If you can't find the word...
Just make one up!
Lately The Snarky Editor has been running across cases where the author couldn’t seem to find a word that fit the situation, so he or she just made one up.
Strewn across the huge mahogany table were accruments…
The Snarky Editor agrees that things just tend to accrue and fill up any living space. But those things are accouterments (or the alternate spelling, accoutrements). And yes, The Snarky Editor had to look that one up so she could spell it correctly.
I’m just being precautious.
The Snarky Editor supposes that if one is working up to being cautious, then one is being pre-cautious. But in this case, the author would be better off to have the character say, “I’m taking precautions” or “I’m being cautious” — rather than mixing the two.
“All of them?” she asked accusatorialy.
The Snarky Editor wants to know if asking “accusatorialy” (which would technically be spelled “accusatorially”) is more accusing than just asking accusingly. Or perhaps just accusing — as in “All of them?” she accused.
Even when we’re not in agreeance…
Oh, dear author, pray explain to The Snarky Editor exactly why you didn’t use the simpler, and more correct, Even when we’re not in agreement. Because, frankly, she’s not in agreeance that we need a new word.
The Snarky Editor comes out of hiding occasionally to comment on the awkward, silly, and sometimes hilarious editing errors found in published books.
#snarkyeditor #everybodyneedsaneditor