Use and Misuse of Dialogue Tags

Dialogue Tags - Avoid These Mistakes!

Dialogue tags! These little monsters can sometimes be tricky. When approaching the subject of dialogue tags, there are a few things that should be kept in mind.

First, let’s define dialogue tags so we’re all on the same page. Take a look at the sentence below:

“Let’s order pizza for dinner,” said Mike.
In this example, “said Mike” is a dialogue tag—it identifies who is speaking.

As an editor, there are several things I consider when working with dialogue tags:

1. Don’t use dialogue tags every time someone speaks. This is especially true when there are only two characters speaking. For example, look at how the following excerpt can get repetitive and redundant with the overuse of dialogue tags:

“Let’s go out to eat instead,” said Janice.
“I need to stop by the bank first,” said Mike.
“The bank is across the street from that new Italian restaurant,” said Janice.
“Italian sounds delicious,” said Mike.
★ The constant back-and-forth of “said Janice” and “said Mike” gets repetitive and redundant.

2. Use action tags instead of dialogue tags. Action tags show the reader who’s talking as well as what the character is doing:
“I need to stop by the bank first.” Mike opened his wallet, revealing only two dollars.

You can use action tags before, after, or in between what is being said. However, don’t use a dialogue tag and an action tag in the same paragraph—it’s unnecessary. If I see both, I always delete the dialogue tag. For example:

“Let’s go out to eat instead.” Janice sat up, excited at the prospect of dining out. “We can go to that new Italian restaurant,” she said.

In this case, I would delete the “she said” at the end, as it serves no purpose. Janice has already been established as the speaker with the action tag (“Janice sat up…dining out”;) so there’s no need in including a dialogue tag as well.

3. It’s best to alternate between dialogue tags, action tags, and no tags. Try to switch it up—it keeps your writing exciting.

4. Try to use the most common dialogue tags, like “said” and “asked.” You can occasionally use dialogue tags that show tone in a character’s voice, such as “shouted,” “yelled,” or “whispered,” but don’t overdo it: Overusing these dialogue tags can distract your reader.

5. The following common verbs are not dialogue tags: smiled, laughed, smirked, frowned, joked... These are considered actions and should only be used in action tags. For example:

WRONG: “I don’t have any money,” he frowned.
RIGHT: “I don’t have any money.” He frowned.

Dialogue tags can be very confusing at times, and as an editor, the misuse of dialogue tags is one of the most common errors I see. Hopefully this list points you in the right direction of better writing.

by kristen.house
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