Grammar & Mechanics
Pronoun Ambiguity
Flags sentences where multiple same-gender pronouns make it unclear who is doing what.
What It Does
Detects sentences containing three or more pronouns from the same gender group (he/him/his, she/her/hers, they/them/their), which can confuse the reader about who the subject is.
Why It Matters
Ambiguous pronoun references force the reader to re-read sentences and break narrative flow. In scenes with two same-gender characters, this is especially common and disorienting.
What Gets Flagged
| Severity | Example | Why | Suggested Revision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information | "He told him he should leave." | Three he/him pronouns — who should leave? |
"John told Mark he should leave." |
| Information | "She handed her her coat." | Three she/her pronouns |
"Sarah handed Elena her coat." |
Configuration
No configuration options. Threshold is fixed at 3+ same-gender pronouns per sentence.
Technical Details
- Source:
prose-craft - Scope: Sentence-level
- Method: Word-frequency analysis of pronoun groups per sentence