When is it acceptable to make up a word? I have a sentence I want to use: "Forget it," she said with angry dismission. she was being dismissive. dismissively doesn't have any rhythm in that sentence and the dictionary defines dismission as being terminated from a job. any advice? Thanx ;-)
I don't believe you should make up a new word unless you're making up a new language, describing something unprecedented, or you can justify the root meanings used in said word. It'd be easier to find another word (and your 'rhythm') if given the context...
Not too many people get a way with making up words. You could use "indifference." Hmm . . actually I think "angry indifference" might be a bit of a contradiction.
i suspect that no agent/editor reading it will assume that's a coinage and not just a clueless writer's misuse of a non-word... my best advice is don't do it unless it's made clear that you're coining a word and have a really good reason for doing so...
Because the poster thought there would be more traffic here? I would recommend looking around the site and becoming familiar with where things are before posting. You might even find that the question ahs already been answered elsewhere on the site.
I think its fine to make up your own words. I mean Shakespeare did. It'll either catch on or it wont. Its really a matter of, are you comfortable with possible criticism. I use the word mused. A teacher I had kept telling me it wasn't a word. I like it. I don't care what she says. As long as its meaning is gotten across then its fine.
don't know where your teacher went to school, but 'mused' soitanly IS a word!... sorry to burst your bubble, but you didn't coin it:
Hi LateJohnBrown, Why not re-arrange it to something like "Forget it." She felt angry now, and was dismissive
Teachers aren't always right. Mused is indeed a word, and a dictionary would be fine evidence to present. Even a teacher can learn, if he or she is open to do so. I had a 6th grade teacher, Miss Wilbur, who was not very strong in science. We only had two science classes teh entire year. In one of them, she insisted that house current was DC (direct current). I disputed that, but she insisted she was correct "because the lights don't flicker".
she should have met my second ex-/late hubby, who told my kids that the sun revolved around the earth, with a perfectly serious straight face... said it was obvious, since we can see it moving across the sky!... would've made a perfect couple, huh?
I think coining a word isn't a big deal. And I say we need the word dismission as much as we need to word zany.
LOL. I think it was Adamant that said it? Unless making up a language (which is hard anyways) probably not the best idea. But if you can sneak it in, go for it. Just play around with your words. You'll end up finding one that fits the scene well enough.
I am bad for making up words or leaving letters out of words all the time. I can be lazy with my written and spoken language at times. I think that it is ok but it depends on what you are using it for really. I tend to do it a bit in some of the stories that I write for certain characters that I create, but otherwise I generally prefer to use proper wording in my writing when I am not drafting.
