I am getting my "ago"s flagged by a line editor who prefers "previously" if it is not in dialog.
Is there a thread on this? something like Maryn's great bit on lay vs lie?
Is there a thread on this? something like Maryn's great bit on lay vs lie?
I am getting my "ago"s flagged by a line editor who prefers "previously" if it is not in dialog.
Is there a thread on this? something like Maryn's great bit on lay vs lie?
Why would an editor have a problem with the use of this expression in fiction? Even regarding colloquial words, ("ago" is listed as a word in the American Heritage dictionary, however, so it is a legit word), modern fiction tends to be narrated the way people speak. As Beth already said, it's really about narrative distance and the voice/formality of your narrator.
I think you can safely ignore this advice.
Looking at your OP again, I am not sure if you are referring to a human editor or to an editing program. The latter make lots of errors and tend to assume everyone is writing formal, academic prose. They're not terribly useful for fiction, unless you take their advice with a heaping teaspoon of salt.
Many thanks to all you responders. This was my draft:
"She'd divorced him a few years ago to take a younger and more pliant man...."
Editor: strike ago, insert "She'd divorced him a few years previously to take a younger..." Ago means from right now, which generally doesn't work in past tense except in dialogue