Prose checks › “-ing” openers Pro
Prose check: “-ing” openersTurning, she opened the door.
“Turning, she opened the door.” Did she open it while she was turning? Sentences with -ing openers often glue two actions together that can’t happen at once.
In Falcontext’s Edit tab, “-ing” openers is one part of Sentence openers, with repetitive openers. Each part has its own light, and the worst sets the check’s.
What it looks for
Sentences that open on an -ing word and a comma. One is fine. A habit of them gets noticed.
The timing problem
The -ing says “at the same time”. Reaching for a lamp while stepping inside: fine. Turning while opening a door behind you: not so much.
How often do novels do it?
The middle book of the 38 I measured opened 0.5 sentences in 100 this way; the most, 2.2.
Where these numbers come from.
How Falcontext checks “-ing” openers
Guidelines, not rules. One -ing opener is fine. This shows you where they cluster.
- Finds
- Sentences in the narration opening on an -ing word and a comma, each marked in your text.
- Traffic light
- Up to 2 per 100 sentences
- Up to 4
- More than 4
“-ing” openers come up at the start of the line edit, in the sentences pass of the guide to self-editing a novel.
Spotted one in your last chapter?
Questions about “-ing” openers.
Is it wrong to start a sentence with an -ing word?
No, but it often joins two actions that can’t happen at the same moment, and a lot of them become a habit readers notice.
How many -ing openers is too many?
Published novels have about one in 200 sentences. Falcontext goes orange above 2 per 100, and red above 4.
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