- \n
- What dialogue tags are.\u00a0<\/li>\n
- Why dialogue tags are important.<\/li>\n
- How to use dialogue tags effectively (and what to avoid).<\/li>\n
- Punctuation rules for dialogue tags.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Table of contents<\/h2>
- What is a Dialogue Tag?<\/a><\/li>
- Why Dialogue Tags Matter<\/a><\/li>
- Tips for Using Dialogue Tags\u00a0<\/a>
- Keep it Simple<\/a><\/li>
- Use Other Verbs Sparingly<\/a><\/li>
- Beware of Adverbs in Your Dialogue Tags<\/a><\/li>
- Use Action Tags<\/a><\/li>
- Put Dialogue Tags Where You Need Them<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Punctuating Dialogue Tags<\/a>
- Commas, Question Marks, and Exclamation Points<\/a><\/li>
- Tags Before Dialogue<\/a><\/li>
- Quotes Within Quotes<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Dialogue Tags: Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n
What is a Dialogue Tag?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sometimes called a speech tag or speaker attribution, a dialogue tag is simply a way to tell the reader <\/strong>which character<\/strong><\/a> is speaking a line of dialogue<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here's an example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don't see anything,\u201d Reggie said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt's right behind you!\u201d yelled Trina. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this example, \u201cReggie said\u201d<\/em> and \u201cyelled Trina\u201d<\/em> are both dialogue tags. They make clear who is speaking in Reggie's case, and who is yelling in Trina's.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pretty simple, right? Well, there are many ways to mess up when writing dialogue tags. And there are some conventions you'll probably want to follow. Let's take a look at why they're important before we get into some basic rules of dialogue tags. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why Dialogue Tags Matter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you've ever read a long scene without dialogue tags, then you probably know why they're important. It can be easy to lose track of who's talking without speech tags. You find yourself flipping back a page to find the last dialogue tag, and then re-reading the section to keep straight which character is saying what\u2014especially when more than two characters are talking.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\r\n
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This is definitely something to avoid. After all, there are only so many times a reader can be pulled out of the story before they put the book down in frustration<\/strong>. Luckily, fixing this is simple. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tips for Using Dialogue Tags <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The following tips can help you avoid dialogue tag pitfalls that even some experienced writers have trouble with. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Keep it Simple<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The word \u201csaid” is your best friend during dialogue in your book.<\/strong> Some people worry that using \u201csaid\u201d too often gets repetitive for the reader, but in most genres, this isn\u2019t the case. Essentially, \u201csaid\u201d is invisible to readers.<\/strong> They see it, but they don't really register it as a new word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Think about the last time you read a dialogue scene. You probably didn't even notice the word \u201csaid.\u201d And if you did, it's likely because you were thinking as a writer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The words \u201casked” and \u201creplied\u201d are also common, although they're not used as much as \u201csaid.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While you should only use as many dialogue tags as necessary, it's very difficult to overuse \u201csaid,\u201d in your book. It's only when writers try to get fancy with their dialogue tags that things tend to backfire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Use Other Verbs Sparingly<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
While it's true that writing the word \u201csaid\u201d repeatedly in your dialogue scene can get old, be mindful of using other verbs. Writing dialogue tags like, \u201che huffed,\u201d \u201cshe snorted,\u201d \u201che bellowed,\u201d or \u201cshe pouted\u201d could distract the reader from the dialogue between characters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sometimes called descriptive tags, these can be used sparingly to great effect in the occasional dialogue scene. A descriptive tag is one that uses a descriptive word in place of the verbs commonly used.<\/strong> Here's an example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don't see anything,\u201d Reggie balked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“It's right behind you!” Trina keened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That's not to say that doing this on occasion is a no-no. The best thing to do is stick close to genre conventions. If other authors in your genre<\/a> often use descriptive tags, then they may be common and okay to use. Otherwise, it's good to stick to the verbs readers are used to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Said<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Replied<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Asked<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Whispered<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Yelled<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Shouted<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Mumbled <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Also, varying the location of your \u201csaid\u201d dialogue tags can also do a lot to provide variety. You have three places to put dialogue tags: the beginning, middle, and end of the dialogue.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beware of Adverbs in Your Dialogue Tags<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Chances are you've heard advice from writers like Stephen King (and many others) about using adverbs in your fiction. The popular sentiment is that you should use them sparingly. And this goes for dialogue, as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Adverbial tags are those that include adverbs in the tag<\/strong>. Here's an example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don't see anything,\u201d Reggie said angrily.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt's right behind you!\u201d yelled Trina frantically. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Good dialogue should speak for itself without the use of adverbs<\/strong>. The reader should be able to tell from context or other descriptions that Reggie is angry, or that Trina is frantic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That's not to say you should never<\/em> use them. Every once in a while, an adverbial tag might just be the perfect thing for the scene. Just don't fall into the habit of overusing them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Use Action Tags<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There are other ways to tell the reader who's speaking than using \u201che said,” or \u201cshe replied.\u201d One of the best involves the use of action before, during, or after the dialogue. These are called action tags. Here are a couple of examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reggie squinted into the darkness. \u201cI don't see it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trina pointed. \u201cIt's right behind you!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although you don't explicitly say that the character is speaking, it's implied through the use of action <\/strong>and proper dialogue formatting. While you probably wouldn't want to use action tags repeatedly in the same scene, using them every so often is a great way to tell your reader who's doing the talking without spelling it out for them. Just remember that action tags are full sentences, and they should be treated as such<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Put Dialogue Tags Where You Need Them<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As mentioned earlier, the most common error with dialogue tags is not using enough of them. The last thing you want is for the reader to get confused about who's talking. And since \u201csaid\u201d is all but invisible to readers, you don\u2019t have to worry about overusing it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While you certainly don't need to put a dialogue tag on every single line, it's a good idea to use enough so that there's no way your readers will get lost<\/strong>. Here's an example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen did you last see him?\u201d the detective asked, looking at Jessica. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe're not answering any questions without a lawyer,\u201d Dolly said.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The detective ignored her, raising an eyebrow at the younger woman. \u201cMa'am?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jessica crossed her arms and looked up, thinking. \u201cWednesday, I guess. Maybe Tuesday.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJessica!\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, stop it, Mother. He's just trying to do his job.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd was that here?\u201d the detective asked. \u201cAt the house?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this example, you can tell from context who's doing the talking. You don't need a dialogue tag on every line, but it's always good to err on the side of caution. For example, leaving out the last tag might still have been clear to some readers, but it's teetering on the edge of having too few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Punctuating Dialogue Tags<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Now let's look at the rules for punctuating dialogue tags. Unlike many of the conventions above, these rules should be followed at all times. It\u2019s also a good idea to learn about how to format dialogue, which you can check out in our article on formatting dialogue<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Tags Before Dialogue<\/a><\/li>
- Use Other Verbs Sparingly<\/a><\/li>
- Why Dialogue Tags Matter<\/a><\/li>
- What is a Dialogue Tag?<\/a><\/li>
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