8/18/2023 0 Comments Dialogue tags for asked![]() ![]() I've been using these tags because they describe how the characters are speaking, in addition to any action that takes place in-between. ![]() If the tag doesn't add anything, I prefer not having one at all. My question is not how to get rid of the dialogue tags. "It is what it is," he said with a shrug, hissing each sibillant in a way reminiscent of the viper he was.īut while that might work once, if this is a common habit of the character, it seems like always having to include the description would get old pretty quickly. I agree that the hissing can be described in more detail: Maybe in a year, I'll look back at this question and laugh.) Is that really more "invisible" than simply using the verb instead? (That's hard for me to judge because the old way is so ingrained in my writing habits. "I love you!" Oops, he hadn't meant to say that. "Right," she said, almost spitting the word. Of course, there are other ways of describing these, but are these better? "It is what it is," he hissed, shrugging. But what if those "obvious" reasons don't apply? Dialogue tags are the words that frame dialogue in a piece of writing. Of course you can't gasp or spit a run-on sentence or hiss a sentence that doesn't contain any sibilants. With the examples that are usually given in these writing guidelines, it's always very obvious why the dialogue tag doesn't work. So I'm wondering if it might be permissible to use alternatives in very specific cases. However, sometimes, "say" just doesn't express the tone of what's being said. I realize that the abundancy of synonyms I used in previous texts is way over the top, and I'm working hard on toning it down. But, it’s a good idea to use actually if your answer is not what the speaker is expecting.Since I took up writing as a hobby, I've learnt that it's recommended to only use "say" and "ask" as dialogue tags, and to skip even these if the attribution can be supplied in another way. In other words, if your answer is yes, this will not change regardless of the intonation or polarity of the question. Here are some examples of tag questions used to start conversations.Īlthough the structure of tag questions can be confusing when you hear them, you can answer them in the same way as a normal question. If you’re using them to start a conversation with someone new, you can introduce yourself later in the conversation with phrases like By the way, I’m (name). They are best used by making some kind of comment on common surroundings or situations (eg. These types of questions usually have a falling intonation. 'I heard they were looking for some trouble.' He heaved a sigh. 'Heard the boys were back in town.' 'Yes, they are.' She pushed the pepper grinder over before he asked. As in: He sat at the table and salted his potatoes. Sure, I’d be happy to or Of course.īecause tag questions are less direct, they can also be a friendly way to start conversations. ago You need to learn to use action beats instead of just dialogue tags. You can answer these in the same way you would answer a normal request eg. For tag question requests, the first auxiliary verb needs to be negative and the intonation needs to rise and the end (see example below). Because tag questions are more indirect, they can be a useful way to make requests without sounding too direct or confrontational. Sometimes it can be difficult to ask people to do things. Here are some examples of how intonation and polarity (positive or negative) can change the nuance of your question: You can also use rising or falling intonation to show how confident you are in the answer. Using a tag for every piece of dialogue: Dialogue tags are words like said and asked. Rather than asking a normal question, you can use tag questions to check information you think is true. Below are some of the ways tag questions are used: However, tag questions can be difficult for learners because of their structure and intonation. This also makes them useful for starting and continuing conversations. Tag questions are very common in conversation because they can make language less direct and more interpersonal. He asked, she said, John murmured or whispered, Stacey shouted or screamedthese are all dialogue tags. They are questions made by repeating the subject and auxiliary verb at the end of a statement.Įxamples are tag questions are: You don’t drink coffee, do you? or It’s really hot today, isn’t it? So, what makes a dialogue tag There are two criteria: it must identify the speaker and describe the dialogue, though it doesn’t always have to be in that particular order. ![]()
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