Sunday, March 2, 2014

Is "said" the only dialogue tag verb permitted now?

Ana builds on Paula's discussion on limiting the repetition of names in dialogue

The over-use of names in dialogue has a not-so-distant cousin: the verbs allowed to accompany the he-she-it character attribute in dialogue tags.

"Said" is the recommended choice now. He said, she said. "Asked" is used, but aren't other, more descriptive verbs okay to use?

I agree that "Sigh" is a separate action and should not be employed as a speech descriptor, but can't characters mutter, shout, scream, shriek, complain, growl, moan, mumble, murmur, patter, or whisper?

From the most wonderful Writer's Digest Flip Dictionary: Characters could also advertise, affirm, announce, advise, answer, articulate, assert, asseverate, aver, call, claim, comment, communicate, convey, declare, dictate, enunciate, express, imply, indicate, inform, insinuate, intimate, mention, pronounce, quote, respond, recite, relate, remark, repeat, report, show, speak, state, talk, tell, testify, utter, verbalize, vocalize, voice and vote.

They can disclose and divulge. Also acclaim, bark, bellow, blare, call, cheer, clamor, crow, cry, fulminate (though I don't know anyone who fulminates), hoot, howl, hurrah, rejoice, roar, root, scream, screech, yell, yelp and whoop.

 From my western historical WIP: neighbor parents promoting their eligible daughter to my eligible bachelor hero: 
“Emma is good in the kitchen,” Gertrude said. “She knows to cook and clean.”
 “Ja, and make the butter, Albert added. 

If I use "added," will I be marked down for stating the obvious? Or does "added" add the note that Albert is seconding his wife's list of their daughter's virtues and adding one more?

What do you think the rule is? When and how is it okay to break it?


  1. Generally speaking, 'said' is the best word, since a lot of the other words can draw your reader away from what's actually being said.
    However, as with all things, there are always exceptions to the rule, but the other words should only be used occasionally. I've used asked, replied, muttered, breathed, but have never used any of those dictionary words.
    In the example you quoted, it's would be okay to put 'he added, but in a sense it's obvious he's adding this comment, so instead I'd be inclined to use an action instead before his actual words e.g. Albert nodded or Albert grinned (or similar)

  2. I'll echo Paula's response. There are always exceptions to rules, but you need to be careful. You want readers to focus on your characters and get drawn into your story. You don't want them to focus on the tags. Show it, don't tell it.

  3. I tend to use a lot of said synonyms, which my editor then promptly removes during the first edit of a mss, reverting back to plain old said or no tag at all.

  4. I actually disagree. As a reader (and editor) , I get bored if I keep reading "said" over and over. I like to see different tags, especially if they're true to what's being said ("yelled" when a character is angry, etc.).