Infelicities

When proofreading your manuscript, be on the lookout for infelicities. Often these are misplaced modifiers, or phrases that were hastily written. You might know precisely what you're describing, but a reader will have to struggle.

For instance, it would be awkward to write, "He walked the hill up"; so why say, "He turned the light off". It should be, "He turned off the light."

Here are more examples: -o- "His hand reached for the glass." His hand...as opposed to his foot or elbow or nose? It should be "He reached for the glass." -o- "She dropped her eyes from his face." Too physical! The action is more correctly given with, "She lowered her gaze," or "She looked away." Let's keep those eyes in her head where they belong. -o- "He hurried through the fence to the house." We need a gate in this fence. "He hurried through the fence gate…"

Most editors are on the lookout for infelicities, but you'll help your publishing chances if you catch them before sending out your manuscript.