The adage in the newsroom is that "journalists need good judgment but editors need good taste." Alas, that's a bit lofty when the folks on the desk do more to hurt than help the writer.
Once, I referred to someone as "without affectation." It was changed to "without affection." Another time, during a lengthy profile of the Caesars Palace CEO, I referred to the Caesars shopping plaza as "tony." It was changed to "tiny." You're embarrassed and you apologize but other than showing the subjects your computer, there's not much more you can do.
You don't want to ever get on the wrong side of your copy editors. There are warnings--hopefully unfounded--about using the word "count" for fear that a vengeful copy editor will drop a vowel. Treacherous territory, indeed.