Just read a novella by a “popcorn fiction” author I enjoy, and it was good (well, good enough to entertain while I sat in front of the TV with my Wonder Woman *heh*) but…
*sigh*
One thing bugged the heck out of me. Just one. Now, this author is more literate and a much better writer overall than some doof like Dan Brown and rarely makes a mistake like the one that gave me groans. Referring to a character blowing a shofar, the author wrote,
“Damn good thing she had a great embrasure… “
Oh, no. Did not write that!
em·bra·sure
noun
- an opening (for a door, window, etc.), esp. one with the sides slanted so that it is wider on the inside than on the outside
- an opening (in a wall or parapet) with the sides slanting outward to increase the angle of fire of a gun1
What the author intended to write, I’m sure, was embouchure.
em·bou·chure noun… the position and use of the lips, tongue, and teeth in playing a wind instrument2
The really sad thing is that no one at the publisher caught it.
Goodness!
Exactly what percentage of the population at large do YOU think knows that either word even exists, much less has any idea of the definition?
I might not be a dinosaur, but when I followed the last one up the trail, that brown pile was still steaming…
MC
Gee, man, I dunno… *heh*
Embouchure? Anyone who’s EVER played a wind instrument, perhaps?
Embrasure? Anyone with some sort of remote interest in the history of Western Civilization? *heh*
OK, given the paucity of people with any interest in real music (let alone actually making any), the first is becoming rarer and rarer. The second? “wester Civilization?!? WTF is that???” *heh* (Anything more than a casual interest in Western Civilization MUST include some awareness of military history as well as religious, economic, etc., elements, and a history of military–heck! social–elements would include some knowledge of fortifications, etc. Embrasures, crenelations and many other such things are essential information in understanding siege warfare of Medieval and Renaissance times.)
But this author (and the publishing house’s proofreaders and editors) generally evidence more literacy than this–and the character was playing a wind instrument, so one might expect a writer–especially one that has previously shown a higher level of literacy than this AND one who is a moderately accomplished amateur musician, as this author is reported to be by folks who’ve met her at various ‘cons–to get this one right. It was just slightly disappointing. (Of course, it was probably just a momentary slip–like when someone types “plain” for “plane” as the words are superficially similar in shape and some sounds, unlike David Weber’s continuing misuse of the word “temporal” in a manner that indicates he actually doesn’t know what it means.)
And having ONLY a snail mail method of relaying the error to the publishing house is more irksome.
David, some time I’d like to send you some of the unedited and “not yet proofed” books that I get for free at work. I’d like to do this, just so I can imagine you cringing on nearly every page. 🙂
That’s just evil, Mel. 😉