Writer’s List: Dialogue Tags
If dialogue adds life to your writing, then variety is the spice of life. That said, it’s pretty common to find yourself repeating the same dialogue tags over and over again. What’s a dialogue tag? It’s the ‘he said’, ‘she asked’, ‘he replied’ phrases that come before or after a piece of dialogue.
So what does repeatedly using the same dialogue tags sound like?
“Yes,” he said, “it’s true.”
“Well then,” she said, “that’s unfortunate. I was rather hoping it wasn’t.”
“I’m sorry, I wish I had better news.” he said.
Dialogue like this sounds awkward and stilted. If you find yourself running into repetitive dialogue tags then you have one of three options: remove some of the tags altogether, replace them with action, or vary them up with some help from this handy list:
| Tag | Keywords |
|---|---|
| she said | neutral |
| she intoned | neutral |
| she requested | question |
| she swore | negative |
| she snapped | negative |
| she hesitated | cautious |
| she sighed | frustration |
| she said softly | quiet |
| she said quietly | quiet |
| she said firmly | |
| she said flatly | emotionless |
| she said quickly | negative, anxious |
| she said hastily | negative, anxious |
| she said skeptically | |
| she said with a sigh | |
| she said, amused | positive |
| she said, looking amused | positive |
| she said, his voice cold | negative, angry |
| she said, exasperated | negative |
| she said, shrugging | |
| she said under his breath | quiet |
| she said, shaking his head | disagree |
| she said, glancing at | neutral |
| she said absently | |
| she finally said | |
| she said, voice firm | |
| she said sarcastically | negative |
| she translated | neutral |
| she asked | neutral, question |
| she responded | neutral, question |
| she replied | neutral, question |
| he wondered | neutral, question |
| she explained | neutral, question |
| she asked, flushing | embarrassment |
| she repeated | neutral |
| she muttered | negative |
| she whispered | neutral, quiet |
| she admitted | |
| she continued | neutral |
| she chimed in | neutral |
| she trailed off | quiet |
| she begged | negative |
| she pleaded | negative |
| he screamed | negative, angry |
| he roared | loud, negative, angry |
| he raged | negative, angry |
| he cursed | negative, angry |
| he cursed to himself | negative, angry |
| he hissed | negative, angry |
| he growled | negative, angry |
| he yelled | loud, negative, angry |
| he called | neutral |
| he thought | neutral |
| he wondered out loud | quiet |
| he snickered | positive |
| he bellowed | negative, angry |
| he bellowed a laugh | positive |
| he told her | neutral |
| he told himself | neutral |
| he replied carefully | cautious |
| a voice asked | neutral |
| a voice whispered | neutral, quiet |
| he cried | negative |
| he cried out | negative |
| he sobbed | negative |
| he croaked | negative |
| he stammered | negative, cautious |
| he fell silent | quiet, cautious |
| his voice was calm | |
| his voice was cold | negative |
| his voice was flat | negative |
| his voice was icy | negative, angry |
| his voice trembled | negative, angry, anxious |
| he answered | question |
| he demanded | negative, angry |
| he barked | negative, angry, loud |
| he commanded | |
| he shouted | negative, angry, loud |
| he cautioned | negative |
| he rebuked | negative |
| he reassured | positive |
| he exclaimed | |
| he declared | |
| he insisted | |
| he maintained | |
| he murmured | quiet |
| he laughed | positive |
| he mumbled | quiet |
| he jabbed | |
| he agreed | |
| he teased | |
| he joked | positive |
| he chuckled | positive |
| he sniggered | |
| he tittered | |
| he giggled | positive |
| he recounted | |
| he concluded | |
| he resumed | |
| he whimpered | negative |
Do you have more dialogue tags you’d like to share? Feel free to comment below!