The Silent Saboteur in Your Manuscript

Readers are more forgiving than we think. They’ll follow a flawed hero, embrace an unusual premise, and even tolerate the occasional typo. But inconsistency—in grammar, tone, or tense—is a different beast.

Photo by Suzy Hazelwood

It Doesn’t Take a Plot Hole to Break a Story

It sneaks in unnoticed and chips away at a reader’s trust, not with one fatal blow, but through a slow erosion of rhythm and clarity. You may not always spot it while drafting. That’s the danger. A sudden shift from past to present tense. A formal narration that slips into casual slang. Dialogue that no longer sounds like the character speaking it. These aren’t loud mistakes. But they are jarring. And over time, they break the spell.

Grammar: More Than Just Rules

When grammar is consistent, the reader doesn't notice it, and that’s the goal. But a sudden subject-verb mismatch or wandering punctuation style can interrupt the flow of even the most gripping scene. Is it a character’s thought or the narrator’s commentary? Should that sentence be a question, or is it just poorly punctuated?

Tense: Pick One and Stay There

Shifting tenses midparagraph is like changing lanes without signaling—it disrupts the flow and creates disorientation. If your story begins in past tense, stick with it unless there’s a compelling narrative reason not to. Switching to present tense for drama or “style” only works if it’s intentional and precise. Readers may not notice why a scene suddenly feels “off,” but nine times out of ten, inconsistent tense is the culprit.

Tone: The Invisible Thread

Tone is your story’s personality. It tells the reader how to feel whether we’re in a haunting thriller or a breezy rom-com. Inconsistent tone is like wearing sneakers to a black-tie event. The contrast draws attention, and not in a good way.

Is your story meant to be warm and witty? Keep that tone grounded throughout, even in serious moments. Is your narrative voice solemn and poetic? Resist the urge to insert modern slang unless it serves a purpose. Tone, when fractured, dilutes emotional weight.

Why Professional Editing Is Essential

At The Manuscript Editor, we don’t just fix errors. We preserve your voice while tightening every sentence, clarifying every paragraph, and ensuring your story flows with consistency, clarity, and confidence. From grammar to style to tonal cohesion, we give your manuscript the polish it deserves.

Let us be that eye. Polish your manuscript until nothing distracts from the story itself. Book your editing at TheManuscriptEditor.com.