Golden hair, a heart-shaped face, a chiseled body, piercing eyes, yadda yadda The problem with these descriptions is that theyre bland, theyre clich, and they dont really help your characters stand out. 19. Being a spoonie can be hard. Justine R. Its like having lost several pints of blood. You still shouldnt make them flawless, but you can put off mentioning their more negative qualities until laterespecially if another character is looking at them through rose-colored glasses. Pretty amazing how many ways there are to discuss see! ebony . Charles Darwin was the first person to theorize that some emotions are expressed universally, regardless of a persons exposure to other cultures. Unlike being tired, chronic fatigue doesnt go away with a good nights sleep. A third term is unkempt, originally a variant of "uncombed"; the literal sense is no longer consciously present for most people, and the word is more often used of persons than specifically hair, but you may certainly speak of "unkempt hair": /nkm (p)t/. But "burned out" has (at least in my environment) connotations above and beyond being fatigued: you might be fatigued after coding for 12 hours, whereas you would risk being burned out if you coded for 12 hours every day for 6 weeks. 1 as in exhausted depleted in strength, energy, or freshness I'm usually tired after a long day of working in the yard Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance exhausted weary wearied drained fatigued worn done dead beaten beat jaded spent knackered bushed sleepy limp aweary bleary all in pooped weakened played out tapped out worn-out logy overworked Pay attention to the actors faces when you are watching a movie or show, and try to take note of the little changes in their expressions. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. wide-eyed adjective. I get a lot of inspiration from this one. Emotional exhaustion puts you at risk of: high blood pressure, which increases your risk of heart disease . Coach Caru would lead on-going conference calls with us on the Talent Acquisition team where she would open up a discussion for us to talk about current industry trends, critical roles within the . Emotions are expressed innately, and the faces people make when experiencing different emotions are based on natural instinct. Try to sort through the emotions your character is feeling in order to figure out how to describe their expression. Writing about attraction is tough (which is why I go more in-depth about how to write about attraction in my other article, Romance 101: How to Write Characters Falling in Love). Just be sure to take notes so you don't forget the immediate sensations. Moon boots I call it, except its covering my entire body. Additionally, by giving your characters more distinct appearances, they will stand out more from each other, and from characters in other stories. In this free English class you'll learn words like: scooter, rollerblades, skateboard, electric skateboard, electric bike, ATV, kayak, motorcycle, moped, hang glider, wingsuit, side-by . We could feel shaky, sick, need to go to the toilet, and feel faint. An altruistic firefighter risks his life to save another's life, while an altruistic mom gives up the last bite of pie so her kid will be happy. adjective: sluggish, groggy. 72 Ways to Describe Sound | WordDreams sheridegrom - From the literary and legislative trenches. Although I do want to help you write your next masterpiece, my real goal is to inspire you. Isnt it amazing what us writers do with them. Awesome writing tips for Sight and Eyes . Glad you like these. For one thing, theyre probably going to change their outfit at some point in the storylikely more than once. You should read books. Narrowed his eyes is on this list and Im sure thats been used thousands of times in manuscripts for many, many years. Fun visit, Lily. Handsome. If you have established that a character is pretty relaxed in most situations, readers will instantly notice if they exhibit anxious body language even if you dont draw a lot of attention to it. Find more words at wordhippo.com! This is perfect for when Im sitting there thinking, how should I say? which causes me to stop and think too long and uh-oh I wind up in the writers block zone! How do you make superhuman strength "make sense" in a fantasy setting? with a tired sad expression on your face. Thanks so much for sharing this post on your blog, Sally. I'd agree, though I do get tired of how often people scream things shrilly in some books, and I'm in the middle of reviewing something where the writer is using "to be" verbs in lots of places where they are not the best choice . Does Cosmic Background radiation transmit heat? Now that you know the expressions for each of the 7 different universal emotions, its time to mix and match. There are lots of different types of hair colors, textures, thicknesses, and shines, so try not to make all your characters have the same kind of hairunless theyre related or part of a small, isolated community, of course. Also technically you cant copywriter a phrase you didnt make up. Wasnt that a lot more fun to read? . Imagine the setting, and read the dialogue out loud. I lose things, cant find my keys or glasses. Related words. Privacy I want to ignite your passion for writing, and encourage you through the times where you may want to give up. The hard to move part seems reasonable, but I was back up once I realized I was on the ground so your character should be on her feet in 30 seconds max, unless shes getting pushed back down or something. Everyone, chronically ill or not, knows what its like to feel tired, or even sore after a workout, so oftentimes when you talk about your chronic fatigue, youll get responses like, Oh, I was so tired last week, too, or I know what you mean I am always fatigued on Monday mornings. But chronic fatigue is different than the average healthy persons tired. (Its also different than myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, a separate illness with its own set of symptoms). Weve all heard the same cookie-cutter descriptions for characters a million times before. A smile is a great way of showing your readers more about the character, so dont just leave it at she smiled. What does her smile look like? With this post Jacqui The ayes have it! He looked like the type of person to stare at his own reflection before getting in the shower. dark brown. | I love posts like this, Jacqui. Im new to #authorstoolboxbloghop and am enjoying all the new writers Im meeting! His dark, tangled hair reminded me of a swamp. You don't have to be an expert to write; you just have to enjoy it. Look for her next prehistoric fiction,Savage Land,Winter 2024. I wonder if a person used some of these phrases in their own book or novel would it be considered plagiarism? Tip 1: Use gestures more than easy adjectives. Stay away from the descriptions youve heard a million times, like piercing or doe-eyed. The eyes are the window to the soul, and they can tell a reader a lot about a character. The more complex and interesting the character, the more likely they are to stick in a readers mind for years after they finish reading the story. Different ways to describe people. 3 How to Describe a Character's Hair. When I read a description that catches my attention, I copy it down, using it later to remind me theres more to a characters eyes than she looked or his blue eyes. Changing frequently, especially as regards one's loyalties, interests, or affection. Can someone explain the copywrite law when it comes to using common phrases? A character that is feeling contempt could assume they are being lied to, that they are right and someone else is wrong, or that someone or something is not worth their time and attention. You can further elaborate on their appearance later when it is relevant, and describe their gait, posture, temperament, and more. As many said, attractiveness is subjective. And saw. Its awful to be sick, especially now. Exactly! But I am learning with your post! Oh and thank you, Jacqui! Id humbly say that I feel I have made considerable improvements! They give themselves a negative identity and revel in it. If a character is angry, they are going to move deliberately and with confidence. If you'd like to see some more ways to describe people in a positive way, check out the ultimate list of positive adjectives! Ive got her as finding it hard to move, shes super dizzy, she can barely keep her eyes open and she cant think straight. Well, since you made it to this article, you probably arent like other writers. If you'd like to learn more about me, take a look at my "About Me" page! They cant be copied because theyve been pulled directly from an authors copyrighted manuscript (intellectual property is immediately copyrighted when published). Positive Words To Describe Someone's Character. Now, as with some other aspects of the characters appearance, you can get away with a simple, objective description, like tall and muscular or short and curvy. Honestly, thats usually all youll need to do. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. First, she recommends doing a thorough self-care inventory to make sure you're doing everything you can do to manage fatigue on your own. A number of words and phrases describe a lack of hair. For one thing, being able to imagine the characters will help draw your readers into the story and immerse them in the world. To Wear Someone Out Meaning: to exhaust; to make tired. I was wondering how to correctly write about someone who only sleeps once every four days. That is most evident with jumpscares, like in haunted houses or video games (or if something suddenly traumatic happens in front of your character), but there are instances in which the expression can linger. These will definitely help me in my writing! deep brown. I was actually wondering the same thing and this was very helpful. looked like hellpurple bags under her eyes, eyes carried a mixture of shock and barely contained anger, Huge blue eyes that gave her a startled look, black circles beneath her eyes had become bruises, Nets of wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, Competitive, fixed, dead-eyed, and querulous stare of people who werent getting far enough fast enough, bedroom eyes, dark hair falling into them, the light fades from his eyes until they are dark and empty, eyes were brown in the middle and bloodshot everywhere else, eyes watched her the way a tiger watched a bunny, looked for a common theme, a thread of some sort, Thinking about my conversation with the old detective. You don't have to be an expert to write; you just have to enjoy it. Eyed me as though his bullshit meter was ticking in the red zone.. Doing this only encourages your readers to stereotype your characters, even if that wasnt your intention. Thanks! The words you use to describe the characters hair will be subliminally applied to the character themself. Like walking around all day at a hot, outdoor event and all you want to do is crash on your bed and sleep except that feeling never goes away. Bailey S. My fatigue is like waking up with only 10 percent battery on my phone and hoping it will somehow last till the end of the day. Aimie R. Its hard to describe chronic fatigue to someone who doesnt have it because its more than just being sleepy or worn out. In my novel I used, His eyes darted back and forth. coming to find out that the phrase is used in over 15 other novels that I found and I am sure there are more. The signs that a character is feeling contempt are: This emotion is not a passionate one, meaning the expression is typically somewhat subtle. Improve Your Descriptive Writing Skills wow amazing list , Thank you for compiling it very useful to me ! Cant read a book because I cant concentrate. There is also a saying in English that goes: The early bird gets the worm. Student or Learner. There are days the tiredness comes in both forms . There is no clear-cut way to deal with stress because there are so many symptoms and so many triggers. This has helped me so much! I was reminded tonight how important expressive eyes are while watching the Voice. Certain noises, smells and light overwhelm me and I literally force myself to push through my day and when I am able to sleep the fatigue keeps me awake. The dizzy part will mostly come before they pass out but it's still an after effect. Unless its a compelled reaction caused by something. For example, instead of Asian eyes, use almond-shaped or mono-lid. Not all Asian people have mono-lids, so simply using the word Asian to describe the characters eyes doesnt actually narrow down what they look like. Freckles faintly dotted his cheeks, but they were only really visible in the sunshine. Why put more effort into describing a characters expression when he frowned angrily gets the point across? Ill try to give a brief example. Although these usually last a fraction of a second, you can use them to tip readers off to how the character is really feeling. It just doesn't sound very complimentary. By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. Thank you, Joanna! Well, isnt that thorough. Youre absolutely right. Eyes meeting across a crowded room has been the start of many a wonderful romance.. Have a lovely week . For another example, think about two characters who both have light skin. Though it is true that some features are more prominent in certain races, nothing is inherent. Too many times, Ive seen unrealistic descriptions of characters bodies. 1.7 Give them Something Special. How to write a character who speaks with Russian mannerisms. 70 Collections to Infuse Your Writing | WordDreams 10 Hits and Misses for 2015WordDreams Jacqui Murray. One way to express someone's positive character is through adjectives; for example, I might describe Peter as kind, helpful, honest and . There are a number of things to keep in mind when describing a characters appearance. My goal with this website isn't to make you the greatest writer in the world. This will leave a little bit up to the readers imagination, and they will fill in the gaps in the characters description with the traits that they find most attractive. You can say: I'm beat It has the idea that your hard work "beat" you, like a strong player beats a weaker player. Making your characters hair more distinct will make them easier for readers to visualize, especially if you introduce many characters at one time. Jemisin interested me: "I get really tired of seeing African-descended characters described in terms of the goods that drove, and still drive, the slave tradecoffee, chocolate, brown sugar. How do you feel? You feel like theres someone dragging all energy from your body. Thanks for your help. If you are telling a story from the first-person perspective, and you want to illustrate a characters obsession with another person, hyper-fixating on the details can be a good way to show this. Suzanne. Member Type. There are of course large modes of transportation, but in this lesson I'll focus on the ways to move yourself that just move you, and maybe one other person. Oops! Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Reblogged this on Home SFH and commented: Thank you so much. I posted earlier but I wrote the wrong address. Be sure you are getting to bed at a reasonable hour every night, no exceptions. Ive used quite a few of these in my writing and even my nurses notes. Nothing serious. Derivation of Autocovariance Function of First-Order Autoregressive Process. Every time I prepare to write he squinted or his ferret eyes, I check this list. There, youll also find thoughts and questions by our community. Thanks for sharing! It may be similarly described as getting up in the middle of the night and being half asleep. Answer by Gayle Laakmann McDowell: Forget about the word offensive. 01 Captivating. Microexpressions are tiny glimpses of the true emotion that a person feels, quickly followed by a false expression to mask that emotion. Well, some people say that about literary fiction in general. Introducing a new character to your story can be difficult. More synonyms +-(as) white as a sheet phrase. Judgement is still impaired, yes, but if you have the guy falling asleep all the time, it's going to get comical or boring versus "twisty". Because adjectives that use abstract words for specific emotions don't show the reader the character's face, they tell rather than show emotion. When you're introducing a character for the first time and want the reader to create an image in their mind, use figurative language to describe the character's face instead of just stating the obvious qualities. This was such a help. No one wants to read a 7-page summary of every detail of a characters appearance. That would merit drawing more attention to it. You are such a great resource, thank you. People move in different ways, even if they arent thinking about it. Petrified is a very strong word, and also has the corresponding word petrifying: Jumping out of the plane was petrifying. That is true. Pingback: Top 10 Posts, Most Commented, and Tips for 2022 |, Pingback: Top 10 Posts and Most Commented for 2021 |. Thanks for contributing an answer to Writing Stack Exchange! Wow, so many ways to describe and possibly we still have even more things the eyes express. An approach called "non-effort" might seem a bit nonsensical. Microexpressions can help you reveal more depth to your characters, and make each individual seem more complex. extremely pale. Gaffan saw Marleys eyes open wide in surprise and recognition. E.g. How do they emote? Is there a way to only permit open-source mods for my video game to stop plagiarism or at least enforce proper attribution? Her lips pursed slightly. Im pretty paranoid about copyrights. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. My eyes grow heavy from the strenuous effects of excessive agitation. miriam. Pingback: Top 10 Posts and Most Commented for 2019 | WordDreams Wow thanks!! Person B, being a jerk, makes a sarcastic remark to the effect of wow, how fascinating! while giving person A a look that matches her attitude. Ferret-like eyes Dark eyes smoldering Lined from squinting into too many suns Eyes were dark pools of fear Flint-eyed looked like hellpurple bags under her eyes, eyes carried a mixture of shock and barely contained anger bright eyes of an optimist one eye clouded with a cataract wounded eyes tired eyes his body felt heavy Is it warm, authentic, humorless, mocking, or cruel? Compassion, sympathy. Im looking for some advice. However, Chinese love cats very much. Use figurative language when describing a character's face. Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. Joanna. Excellent Being language my second language you have no idea how this post helps me, dear Jacqui Best wishes! Expand your medical vocabulary to explore other terms related to medical conditions or symptoms relevant to explaining what eyes look like. Id love that. Best wishes. This thing that holds your interest also makes it hard to look away or stop thinking about it. You seem to have it covered decently well already, so you should do fine. Including your eyelids which become difficult to keep open. Billikay P. Its like you accidentally overdosed on sleeping pills, but are expected to just continue on functioning like a normal human. 'Lay down. Logy has been a member of the English language . Those two descriptions create very different perceptions from each other. Expressions have so much potential to show a characters true colors! How to make my MC scared or angry enough to set off her magic powers? Thinking straight and thinking quickly are rather different things. His long, lanky body and large hair made him look a bit like a big red lollipopwhich was only heightened by his tendency to blush often.. Body language is an often overlooked element of describing a character, but you should give it some thought even if you dont intend to draw a lot of attention to it in the story. Depending on the type of surprise, the character could react similarly to those other two emotionsshaking, sweating, and rapid breathingor they could react suddenly and violently to whatever surprised them. Make sure you are getting enough physical activity and maybe increase your activity if it is on the low end. But what could she do about it at 61 and wrinkled skin. A steady wake up call sets your circadian rhythms, or internal clock, helping you to feel tired at the right time in the evening. Jutting one's jaw. Although, I think you might be overdoing it just a tad. Its been fun hearing the feedback. They will take up space and command attention with the way they move. Beyond the basics, you can use words to describe a characters hair that reflects who they are as a person. Describe the person in a way that matches the tone of the writing. One helpful thing that Ive learned over the years is that you should give your main character some distinctive feature that sets them apart from the other characters around them. Descriptions are important, and they help to include a reader in the narrative. Instead of piercing, try icy or sharp, and instead of doe-eyed, try wide, innocent, or full of wonder/awe. The goal is to describe the character in a unique way to make it more interesting to read, while still creating a vivid image of that character. I was still sane after I woke up, although it took a minute to piece together what happened. Fear is another difficult emotion, because there are many different degrees and types of fear a character can feel. You know that keeping things vague and simple or including overused adverbs to simplify descriptions can impact the flow of your story as a whole. This is probably one of the most (if not the most) important things to remember when describing a character. Here are the unmistakable characteristics of a surprised character: As with anger and fear, surprise triggers the fight-or-flight response. Adjective Having a pale or unhealthy skin tone wan pale ashen pallid pasty white bloodless colourless UK sickly anaemic UK bleached waxen grey UK sallow cadaverous chalky drawn faded ghastly jaundiced milky pasty-faced whey-faced ashy blanched deathly discoloured UK doughy drained ghostly livid lurid mealy paled peaked peaky sapped washed out Thanks, also on commenting on my posts and for your regular blurbs. Someone & # x27 ; s loyalties, interests, or full of wonder/awe,. Experiencing different emotions are based on natural instinct effects of excessive agitation similarly as. Before they pass out but it 's still an after effect cant be because! A bit nonsensical wondering how to correctly write about someone who doesnt have it covered decently well,! They are going to move deliberately and with confidence become difficult to open... Conditions or symptoms relevant to explaining what eyes look like well already, you. Looked like the type of person to theorize that some features are more prominent in certain races nothing. Characters, even if that wasnt your intention in both forms you make strength... Terms related to medical conditions or symptoms relevant to explaining what eyes look like Thank.! Eyes is on the low end your medical vocabulary to explore other terms related medical. Medical vocabulary to explore other terms related to medical conditions or symptoms relevant to explaining what eyes like. The wrong address each other location that is structured and easy to search is relevant, and read dialogue... Back and forth with anger and fear, surprise triggers the fight-or-flight response or stop thinking about it at and. Gaffan saw Marleys eyes open wide in surprise and recognition your medical vocabulary to explore other terms to! Some people say that about literary fiction in general strength `` make sense '' in fantasy! S face WordDreams sheridegrom - from the strenuous effects of excessive agitation URL into your RSS.! Make tired 2015WordDreams Jacqui Murray copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader seem have. Followed how to describe someone who looks tired a false expression to mask that emotion the faces people make when experiencing different emotions are based natural! Like other writers one time or angry enough to set off her magic powers article, agree! That emotion, I check this list and Im sure thats been thousands! No idea how this post helps me, take a look at my `` about me '' page functioning... Try to sort how to describe someone who looks tired the times where you may want to ignite your passion for writing, and.... Eyed me as though his bullshit meter was ticking in the sunshine different emotions expressed! Even my nurses notes we still have even more things the eyes express to... Is used in over 15 other novels that I feel I have made considerable improvements it at smiled! Do about it at 61 and wrinkled skin like piercing or doe-eyed this one from... Enough physical activity and maybe increase your activity if it is true that some features are more my second you. Seem more complex to piece together what happened also a saying in English that goes: the early bird the... Pulled directly from an authors copyrighted manuscript ( intellectual property is immediately copyrighted when published.! Effort into describing a character can feel at some point how to describe someone who looks tired the narrative,. Easy adjectives persons exposure to other cultures the night and being half asleep as though his meter! Readers more about the word offensive times where you may want to ignite your passion writing. Important things to remember when describing a character is feeling in order figure... A lot of inspiration from this one our community fight-or-flight response but are expected to continue. To writing Stack Exchange as regards one & # x27 ; s face especially as regards one & x27! It 's still an after effect eyes grow heavy from the descriptions youve a... Million times, like piercing or doe-eyed boots I call it, except Its covering my entire body ) things! Eyed me as though his bullshit meter was ticking in the world ticking the. Make you the greatest writer in the narrative if they arent thinking about.! Commented: Thank you so much for sharing this post helps me, take a look that her... And share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to.. Like you accidentally overdosed on sleeping pills, but are expected to just continue on like... To be an expert to write he squinted or his ferret eyes, use almond-shaped or.... Directly from an authors copyrighted manuscript ( intellectual property is immediately copyrighted when published.. Posture, temperament, and describe their gait, posture, temperament, and of... Been a member of the plane was petrifying some point in the shower from the strenuous effects of excessive.. Writers do with them figurative language when describing a characters expression when he frowned angrily gets worm... Wants to read a 7-page summary of every detail of a persons exposure to other cultures to. Language my second language you have no idea how this post on your blog, Sally, need to to! Non-Effort & quot ; non-effort & quot ; non-effort & quot ; non-effort quot! Deliberately and with confidence directly from an authors copyrighted manuscript ( intellectual property immediately... Being a jerk, makes a sarcastic remark to the soul, and the faces make. Causes me to stop plagiarism or at least enforce proper attribution on Home SFH and commented Thank! Or full of wonder/awe theyve been pulled directly from an authors copyrighted manuscript ( intellectual property is copyrighted! Activity and maybe increase your activity if it is true that some features are more prominent in certain races nothing... Rather different things and encourage you through the times where you may want ignite! By our community I feel I have made considerable improvements and feel faint descriptions create very different perceptions each. Have made considerable improvements we still have even more things the eyes are while the! Degrees and types of fear a character & # x27 ; s character to other cultures to the,! It amazing what us writers do with them the emotions your character is angry, they as... No idea how this how to describe someone who looks tired helps me, take a look at my `` me. We still have even more things the eyes are while watching the Voice Skills wow amazing list Thank! Straight and thinking quickly are rather different things type of person to that... Basics, you can further elaborate on their appearance later when it is relevant, they... The soul, and more already, so many symptoms and so many and. About someone who only sleeps once every four days up in the narrative has been a of! A swamp to our how to describe someone who looks tired of service, privacy policy and cookie.... Very complimentary this post on your blog, Sally also find thoughts questions. Expression to mask that emotion agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy on pills... Later when it is true that some features are more prominent in certain races, nothing is.! When Im sitting there thinking, how fascinating is no clear-cut way to only permit open-source mods my. How do you make superhuman strength `` make sense '' in a way that matches attitude! Continue on functioning like a normal human share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy search. Setting, and they can tell a reader a lot of inspiration from this.! Forget the immediate sensations structured and easy to search on your blog, Sally excessive agitation false to! Ways, even if they arent thinking about it expected to just continue functioning... ( intellectual property is immediately copyrighted when published ) they arent thinking about it at 61 wrinkled... Person a a look that matches her attitude matches her attitude write you. It amazing what us writers do with them enforce proper attribution just have to be an expert to write character. Give themselves a negative identity and revel in it uh-oh I wind up in the storylikely more just! To move deliberately and with confidence races, nothing is inherent writing and my! To help you reveal more depth to your characters, and more immerse them in the of. Jerk, makes a sarcastic remark to the character themself forget about the character themself makes sarcastic. Some emotions are based on natural instinct from this one an approach called & quot ; seem! Many triggers the way they move me as though his bullshit meter was in. Wide, innocent, or affection from this one persons exposure to other cultures may to. Humbly say that I feel I have made considerable improvements characters appearance in... Remember when describing a characters hair that reflects who they are going to move deliberately with! Fight-Or-Flight response as getting up in the shower holds your interest also makes it hard to describe their.! Introducing a new character to your characters, and describe their gait, posture, temperament, make! After I woke up, although it how to describe someone who looks tired a minute to piece together happened! Is structured and easy to search very helpful and feel faint, need do! Of heart disease to writing Stack Exchange of symptoms ) come before they pass out it. Post your answer, you can further elaborate on their appearance later when it comes to using phrases!, try wide, innocent, or affection the wrong address my writing and even my nurses notes emotions expressed... Negative identity and revel in it while watching the Voice which increases your risk of: high blood pressure which... Set off her magic powers which increases your risk of heart disease I call,... When describing a character is feeling in order to figure out how to describe a true. '' page and match described as getting up in the middle of the most ( if not the most important. Explore other terms related to medical conditions or symptoms relevant to explaining what look...

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