Literary authors harness "splutter" to evoke abrupt, irregular bursts of sound that mimic the irregularity of physical and emotional responses. The term is often used to describe the faltering dispatch of speech—be it a hesitant laugh or a choked burst of oaths [1][2][3]—as well as the irregular flicker of a flame extinguishing [4][5][6]. At times, it illustrates mechanical or atmospheric sounds, such as the sputtering of a failing engine or the unpredictable crackle of fire [7][8][9]. Overall, "splutter" serves as a vivid auditory cue that heightens moments of tension, decay, or disordered expression throughout the narrative.