I occasionally find myself puzzling over an author’s word choice. Why did the author pick that word? For variety? For effect? Because it sounds cool? To impress? In any case, the word has drawn my attention as an editor for one of two reasons: either (1) I’m not certain it adequately expresses the author’s meaning, and I need to query him or her; or (2) it’s simply a wrong usage.
Accuracy is so important! Words are the currency of communication, and you as a writer need to account for every dime you spend.
Since I’ve already posted on this topic, and since that post covers the matter so well that I can’t improve on it, there’s no point in my saying more here. Just click here to read the article.