Neologistics is a portmanteu, a new word formed formed from the elision of two derivative words:
| neologism | a new word, usage, or expression | |
| logistics | the handling of the details of an operation |
True neologisms should not be confused with sniglets,
which are often silly words created mostly for their
giggle-provoking properties than for use in literature. Most
good neologisms arise and occur in writing almost
spontaneously and naturally. Their meanings often have
little or no need of explanation, and are understood by
context and use.
A neologist is a person who creates neologisms.
Logistics is the military science of procurement,
transportation and maintenance of things needed in military
operations, both people and supplies. Used generally,
logistics is the management of details of some
process or operation. Logistics is a plural noun
treated as a singular. No one ever talks about a singular
logistic, though the singular logistic is in
Merriam-Webster, but is a term of symbolic logic —
similar, but unrelated to this discussion.
Neologistics embraces the entire process of preparing
materials for publication.
I’ve located two transport companies on the Net that go by
the name Neologistics, but I can’t find the term used in
writing; therefore Neologistics is itself a neologism.
By extension, a neologistician is one who practices
neologistics — that’s me!
Potential editing clients should not worry that I will
revise their writing with words I made up myself!
