The correspondent was irascible and the review had given him ample provocation. (irascible: irritable, short-tempered, choleric; provocation: incitement, goading, taunt) His tirade began with an expletive and gathered momentum into an unrestrained passage of invective. (tirade: diatribe, harangue, rant; expletive: swearword, curse, curse word; unrestrained: unbridled, unchecked, uncontrolled; invective: abuse, vituperation, verbal attack) It took the editor three readings to find the relevant complaint: the theater had charged twice for his seat. (relevant: pertinent, germane, applicable)
She drew a red margin. Everything germane to the charge went on the left. (germane: relevant, pertinent, applicable) The sarcastic remarks, gratuitous insults and one especially caustic simile went on the right. (sarcastic: caustic, mocking, biting; gratuitous: unwarranted, needless, uncalled-for; caustic: acerbic, cutting, acid; simile: figurative comparison, express comparison) There was nothing to print in the left column until she invited him to bring his receipts.
He came carrying both tickets. The second was for next Tuesday, when the missing actress would return. He abandoned the letter but kept the red pencil. A theatrical critic, he remarked, could make a career with a device that could distinguish a grievance from a bad evening.