Grammar & Mechanics
Dialogue Tag Tense
Flags present-tense dialogue tags ("says") in past-tense narration.
What It Does
Determines the dominant narration tense by counting past-tense verbs, then flags any present-tense dialogue tags that break consistency.
Why It Matters
Tense consistency in dialogue tags is a common stumbling block, especially for writers switching between projects or revising tense. "She walked to the door. 'Hello,' she says" is jarring.
What Gets Flagged
| Severity | Example | Why | Suggested Revision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information | "'Hello,' she says" (in past-tense narration) | Tag tense doesn't match narration | "'Hello,' she said" |
Configuration
No configuration options. Requires 5+ past-tense narration verbs to establish dominant tense.
Technical Details
- Source:
prose-craft - Scope: Document-level tense analysis + line-level tag detection
- Method: Regex-based past-tense verb counting + present-tense tag detection