Limiting Tag Usage

By Dakota Balmore

At least 50% of time

Said = Invisible. Most common one to use.

Only for Questions

Asked = Questions.

Used to Break Up the Monotony of Using Two or More Saids in a Row.

Added = When another character adds to what is said.

Continued = When one character goes on talking.

Replied = Replying to the previous character’s dialogue.

On Occasion When the Situation is Right.

Murmured = Speaking unclearly through anger or frustration.

Mumbled = Speaking unclearly reasons other than anger or frustration.

Snapped = To connote anger or impatience (Only if “said” comes in the speech immediately before or after).

Whispered = Speaking quietly.

(Almost always put the name before the tag (‘Anne said’ rather than ‘said Anne’.)

Ways to Avoid Tags

1. Place physical description, action, or stream of conscious before or after the dialogue.

2. Omit any tag if it is apparent who is speaking.

3. Use another character’s name in the dialogue to eliminate who’s not talking.

4. Use a pet phrase assigned to a character in the character’s dialogue (sparsely).