It’s How It Sounded

(I’m working on an article and am reviewing it with my journalism professor. We’re discussing a section where someone fires a rifle, where I wrote ‘Crack!’ to describe the sound.)

Me: “Do you think ‘crack’ works for the rifle shot? Should I use a different onomatopoeia?”

Professor: “No, I think that works. I like ‘crack!'”

(Pause.)

Professor: *speaking loudly toward the hallway outside his office* “I meant the sound, not the drug!”