In this video, we explore when to use character names versus pronouns to avoid confusion.
Use names at the start of chapters, with new characters, and when speakers of the same gender dialogue. But don’t overuse names either!
I share tips for introducing walk-on characters too.
This video will help clarify your character antecedents so readers always know who’s who.
Hello, Jane Cleland here.
The question is: how often should I use a character’s name? In a chapter? A story? A novel? The answer is probably more often than you think.
You have to be very careful to avoid an antecedent issue. An antecedent issue occurs when it isn’t clear what noun the pronoun is referring to. It’s clear in your head—you wrote it—but it may not be clear in your reader’s head. Therefore, I always recommend deferring to using the noun, not the pronoun.
You don’t want to use the noun over and over and over again, of course. Pronouns are fine, but they have to be used within a paragraph or line where it’s very clear which noun the pronoun refers to.
Another thing to think about: if I have people of the same gender speaking and I’m using gender-specific pronouns—if I have Nancy and Mary having a conversation—well, “she said, she said” isn’t clear. Which “she” said what? So it’s always better to add the name.
Certainly, at the beginning of a chapter, you want to specify the name. Even if it’s a continuation of a scene from the chapter before, you clearly want to use the name so that someone who has put down the book—maybe to grab a sandwich or a snack—and then comes back to it doesn’t have to look back to figure out who is being referred to. Use the name at the start.
On the other hand, don’t use names if it’s a walk-on character. For example, if it’s just the waiter delivering water for Nancy and that’s all he’s going to do, he’s just “the waiter.”
I hope that helps. I know you can do it!
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