Dialogue tags are phrases that identify who is speaking. It’s composed of a noun/pronoun and a verb. He said. She whispered. They shouted. It’s anything coupled with a quote to explain who said it.
Dialogue Tags To Use In Books
When we’re in school, our English teachers tell us to vary our vocabulary and use phrases like he bellowed and she wailed in our writing. In class, it’s not acceptable to repeat the same phrase throughout the whole paper. Writing this way is instinctual by the time we start to write our first book. Unfortunately, it’s the mark of an amateur.
When you write a book, the point is to pull the reader into your story. You want them to imagine the story, not pay attention to which words you are using to depict the story. The rule is to mostly use the dialogue tags said and asked in a book. Dialogue tags are supposed to be skimmed over and used solely to identify the speaker. If you want your character to bellow or wail, show it in the descriptions and how you word the dialogue. The reader should be able to tell from context how it is said. For instance:
“But mom, I don’t want to go to school,” he said.
Did you hear it? That little kid whine in his voice? Just by choosing my wording, I was able to put the voice in your head. As a new writer, we are tempted to say he whined. It isn’t necessary. Give the reader credit. They can pick up what you’re dropping. Write clearer dialogue and more contextual description, and they’ll know exactly what you mean.
There are exceptions, as always. I called this a rule, but it’s more of a guideline. It’s acceptable to use other dialogue tags, but don’t overuse them. Make sure they add to the story description and not detract from it. For example, whispered is better than saying said softly. But your characters shouldn’t bark, hiss, and sigh their dialogue nonstop or everything seems over emotional and almost comical.
How To Use Dialogue Tags
The position of dialogue tags in the sentence is also important. There are two ways to not use dialogue tags. First, don’t use them before the quote. If you must tag dialogue before the quote, use an action beat instead. Second, the verb should never come before the noun/pronoun. It’s always noun/pronoun and then dialogue tag. Here are examples of both things to avoid.
Barbara said, “I’ll go tonight and get it.”
“I’ll go tonight and get it,” said Barbara.
Instead, dialogue tags should be either at the end or in the middle of the sentence. The end is the best, but putting them in the middle of a longer quote helps break up the speech.
“I’ll go tonight and get it,” Barbara said.
“I’ll go tonight and get it,” Barbara said. “If they’re out, I’ll try a few more stores, but I’m not searching for your tea all night.”
The idea is to stay consistent so that the reader gets into a rhythm and will register who is speaking without really reading the tag. Obviously, you don’t want to be too repetitive. Keep it varied on where the tags appear, but don’t be distracting with it. Like so much of writing, it’s about balance.
Final Thoughts
Dialogue tags are such a small part of writing, but, if you do them wrong, you can come across as an amateur. Agents or publishers may pass on your manuscript. Even readers, who may not understand why, will think your writing is clunky. Using said and knowing where to put it in your sentences will help you on the professional level.
Thanks for reading!
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