Tag Lines

slb · Feb 23, 2012

What are your thoughts about putting tag lines after questions?

"What are your thoughts about putting tag lines after questions?" he asked.

Is it necessary or does the ? imply asking?

Same with !.

"Well, answer me!" he shouted.

Is it necessary to add the tag here or should the sentence and tone of the conversation already be expressed?

totopink · Feb 23, 2012

I generally leave them out if it's a question unless their hasn't been a break in dialogue for a few lines.

SomethingOrOther · Feb 23, 2012

The asked tag is fine. A few writers I've read who use only said when tagging declarative or imperative utterances use asked for questions. It's transparent enough. Using said there is fine too.

"Well, answer me!" he shouted.

Replace the exclamation point with a comma. Though I use said the overwhelming majority of the time, against a select few saidisms (the most transparent ones) I don't take such a robotic hardline no-no-no stance as some, and I find nothing wrong with yelled or shouted if dramatizing that something is yelled or shouted makes a moment more compelling and it isn't used gratuitously.

totopink said:
I generally leave them out if it's a question unless their hasn't been a break in dialogue for a few lines.

This is a good point, and correct, though one should interpret OP's question as "When I do use a tag, should I use asked / shouted for questions / exclamatives or should I stick with said."

Vivid · Feb 23, 2012

I think it depends on the pace you're aiming for.

"What are your thoughts about putting tag lines after questions?" he asked.
"Depends on the writing, I guess."

Versus:
"What are your thoughts about putting tag lines after questions?"
"Depends on the writing, I guess."

The second sounds quicker, gives the conversation more punch. Tags always seem to make a dialogue more ponderous. What pace are you going for?

smellycat6464 · Feb 23, 2012

from what I have experienced. the tag "shouted" omits the need for an exclamation point. and the same for asked and exclamation points. I could be wrong though

blacbird · Feb 23, 2012

The first question, of course, is do you need any "tag" at all. Tags, or dialogue attribution, functions primarily to identify the speaker. If the identity is clear from the context of the dialogue, they aren't really necessary. The question mark obviously indicates that the line is a question.

caw

Vivid · Feb 23, 2012

blacbird said:
The first question, of course, is do you need any "tag" at all. Tags, or dialogue attribution, functions primarily to identify the speaker. If the identity is clear from the context of the dialogue, they aren't really necessary. The question mark obviously indicates that the line is a question.

I agree that they may be strictly necessary, but sometimes they can add to the flow or the pace of a scene.

I stand by "it depends."

flapperphilosopher · Feb 23, 2012

I'm very much a proponent of never using anything but 'said'-- 'asked' is okay, though I often just use 'said' after questions too.

I don't like 'shouted' ever, especially because if we're at a point in the conversation where it's got to shouting, we're probably deep in the dialogue and can skip tags entirely. I agree with Vivid that often use of tags is related to flow (once we know who's talking, of course), and if someone is shouting I probably wouldn't want to break the flow unless absolutely necessary... and if so, I'd use 'said', because it's the least obtrusive option.

Sentosa · Feb 23, 2012

blacbird said:
The first question, of course, is do you need any "tag" at all. Tags, or dialogue attribution, functions primarily to identify the speaker. If the identity is clear from the context of the dialogue, they aren't really necessary. The question mark obviously indicates that the line is a question.caw

This.

Where I have a dialogue (two people), I tend not to use tags at all.
I use the text of the dialogue to provide the emotions of a scene.
I use character's names to identify the speaker.
Rather than use tags to break up long dialogue, I prefer to insert appropriate (hopefully shortish) passage of action, etc.
Sometimes, reference during dialogue, to a characteristic of a participant often helps to keep the reader in synch.

Speech with 3+ characters, is a different ballgame.

However, like every thing to do with writing, there are rarely hard and fast rules. I'll make whatever changes are required to efficiently get the story across; and to make life easier for the reader.

Anyway, that's my 2 cents worth.

MoLoLu · Feb 23, 2012

After questions and exclamations I always use said. Before always said. Very rare cases of highlighting I'll use something else.

In almost all cases I use character names to identify speakers or their actions. I'm not sure readers will be happy but it keeps clarity in my mind.

I tag every line of dialog even with only two speakers. Exception is large converastions where I'll occasionally leave an identifier out to break up the pace.

blacbird · Feb 24, 2012

MoLoLu said:
I tag every line of dialog even with only two speakers.

Why?

I can't think of any writer I've read who does this.

caw

Sentosa · Feb 24, 2012

MoLoLu said:
I tag every line of dialog even with only two speakers. Exception is large converastions where I'll occasionally leave an identifier out to break up the pace.

Do you ever sit in a quite room and read aloud your dialogue?

Does it sound real to you?

From how you describe it, I think I'd find it unnatural. But maybe I'm wrong.

slb · Feb 24, 2012

@blacbird - Have you ever read Robert B. Parker? He used tag lines for a two person dialogue LOTS of times. I'll bet he could answer Vivid's question of what pace he was looking for. It worked for him but I don't know if others could get away with it. I've read only one other author who did this. Unfortunately I've read only one of his books and I have forgotten his name.

Anyway, thanks all for the comments. Gave me some interesting stuff to think about.

MoLoLu · Feb 24, 2012

blacbird said:
Why?

I can't think of any writer I've read who does this.

caw

Sentosa said:
Do you ever sit in a quite room and read aloud your dialogue?

Does it sound real to you?

From how you describe it, I think I'd find it unnatural. But maybe I'm wrong.

Replying to both at once: I've never seen another writer do it either to be honest. On the other hand I readily get confused reading books where too little is tagged. Maybe it's my fear the reader will get confused like I do. I'm not sure.

Maybe to elaborate: I use actions to identify speakers rather often. I'll just tag around 90% of the lines which aren't otherwise identified.

Sidenote: I'm not published. Only reference I have to go by is feedback from people who've read my earlier writing, both those familliar with literature and those not. Consensus in my experience is that, to be safe, it's better to tag more often than not.

VoireyLinger · Feb 24, 2012

slb said:
What are your thoughts about putting tag lines after questions?

"What are your thoughts about putting tag lines after questions?" he asked.

Is it necessary or does the ? imply asking?

Same with !.

"Well, answer me!" he shouted.

Is it necessary to add the tag here or should the sentence and tone of the conversation already be expressed?

I avoid tags for the most part, preferring to work action in the dialogue instead. I never use redundant tags like "he asked" after a question mark. IMO there's always a better option.

Buffysquirrel · Feb 24, 2012

I use tags. I stick generally to said, asked, told, although I also use yelled and explained sometimes. But I only use them when I feel I have to.

I will put a tag after a question mark, although I have seen people say these are redundant. So I would write, "Why use a tag line when you already have a question mark?" he asked. But I might equally write, "Why not use a tag line even though you also have a question mark?" he said.

A lot of it comes down to personal preference. But you may find that any publisher who buys your work has a house style to which you'll be expected to conform.

Jamesaritchie · Feb 24, 2012

I never use anything except "said", and omit this whenever possible. Good dialogue rarely needs a tag, except when the identity of the speaker is in doubt.

When and if it does, I greatly prefer using the narrative before the dialogue to get whatever it is across, rather than using a tag.

brianjanuary · Feb 24, 2012

There's nothing at all wrong with using dialogue tags, exclamation points, or synonyms for "said", as long as you do so judiciously and not to excess. Mnay times it just comes down to stylistic choice.

jaksen · Feb 24, 2012

MoLoLu said:
Consensus in my experience is that, to be safe, it's better to tag more often than not.

Mo, I'm quoting just your last sentence because YIKES.

Sorry for caps. You really do this?

I sold my first stories without a clue as to what I was doing and broke many a writing guideline doing so, but I never, ever did this.

The suggestion to read your dialogue aloud is an excellent one. If you keep saying 'he said, she said, he said, he said, Robert said, Melvin said, Mary said...'

You will know if it's overkill. Otherwise, your writing, do what you want.

Buffysquirrel · Feb 24, 2012

It's always obvious to *me* who's speaking. But sometimes I have to think of the readers, too.

Jamesaritchie · Feb 24, 2012

slb said:
@blacbird - Have you ever read Robert B. Parker? He used tag lines for a two person dialogue LOTS of times. I'll bet he could answer Vivid's question of what pace he was looking for. It worked for him but I don't know if others could get away with it. I've read only one other author who did this. Unfortunately I've read only one of his books and I have forgotten his name.

Anyway, thanks all for the comments. Gave me some interesting stuff to think about.

Yes, he does, but even two speakers can eventually confuse readers unless some tag lines are used. But does it really matter whether Parker did it? I think it always comes down to If you don't need a tag line, why use it? Just because someone else did is not a very good reason.

Jamesaritchie · Feb 24, 2012

brianjanuary said:
There's nothing at all wrong with using dialogue tags, exclamation points, or synonyms for "said", as long as you do so judiciously and not to excess. Mnay times it just comes down to stylistic choice.

Nothing wrong for you, but style matters. Exclamation points will make me stop reading fast, and synonyms for "said" make me doubt any writer's ability, unless I'm reading MG.

Good dialogue almost never needs anything but "said", and all the dialogue tags, and exclamation points, in the world won't help poor dialogue.

MoLoLu · Feb 24, 2012

jaksen said:
Mo, I'm quoting just your last sentence because YIKES.

Sorry for caps. You really do this?

I sold my first stories without a clue as to what I was doing and broke many a writing guideline doing so, but I never, ever did this.

The suggestion to read your dialogue aloud is an excellent one. If you keep saying 'he said, she said, he said, he said, Robert said, Melvin said, Mary said...'

You will know if it's overkill. Otherwise, your writing, do what you want.

Actually, since reading this thread, I've toned down. I'll have to go over my existing work and look at the same issue.

jaksen · Feb 24, 2012

I use said, asked, and sometimes replied, but if I can leave out the tags, I do. I've been known to write this, too: 'His response, "......"

It depends on the situation, like in an interrogation scene I might use the His response thing. It all depends.

But hissed, grunted, squeaked and squawked, sighed, laughed - unless I was writing about a group of talking farm animals, nope. (Oh, a good one is 'brayed' as in the donkey brayed...)

I once read a mystery where a woman often 'whinnied,' as she'd talk in a high-pitched voice which sounded (to the MC) like a horse's whinny. Nope, I'm not doing that either.

Said is the writer's friend: use sparingly, only when needed.

Garriga · Mar 9, 2012

Said should only be replaced when the writer wants to show a definite reason for dialogue to be spoken in a particular voice.

Tag Lines

slb

Taekwondo man

totopink

SomethingOrOther

-

Vivid

New kid, be gentle!

smellycat6464

blacbird

Vivid

New kid, be gentle!

flapperphilosopher

Sentosa

MoLoLu

blacbird

Sentosa

slb

Taekwondo man

MoLoLu

VoireyLinger

Angel Wing Fetish

Buffysquirrel

Jamesaritchie

brianjanuary

jaksen

Caped Codder

Buffysquirrel

Jamesaritchie

Jamesaritchie

MoLoLu

jaksen

Caped Codder

Garriga