Forum: Editors/Reviewers Hangout

It sounds like something a character is saying to themselves

Because it's 1st-person, to me it's as if the character is saying it to the reader. During editing, I catch myself using common phrases like that. It's like the 1st-person narrator, telling the story in past tense, jumps out of the story to make that expression.

Changing it to past tense may be possible, but to me almost more awkward.

That's why I brought it up. My instinct when writing is to use the present tense version because it's a common expression. But while editing, I change it to past tense to keep the tense consistent (it's not internal thought. It is the narrator, but in present tense it seems he's outside the story.)

"Why? who the hell knows." is creepy or jarring
"Why? who the hell knew." additionally implies he now know.

"Who knows?" is an idiom. It's often used to express uncertainty, doubt, or the idea that the answer to a question or the outcome of a situation is unknown or unpredictable.

If it was said in dialogue or thought, it would definitely be "knows." But it was part of the narrative from a 1st-person narrator. Since it's part of the narrative, I feel it should conform to the tense of the narrative. In this case past tense. But maybe as an idiom that's not so.

As I said, my instinct when writing something like that is to use the present tense idiom. Then, during editing, I "correct" the tense. But I wonder if that's correct. That's why I asked. But it seems no one knows for sure.

Based on your snippet, I would veer towards the past tense. But I think I'd need more context and idea of the narrator's perspective before deciding. What did the narrator know at the time, since we appear to be receiving their internal thoughts, and what does the narrator know now?

ETA: I would have used 'who knew' as a straight past tense form of 'who knows', but a quick google shows its main nuance is sarcastic or ironic, which is probably not what the author intended to convey. Perhaps avoidance is the best strategy :-(

AJ

but a quick google shows its main nuance is sarcastic or ironic, which is probably not what the author intended to convey.

I think that's exactly what the author intended. Throughout the story, the father was baffled by his 14-yo daughter's teenage mind.

Throughout the story, the father was baffled by his 14-yo daughter's teenage mind.

I think 'who knew' is normally taken to mean everyone knew eg "So Lance Armstrong was a drugs cheat - who knew!"

AJ

Who knew?

Wasn't that a rhetorical question? Black Coffee allegedly punctuated it with an exclamation mark.

AJ