Top Grammar Mistakes in Fantasy Writing

Genre-Specific Grammar Guide for Fantasy Authors • Published November 2, 2025 • 11 min read

Fantasy writing dances on the edge between linguistic innovation and grammatical chaos. While world-building demands creative language, basic grammar errors can pull readers out of your carefully crafted universe. Generic grammar checkers flag "mistakes" that are actually stylistic choices—but real errors slip through when disguised as fantasy flavor.

This guide identifies the grammar mistakes that actually damage your fantasy writing and separates them from the intentional breaks that enhance it.

The Fantasy Writer's Grammar Paradox

Fantasy authors face a unique challenge: you're creating new worlds with new rules, but readers still expect readable prose. The key is knowing which grammar rules serve clarity and which ones you can bend for effect.

Golden Rule: Break grammar rules deliberately and sparingly—never accidentally or constantly. Every deviation should serve your story.

Mistake #1: Inconsistent Invented Grammar

Creating fantasy languages or dialects? Consistency is everything.

Inconsistent:
Chapter 2: "The elves speaketh in ancient tongue."
Chapter 7: "The elves speak in ancient tongue."
Chapter 12: "The elves speaks in ancient tongue."

Consistent:
Establish your pattern early and maintain it:
"The elves speak in archaic formal constructions whenever addressing royalty, but use modern grammar among themselves."

How to fix it:

Create a style guide for invented dialects
Document your patterns (does this character use contractions? formal pronouns?)
Use find/replace to check consistency across chapters
Track variations by character or culture in a reference document

Mistake #2: Misusing Archaic Language Forms

Adding "ye olde" flavor without understanding grammar creates problems.

Wrong:
"Thou goes to the castle" (incorrect verb conjugation)
"Ye is the chosen one" (wrong pronoun usage)

Correct:
"Thou goest to the castle" (thou takes -est ending)
"Thou art the chosen one" (thou art, not thou is)
"Ye are the chosen ones" (ye is plural, takes are)

Quick reference for archaic pronouns:

Thou: singular informal "you" (takes -est: thou walkest, speakest)
Thee: objective form of thou (I see thee)
Ye: plural "you" (Ye are welcome)
Thine: possessive before vowels (thine honor, thy sword)

Pro Tip: Don't overuse archaic language. A light touch (occasional "thou" or "whilst") establishes tone without becoming parody. Modern readers tolerate minimal archaism better than heavy ye-olde-speak.

Mistake #3: Tense Inconsistency During Flashbacks

Fantasy often jumps between timelines, prophecies, and memory sequences. Tense shifts must be deliberate and clear.

Confusing:
"Elara gripped her sword as the dragon approached. Twenty years ago, her mother tells her about dragon-slaying. 'You will need courage,' she said. Elara remembers this now as flames erupted toward her."

Clear:
"Elara gripped her sword as the dragon approached. Twenty years ago, her mother had told her about dragon-slaying. 'You will need courage,' she had said. Elara remembered this now as flames erupted toward her."

Tense rules for time shifts:

Main narrative: Past tense (walked, fought, discovered)
Flashbacks: Past perfect (had walked, had fought, had discovered)
Prophecies/future: Future or conditional (will rise, would conquer)
Return to present: Signal clearly with transition phrase

Mistake #4: Dialogue Attribution Overload

Fantasy writers often fear readers will confuse characters, leading to over-attribution.

Over-attributed:
"We must leave now," Kael said urgently.
"But the prophecy!" Mira exclaimed worriedly.
"The prophecy can wait," Kael responded firmly.
"No, it can't!" Mira cried desperately.

Better:
"We must leave now." Kael grabbed his pack.
Mira stepped in front of the door. "But the prophecy!"
"The prophecy can wait."
"No, it can't!" Her voice cracked. "Not if we want to survive."

Attribution best practices:

Use "said" when needed—it's invisible to readers
Replace some tags with action beats
Skip tags entirely when context makes speaker obvious
Avoid elaborate verbs (pontificated, ejaculated, intoned) except sparingly

Mistake #5: Passive Voice in Action Scenes

Fantasy combat and magic sequences lose impact in passive voice.

Passive (Weak):
"The spell was cast by the wizard. The dragon was struck by lightning. The village was saved by the hero's sacrifice."

Active (Strong):
"The wizard cast the spell. Lightning struck the dragon. The hero's sacrifice saved the village."

When passive voice works in fantasy:

Mystery/unknown actor: "The throne room had been ransacked."
Victim focus: "The princess was cursed on her sixteenth birthday."
Magic as force: "Ancient spells were woven into the stones."

Mistake #6: Comma Splices in Long Descriptions

Fantasy worldbuilding tempts writers into run-on description sentences.

Comma Splice:
"The castle loomed above the valley, its towers reached toward the clouds, banners fluttered in the wind, guards patrolled the battlements, all of it spoke of ancient power."

Properly Punctuated:
"The castle loomed above the valley. Its towers reached toward the clouds; banners fluttered in the wind. Guards patrolled the battlements. All of it spoke of ancient power."

Fix comma splices by:

Breaking into multiple sentences (clearest option)
Using semicolons for closely related ideas
Adding conjunctions (and, but, because)
Using em-dashes for dramatic pauses

Mistake #7: Pronoun Confusion with Multiple Characters

Fantasy often features large casts. Vague pronouns create confusion.

Confusing:
"Theron met with the king and his advisor. He told him about the rebellion. He seemed concerned, so he ordered reinforcements."

Clear:
"Theron met with the king and his advisor. Theron told the king about the rebellion. The king seemed concerned and ordered reinforcements."

Pronoun clarity strategies:

Repeat names when multiple characters of same gender appear
Use descriptors (the wizard, the younger brother)
Restructure sentences to eliminate ambiguity
Keep character actions in separate sentences when possible

Mistake #8: Incorrect Subjunctive Mood (Fantasy's Secret Weapon)

The subjunctive mood expresses wishes, hypotheticals, and contrary-to-fact situations—perfect for fantasy prophecies and magic systems.

Wrong:
"If the dragon was to awaken, all would be lost." (indicative)
"The prophecy demands that he is the chosen one." (wrong mood)

Correct:
"If the dragon were to awaken, all would be lost." (subjunctive)
"The prophecy demands that he be the chosen one." (subjunctive)

Subjunctive situations in fantasy:

Wishes: "I wish I were a dragon rider." (not was)
Hypotheticals: "If magic were real..." (not was)
Demands/requirements: "The spell requires that she be pure of heart." (not is)
Contrary to fact: "If I were king..." (not was)

Mistake #9: Inconsistent World-Building Terminology

This is a grammar-adjacent issue that impacts readability.

Inconsistent:
Chapter 1: "The Mage Council"
Chapter 5: "the mage council"
Chapter 9: "the Mage council"
Chapter 12: "The Council of Mages"

Consistent:
Decide once and stick to it: "The Mage Council" (capitalized, fixed term)

Capitalization guide for fantasy terms:

Proper nouns: Capitalize (The Iron Throne, House Stark)
Generic terms: Lowercase (a throne, their house)
Titles before names: Capitalize (Queen Elara, but "the queen")
Magic systems: Your choice, but be consistent (Fire Magic vs. fire magic)

Mistake #10: Overusing Sentence Fragments for Style

Fragments can create impact—but too many create confusion.

Fragment Overload:
"A dragon. Fire everywhere. The hero running. Screams. Terror. Chaos. Death approaching. No escape possible."

Strategic Fragments:
"The dragon descended, flames erupting from its jaws. The hero ran. Nowhere to hide. Screams echoed through the valley as villagers scattered. Death approaching. He gripped his sword and turned to face the beast."

When fragments work:

One or two for dramatic emphasis
During high-tension moments
To mimic a character's panicked thoughts
Mixed with complete sentences for rhythm variation

Grammar Rules You CAN Break in Fantasy

Not all "grammar mistakes" are actually problems in creative writing:

Acceptable "Breaks" for Fantasy:

Starting sentences with conjunctions: "And then the magic faded."
One-sentence paragraphs: For dramatic effect.
Sentence fragments: When used deliberately and sparingly.
Passive voice: When you want mystery or victim focus.
Made-up words: As long as context makes meaning clear.
Unconventional punctuation: In dialogue to show accent/dialect.

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Final Thoughts

The best fantasy writing balances grammatical precision with creative freedom. Master the rules first, then break them deliberately. Every grammar choice should serve your story—whether that's maintaining clarity in complex worldbuilding or creating stylistic effects that enhance your narrative voice.

Generic grammar checkers don't understand fantasy. They flag intentional dialect as errors and miss real problems buried in creative prose. You need tools that understand the difference between a stylistic choice and a genuine mistake.

Write Your Fantasy Story with AI Grammar Tools

About EpicScribe: We're an AI-powered writing platform designed specifically for creative writers. Our grammar checker understands fantasy, sci-fi, and fiction-specific grammar rules—so you can focus on worldbuilding instead of worrying about false positives. Learn more