being easier to read: "Harumi has light brown hair that just reaches her shoulders; it's slightly curled and always parted in the center."
20) Thesaurus Abuse. Often related to Purple Prose. A thesaurus is a valuable but dangerous tool for a writer. When you can't find just the right word you are looking for, it's useful. However, some use it for evil trying, to find the most obscure and long words for the simplest of things. The worst cases of thesaurus abuse end with people having to use dictionaries in order to read what is being said Language is often subtle, and if you aren't familiar with a word and see it in a thesaurus, you might miss use it. For example, on one online thesaurus, both 'qualified' and 'wise' are listed as synonyms for 'clever', but obviously you can't replace one with the other without changing the meaning of what is being said. Using terms like 'ocular orbs' for 'eyes' isn't better writing; it's unclear and wordy without being more powerful. Clarity is the first goal of writing; style should make things clearer, not obfuscate the meaning.
