Definition
Chronological order presents events in the sequence they would occur in story time, from earlier to later. It is the default structure unless the writer rearranges time for effect.
Example
She boarded the train, met a stranger, and missed her stop follows cause-and-effect time order without flashback.
Related terms
Common mistakes
- Assuming chronological order is always the clearest or most dramatic choice.
- Using flashbacks without anchoring the reader in when and why the time shift occurs.