Post History

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/26150
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

## Background

In _a huge amount of the books I read_ the author has coined a little term to help them describe something, or an onomatopoeia. Like:

- Kindish (adding -ish to the end of a existing word)

- Elfness (adding -ness to the end of an existing (race name) word)

- Hobbit-like (very common. Adding a dash and then 'like')

- There are probably others which I can't think of right now.

I see this all the time in the texts I look at. I obviously still know what they mean, and it has quite a good effect in the writing. I like it, to be honest.

## Question

> To what extent can this be done before you fail to be understood?
> 
> > When is an appropriate time to use this technique?

I'm planning on coining a bit of a term: 'tonitrious'. I want to make a madman use this while enjoying the lightning and thunder way too much. I just turned [tonitrus](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/tonitrus) an adjective. I think having this crazy word that originated from Latin gives a weird, lunatic(ish/-like, haha) maddening feeling.

I **seriously** doubt that my readers, considering my target audience is 13-16 will have heard of 'tonitrus'. It's pretty funny actually, because I'm in that age range. However, I know for a fact that other people won't know it. Do you think I'll get away with it?

> "Oh, deafening sky! Tonitrious night!"

That's the kind of way I might use it.

Original score: 2