Well-written dialogue and the use of action beats should mean that over-descriptive dialogue tags aren’t needed. They are likely to jump out at the reader and possibly make the text look contrived. Words such as countered, remarked, ejaculated, challenged, affirmed, laughed and opined are all popular choices but none of these actually describe the act of speaking. ‘This place is a tip,’ said Mel. ‘You can tidy it up immediately.’ Which dialogue tags should I use?Īs with most aspects of fiction writing, there are no rules!Īctive verbs are often used to describe how someone is speaking. ‘How long have you been waiting?’ asked Catherine. He said, ‘What do you think you’re doing?’ ‘Hello, Tom, fancy seeing you here,’ said Mandeep. Dialogue tags can be used at the beginning, in the middle or at the end of dialogue. You may reproduce this article for educational purposes like writing workshops as long you distribute our copyright notice and our URL (with each page.įor use in conferences, websites, blogs or other uses not mentioned here, please contact us.A dialogue tag is a short phrase that is used to show which character is speaking. Let us help you advance your writing career.įor additional tips, worksheets, and discussions, order your own copy of the The Plain English Writer’s Workbook.Īll rights reserved. Inspiration for Writers offers a detailed Manuscript Analysis, which identifies your strengths and weaknesses as a writer. Hear the invisibility of the hardworking “said.”
Read the before and after examples given here aloud. Using it effectively means tagging it effectively. This is personal choice and personally, I usually use the tag.ĭialogue is one of the most important tools a writer has to convey character and to build plot.
If your dialogue contains a question, such as: “Who are you?” he asked, it is not necessary to punctuate with a question mark and use “asked” as a tag. Therefore, it can be written in one of two ways: “I love you,” she said and smiled. “Smiled” cannot be a tag it is an action. Note: “I love you,” she smiled, is never correct. If it is necessary to interrupt a dialogue sentence, as in the last sentence in the above example, use the tag and action, thus allowing a comma instead of a period. If action only (no tag at all, as in the first sentence in the example) is used, it is considered a separate and complete sentence and should be punctuated as such. If a tag is used (preferably “said,” but an occasional “asked” or “repeated” is permitted), a comma separates the dialogue from the tag (see examples in sentences 2 and 4 above). While we are on the topic of dialogue tags, let’s also talk about correct punctuation. This is particularly effective when interrupting dialogue, as in the last sentence of the after example above. Just like “the” and “a” and “his” and other parts of speech that are used several times on each page, “said” slides right past the reader and allows him to concentrate on what’s important: the action and the dialogue. In fact, it is so boring and overused that it’s invisible.
EXAMPLE OF DIALOGUE TAGS HOW TO
Okay, what’s wrong with our sample above (other than being melodramatic)? It’s an ailment I like to call “Creative Dialogue Tag Syndrome”-the writer relies on creative tags (pouted, groaned, replied, snarled, sobbed) so the reader will know how to interpret the dialogue.
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