1. drifter265

    drifter265 Banned

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    Do these two names sound too alike?

    Discussion in 'Character Development' started by drifter265, Feb 5, 2013.

    Karen and Claire. Should I leave them or should I change one because they have too much of the "air" sound to them?
     
  2. swifteye12

    swifteye12 New Member

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    I would say that yes, they do sound too similar. How much of an issue this poses really depends on the importance of each character in the story--would use of both names allow for too much confusion to the reader? I think you should test it to be sure.
     
  3. minstrel

    minstrel Leader of the Insquirrelgency Supporter Contributor

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    I disagree. They aren't too similar - different number of syllables, different starting letter. Readers won't be confused.
     
  4. drifter265

    drifter265 Banned

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    I changed them. If I have to ask they probably are too similar.

    FTW: Natalie and Karen.
     
  5. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

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    It all depends on the relative placements of the characters in the novel, and how distinctive each character is apart from the name.
     
  6. mammamaia

    mammamaia nit-picker-in-chief Contributor

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    a wider gap is usually best... so your change can't hurt...
     
  7. Yoshiko

    Yoshiko Contributor Contributor

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    I'd say no - but I don't hear this "air" sound in "Karen" that you're referring to. It's pronounced like "Kah-ren" where I'm from, so I'm assuming it is pronounced differently where you are?
     
  8. Cerebral

    Cerebral Active Member

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    I don't think it'd be an issue. In "One Hundred Years of Solitude", the author named a million people the same name, which, admittedly, got extremely annoying. I had to go back and forth one hundred times to keep everything organized...but I still considered it a great story.

    You should change them just to be safe though, since the names don't seem to be all that important to you or the story.
     
  9. SuperVenom

    SuperVenom Senior Member

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    Great if they sisters not so great if they are love rivals. As long as they are easy to differentiate via character I don't see a problem. I say love rivals as there would be a lot of bouncing around between these two names I then i can get confusing.
     

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