Uncategorized
Name-Dropping
Flags dialogue that uses a character's name when only two characters are in the scene.
What It Does
Identifies scenes with exactly two characters. Within those scenes, flags dialogue lines that include either character's name, since real people rarely address each other by name in 1-on-1 conversation.
Why It Matters
"John, I think we should go" sounds natural in a group setting where disambiguation is needed. In a two-person scene, it feels stilted and artificial — a telltale sign of dialogue written for the reader's benefit rather than for the characters.
What Gets Flagged
| Severity | Example | Why | Suggested Revision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hint | "Sarah, I think we should leave." (only Sarah and Dave in scene) | Unnecessary name in 2-person dialogue | "I think we should leave." |
Configuration
No configuration options.
Technical Details
- Source:
prose-craft - Scope: Scene-level (2-character scenes only)
- Method: Character count per scene + name detection within dialogue-tagged sentences