One element is the setting. Dark and isolated places like old houses, cemeteries, or abandoned asylums create a spooky atmosphere. Another is the appearance of the ghost. A figure in white, with long hair covering its face or having no feet and floating can be really creepy. Sound also plays a big part. Strange whispers, moans, or the sound of chains rattling add to the scariness.
The element of the unknown is key. For example, when there are strange noises in a supposedly empty place like an old attic. You don't know what's making the noise, and that creates fear.
One element is the unknown. For example, if there are strange noises in an empty house and no obvious source, it creates a sense of creepiness. Another is a sense of being watched. When people feel like there are eyes on them but can't see anyone. Also, unexpected events like finding objects moved in a locked room. These things make us question what's real and what's not, and that's what makes a story creepy.
Surprise elements can do that. For example, if a character is expecting one thing and then something completely unexpected and a bit spooky happens. Like in a story where a person is waiting for their friend at a café, and instead of their friend, a small, pale child with no expression appears and starts whispering strange things, that's unexpected and creepy but also has a funny - in a dark way - aspect to it.
One element is an unusual appearance. For example, if a girl has extremely pale skin and dark, sunken eyes, it can give a creepy vibe. Another is strange behavior like talking to inanimate objects or walking in a trance - like state. Also, a spooky setting such as an old, dilapidated building where the girl is often seen can make the story creepy.
The combination of spooky settings and silly explanations. Like a spooky old house where the 'haunting' is just the old floorboards creaking because of a mouse. The contrast between the seemingly scary situation and the mundane cause is what makes it both creepy and funny.
Unsettling locations can make a story creepy. For example, an abandoned asylum or a dark, isolated forest. These places create a sense of unease as they are often associated with danger or the unknown. Another element is strange noises. Like a low moan coming from an empty room or a scratching sound on a window in the middle of the night. It makes the reader or listener wonder what could be causing it. Also, the presence of supernatural beings such as ghosts, demons, or witches adds to the creepiness. They defy the laws of nature and bring an otherworldly fear.
Mixing the ordinary with the spooky. Like a mouse making noises in an old, supposedly haunted building. You expect a ghost but it's just a little mouse. This contrast creates that creepy funny feel.
The unknown. In these stories, we don't know exactly what the ghost wants or how it will act. It creates a sense of unease.
Well, usually it's the mystery and the unknown. That sense of something lurking in the shadows that you can't quite see or understand is what gives ghost stories their scare factor.
The unknown is a big factor. In the best creepy ghost stories, we don't fully understand the nature of the ghost. Is it a lost soul? A demon? This lack of knowledge creates fear. For example, in 'The Turn of the Screw', the governess isn't sure if the ghosts she sees are real or just in her head.