Craft & Style
Simile Freshness
Flags clichéd similes ("as quiet as a mouse", "like a bull in a china shop") and encourages original comparisons.
What It Does
Matches 46 common clichéd simile patterns — both "like a…" and "as…as" constructions — against a built-in database.
Why It Matters
A fresh simile illuminates; a stale one deadens. "Her smile was as bright as the sun" tells the reader nothing new. "Her smile was like finding a twenty in your coat pocket" is specific, surprising, and memorable.
What Gets Flagged
| Severity | Example | Why | Suggested Revision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hint | "as quiet as a mouse" | Reader has heard this thousands of times | Craft a comparison unique to your character or scene |
| Hint | "like a bull in a china shop" | Stock simile | Find a comparison that fits the specific situation |
Configuration
No configuration options. 46 simile patterns are built-in.
Technical Details
- Source:
prose-craft - Scope: Line-level
- Method: Regex matching against curated simile database