A question
I know it's probably a stupid question, but is there a significance to which name you put first in a pairing? For example, is there a difference between Snape/Harry and Harry/Snape? I've seen a few posts lately where people seem to think there is, but I'm not sure. For me it's only a way of organising fics. The most popular pairings out there have Harry in them, so I usually put his name last. It doesn't really have any meaning for me... it's just easier for me to find the pairings that way. So is there a difference?
Anyway, it's 2 am and I should probably go to bed. I've been starting to ponder what a strange word "ajar" is. Yup, definitely time for bed...
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(ETA) Since there've been so many replies, I thought I'd organise them in a short list.
Which name comes first in a pairing can depend on:
* Whatever is more popular or common.
* Top or dominant characters go first, bottom or submissive characters last.
* Chaser/chased.
* The person from whose POV the story is told / the person who the story is about / more important characters go first.
* Characters are put alphabetically.
* Whatever sounds better. E.g. shorter names first, whatever creates a better "rhythm", etc.
Anyway, it's 2 am and I should probably go to bed. I've been starting to ponder what a strange word "ajar" is. Yup, definitely time for bed...
*******
(ETA) Since there've been so many replies, I thought I'd organise them in a short list.
Which name comes first in a pairing can depend on:
* Whatever is more popular or common.
* Top or dominant characters go first, bottom or submissive characters last.
* Chaser/chased.
* The person from whose POV the story is told / the person who the story is about / more important characters go first.
* Characters are put alphabetically.
* Whatever sounds better. E.g. shorter names first, whatever creates a better "rhythm", etc.