A serene surface of a lake is disturbed

[Marina Gaidar]

What is the right verb for this context: "A serene surface of a lake is disturbed when a girl emerges"? It seems to me that "agitated" sounds better.

[bhaisahab]

What is the right verb for this context: "A serene surface of a lake is disturbed when a girl emerges"? It seems to me that "agitated" sounds better.

No "agitated" does not sound better.

[5jj]

I am not really sure what word I'd use. I haven't seen a lot of girls emerging from a lake through a serene surface.

[bhaisahab]

I think "disturbed" is OK. I think that I, as well as the serene surface, would be disturbed were I to witness such an eventuality.

[Marina Gaidar]

I think "disturbed" is OK. I think that I, as well as the serene surface, would be disturbed were I to witness such an eventuality.

Does it sound awkward that the girl emerged from the water?

[bhaisahab]

Does it sound awkward that the girl emerged from the water?

Not necessarily, no. It would depend on the rest of the text.

[5jj]

Does it sound awkward that the girl emerged from the water?

Seriously, I cannot imagine a situation (other than in a fantasy film) in which anybody would emerge through a serene surface. The surface would not be serene unless the person had gone under it some considerable time before.

[Marina Gaidar]

Seriously, I cannot imagine a situation (other than in a fantasy film) in which anybody would emerge through a serene surface. The surface would not be serene unless the person had gone under it some considerable time before.

Ah, you mean that! I'm really writing a fantastic story