What is vocal fry, and is it bad for your voice?
Vocal fry is the lowest register of the voice, the creaky, crackling sound at the bottom of your range or at the end of a tired sentence. The vocal folds are loose and close completely, then pop open slowly. Used gently it is not harmful, and singers use it on purpose: sliding out of a light fry onto a note is a way to find clean contact between the folds, which fixes a breathy tone. Pushing it loud, or using it all day in speech, can leave your voice tired.