Can breathing be "uneven"? [closed]

Solution 1:

Ragged breathing is often used; you are looking for synonyms for erratic, ragged, irregular, interrupted, etc.

Our hearts accelerate in anticipation of physical activity (and during physical activity) of any kind. They accelerate in moments of fear, they accelerate in moments of romance, they accelerate anticipating battle or a race, to prime muscles. The only thing a rapid heartbeat means is something is about to happen. Just approaching a romantic interest to ask them on a date can do it, the body mistakes the fear of rejection for fear of battle (the body can be pretty dumb at times).

Facing an opponent and anticipating battle, the body will also dump adrenaline into the system, making one's legs tremble, not out of fear but preparing to hit and be hit (and adrenaline helps reduce the pain of being struck).

As for "quickening", look for synonyms of rapid. Or "quick", but those are a mix of words meaning "rapid" and words meaning "clever".

And always remember, in writing, readers don't mind reading. If you can't find the right word, you can usually find the right sentence, or a metaphor or simile, even a paragraph.

As she approached Mark, her heart beat tripled, trembling in her chest, as if trying to shake her awake from this reverie and turn her away. Mentally she told it, she had to do this.

Solution 2:

What you're describing sounds like standard fayre for something that's causing an accelerating breathing rate. I think 'quickening' works too; the main point is, you need to be sure that the change is the focus, not necessarily the raw speed of all that hyperventilation.

Edit: Yes, it's appropriate for negative emotions to make one's breathing uneven rather than merely fast in its entirety. I almost forget to clarify that.

Solution 3:

During an emergency, your breathing rate and pattern often change. Instead of breathing slowly from your lower lungs, you begin to breathe rapidly and shallowly from your upper lungs. Such shallow rapid breathing can produce a phenomenon called "hyperventilation." Such a person can be said to be "breathless", "gasping", "panting", "wheezing", etc.

"Quickening breath" may work in this context.

"Her pulse quickened, as did her breath."

Take a look here for some more examples.

Yes, regular breathing is often characterized as "steady". For example, " A slow, steady breathing pattern enhances core stability." from healthline.com