placessuch

Placessuch is a coined term used in linguistic and geographic discourse to denote a class of places described by a preceding clause, effectively meaning “places such as these.” The word appears to function as a nominal label that compresses a described set of exemplars into a single reference. In use, placessuch can help writers summarize patterns among locations without listing every individual example.

Etymology and status: Placessuch is a neologism with no entry in major dictionaries. It likely arose in online scholarly discussions or methodological writings as a compact shorthand for “places such as these,” and it is not standardized across fields. Because it is not widely established, its acceptability varies by audience and publication venue, with formal contexts tending to prefer alternatives like “these places” or “such places.”

Usage and examples: Placessuch typically appears where a study transitions from specific instances to a generalized category. Example: “Coastal settlements facing erosion were mapped, and placessuch include port towns and delta communities.” In more formal writing, authors may opt for clearer phrasing, but placessuch can be handy in repeated analyses or discussions of typologies to avoid repetitive enumeration.

Relation and critique: Placessuch relates to general demonstratives and set-labels used in qualitative synthesis. It is sometimes viewed as a placeholder term that can streamline text, but critics warn that it may introduce ambiguity about scope or inclusivity and should be used with careful prior definition.

See also: demonstratives, nonce words, linguistic classifiers, set-labels.